News
ECA and NICEIC welcome response to electrical safety report
THE ECA AND NICEIC HAVE welcomed the government’s response to a Communities and Local Government (CLG) Select Committee report, but warn there is little provision to reward competent contractors. The government
accepted the committee’s view that Part P has been successful in raising standards and in reducing the number of electrical faults, and stated that it would not proceed with changes that could unduly diminish safety. The government has yet to clarify its position on reducing the number of notifi able works.
The Select Committee also recommended that a strengthened Part P regime would be preferable to mandatory registration of electricians, saying any decision by government should be deferred until more evidence is available. The government advised it would report back to the committee on whether mandatory registration is required within two years of the updates to the Building Regulations, which are due
to be introduced in April 2013.
Steve Bratt, ECA group chief executive offi cer, said:, ‘While the government’s commitment to safety is to be commended, the best way to raise standards is to make membership of competent persons schemes mandatory for all contractors. This will eliminate the cowboys and ensure only competent electricians operate in the market. We would also like to see a move to risk-based assessment that rewards good practice. This will do far more to maintain safety than simply punishing incompetence.’ Emma Clancy, NICEIC chief executive offi cer, commented: ‘Electrical contractors want clarity in the building regulations and a fair, enforceable electrical safety regulation that rewards the safe, compliant contractor over the bad. We’re pleased that the Select Committee thoroughly investigated all aspects of Part P and that CLG has responded positively to a number of the points raised.’
NG BAILEY MAKES LIGHT WORK FOR MORRISONS SUPERSTORE
NG BAILEY HAS PIONEERED A GROUNDBREAKING approach to lighting as part of a fl agship project supporting Morrisons in the creation of its fi rst low carbon superstore. After more than a year of research – including the building of replica shopping aisles in which to carry out trials – NG Bailey developed a lighting solution that reduces energy usage by up to 50 per cent. The installation of it into Morrisons’ superstore at Stanground, near Peterborough, is being hailed as the largest full LED scheme of its kind in Europe. NG Bailey, which works with Morrisons as one of its store building and maintenance partners, drew upon its own expertise in environmental sustainability to develop a lighting regime that was both more effective – and more effi cient. Despite higher capital costs than the traditional approach, the daily revenue savings will ensure the pilot project will pay for itself in as little as three years. NG Bailey’s account manager, Paul Beckwith, said:
‘The lighting solution has led to a signifi cant reduction in the amount of energy used to light the whole Stanground estate – as much as 50 per cent. The vastly longer life cycle of LEDs – around 50,000 hours compared to an average of 20,000 hours with the traditional T5 fl uorescent solution – is also playing a key role in bringing maintenance costs down to a minimum.’
Modular wiring solution for science academy
APEX WIRING SOLUTIONS has been specifi ed for a new multimillion-pound science academy under construction in West Yorkshire. The £9m Kings Science Academy (KSA), being developed in Bradford by BAM Construction, will be a new purpose-built science school for 800 pupils when it fully opens in spring 2013. Apex has been specifi ed for the electrical wiring contract, which will see it design, manufacture and supply a system featuring pre-wired distribution boards,
fully pluggable lighting and power units throughout the school. More than 11,000m of cabling will be used for the modular wiring system to provide improved power and lighting distribution, while 600 pre-wired power accessories will be included
for ease-of-use and access. The modular wiring will be installed in a tight 12-week timeframe, by Shepherd Engineering Services (SES), which has already completed the installation of Apex systems at other schools in Hull and Nottingham.
SURVEY SUGGESTS EVS MOVING SLOWLY
THEY MAY REPRESENT OUR MOTORING future, but only two per cent of people in the UK are likely to buy an electric vehicle (EV) in the next fi ve years according to a new survey by specialist car insurance broker Adrian Flux Insurance Services. The survey asked 1,000 of its customers how likely they were to buy an EV in the next fi ve years and just two per cent were seriously considering swapping the petrol pump for the charging point. Nearly 70 per cent ruled out a switch entirely, with the remaining 28 per cent fi rmly in the ‘wait and see’ camp. While most of us agree that petrol and
10 ECA Today September 2012
diesel powered cars are unsustainable in the long- term, it seems few of us are prepared to buy a car we feel has a high purchase price, limited range, long recharge times and questionable resale value. However, the electric revolution is still charging
forward despite the lukewarm appetite of the British people. In June, 60 charging points were opened in Oxford, making the city the EV capital of Europe with one charging point for every 2,400 people, the best ratio in the EU. London has 654 charging points – the most in Europe – and British cities dominate the top 10 electric friendly locations in the continent.
SHUTTERSTOCK / OLGA BESNARD
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