Feature Test & Measurement
A new electrical isolation solution, supplied by the energy metering division of npower, is helping Hull City Council tackle an electrical inspection and upgrade programme
he guarantee of a safe working environment for its electrical contractors, and a partnership delivering a cost effective and flexible solution, lies at the heart of a long term relationship between MeterPlus, the energy metering divi- sion of npower, and Hull City Council. As many local authorities look to undertake significant upgrade pro- grammes to their property portfolios, a critical element of improving housing stock condition has been the require- ment to carry out electrical inspection and remedial work in a safe and compli- ant way. The issue facing councils has been to find the best and most effective way of doing so, both to ensure safety for contractors and to drive value for money for public authority funds. It was against this backdrop that Hull City Council began discussions with MeterPlus about how it could best assist in a wide scale electrical inspection and upgrade project involv- ing approximately 25,000 dwellings across the county.
Before appointed contractors can begin the remedial work of replacing often obsolete or ageing wiring and other electrical components in homes, it is vital their working environment is safe. The key to this is the need to iso- late the property’s electrical supply safely and in the correct manner. Such a requirement can cause issues and present real challenges, as Michael Illingworth, programme manager at Hull City Council’s Housing Investment Team confirmed, “By law, we are not permitted to work independently on the live side of metering equipment as this is the responsibility of nominated distri- bution network operators (DNO). “To create a safe working environ- ment for our contractors within indi- vidual dwellings, we would normally have to contact the DNO. This would involve arranging for them to send an engineer to remove the main cut-out fuse and then asking them to return at a later date to replace and re-seal it. “The need to have our electrical con- tractor and the DNO’s electrician on-site at the same time adds to what has often been a time consuming, expensive and logistically demanding exercise. What’s more, this can often inconvenience resi- dents and is something we aim to avoid as often as possible.”
S10
Safe and sound T
With many thousands of properties falling under the Hull electrical inspec- tion programme, and a target of upgrad- ing 2,500 properties per annum, it was clear an alternative and more efficient method of working to isolate the electri- cal supply was needed.
MeterPlus in action With an existing relationship with npower, the council was able to open discussions about identifying and specifying a potential solution. MeterPlus, the npower metering divi- sion, provides a flexible electrical iso- lation service especially designed to assist local authorities.
Through the implementation of the MeterPlus solution, Hull City Council has moved from what was a cumber- some and time consuming method and has entered into a partnership ensur- ing a pre-planned, cost effective and flexible solution that is helping to make homes safe for the council’s elec- tricians to carry out their inspection and upgrade commitments.
The fully trained and accredited metering engineers from MeterPlus work to set plans by Hull City Council. They visit each property before electrical inspection and upgrade work will be carried out under the rolling pro- gramme. When at the property, they fit an isolation switch to ensure the coun- cil’s team of electricians has no delays prior to commencing work. This is also a benefit for residents who experience less disruption as the power is off for the
awkward spaces in facilities and manufacturing environments. Featuring a waterproof illuminated camera head, which is attached to a flexible goose necked style lead, the DC50 offers users a clear light visual of the object under inspection. Easily adjusted to access images from a range of hard to reach locations, pictures are clearly displayed onto the integrated 320 x 230 TFT monitor.
Far reaching capabilities M
Rated to IP67, offering protection against ingressive foreign liq- uids and solids, the DC50 can be used by electricians, plumbers, HVAC professionals, mechanics and aircraft.
The DC50 is supplied with batteries and comes complete with instructions and a comprehensive two year warranty. Martindale Electric
www.martindale-electric.co.uk T: 01923 441 717
Above: MeterPlus, the npower
metering division, provided a flexible electrical isolation service especially designed to assist local authorities such as Hull City Council
least amount of time.
Commenting on the MeterPlus solu- tion, Michael Grayson, national account manager from npower Business & Social Housing Division, highlighted, “The isolation service provided by MeterPlus, such as the one in action with Hull, offers many benefits to local authorities needing to address important inspection and upgrade work. Once on-site we will, for example, inspect the incoming supply and meters, de-energise the supply, fit lockable isolation switches, conform the integrity of the meter trails, re-energise the supply, and reseal the cut-out fuse and meters. “In addition, if we discover any safety issues with the incoming supply, we’ll inform the relevant DNO right away. Such a holistic approach means the council can have total confidence they are fully compliant in this area.” The MeterPlus partnership with Hull City Council extends beyond the pre- planned programmed work on identi- fied properties. The team in Hull also provides a rapid response service so properties needing a visit quickly, can be addressed without delay. With a 24 hour response service, this element of MeterPlus is assisting the council to meet its target for property appraisal and upgrades.
artindale Electric has introduced its new DC50 Boroscope, designed to optically inspect and troubleshoot difficult to get to and
Illingworth concluded, “We have a ten year rolling programme of electri- cal inspection and are mindful of the need to carry this out as effi- ciently, cost effectively and safely as possible. Our partnership with MeterPlus provides an easy solu- tion and one that is competitive and highly responsive to our needs. We look forward to continuing to work with MeterPlus over the coming years as we strive to enhance the status of our 25,000 strong property portfolio for the benefit of our residents.”
Enter 230
npower
www.npower.com T: 0845 070 2807
Enter 231 OCTOBER 2013 Test & Measurement
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56