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LOCAL AUTHORITY FORUM FEATURES


“The latest challenge is the cost of incorporating surge protection and arc fault disconnection in consumer units” Continued from page 21 >>>


of interest. As well as this, where new technologies and processes have been identified, we might invite an industry expert to present on how these technologies may assist us. “We also invite Scottish Power


to attend the forum to discuss communication and infrastructure issues as we are keen to build a closer working relationship with Distribution Network Operators.


“In the afternoon session I will


give an update from the SELECT Electrotechnical Committee, which I also attend, and SELECT Technical Adviser Stuart McKelvie will also be on hand to provide technical support. “This helps to keep LAF members up to date with developments, so they can feed that information back to their teams at their respective councils and housing associations. “Before the meeting is concluded, the forum will discuss future agenda items and presentations that may be useful. “SELECT’s Specifier and Client Relations Manager, Yvonne Wilson, facilitates every meeting and does a sterling job ensuring presentations are arranged and minutes are posted on the website, as well as circulating information and future agendas between members.”


Working together Andy said the great strengths of the LAF are in its ability to encourage councils to share knowledge and experience and to act in a collective way to influence best practice. He explained: “Over the years we have built up a good degree of partnership working across the different councils where people are willing to share their knowledge and experience for the benefit of others. “For instance, sharing technical and procurement documents from their


22 CABLEtalk FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021


own local authorities or procedures for undertaking certain types of electrical work – this helps others to not reinvent the wheel, saves time and promotes a consistency of approach.” As there has been a growing request for knowledge exchange, particularly since the first COVID-19 lockdown, Andy has been running impromptu LAF sessions online – and the success of these mini-forums is an indication of how the LAF will develop going forward, reaching more councils through remote conferencing. Andy said: “One council was looking for something to do with stair lighting, so I emailed forum members at other councils to see if someone had already been down this road. Another council had developed a document that took six months to get through procurement, so they shared that work, and this helped the other council see the route to market, which saved a lot of work.”


Developing benefits This mutual co-operation is also under way with a big project to update a local authority document that was compiled by SELECT in 2010 for the testing of domestic properties. With 18th Edition regulatory changes and factors such as surge protection and arc fault detection to be considered, a decision was taken to provide an 18th Edition document for all members to use in the future.


LAF members will split up the original document to work on updating individual aspects of the guidance and will convene later in the new year to produce a new up-to-date document. Andy said: “We’re always looking at product development and achieving best value for LAF members. At present, for instance, Fife Council is running a trial on Fire Angel products and a report will be submitted to the forum when it’s been completed.” Fife Council has already


Andy is attending regular online meetings during the lockdown


been instrumental in the development of a number of AICO products, such as the Ei414 RadioLINK+ Fire and Carbon Monoxide alarm interface, the Ei1529RC control switch and the SmartLINK Gateway – the Ei1000G. Fife Council is investigating trial sites for the SmartLINK Gateway and influenced the final product, ensuring Ei1000G facilitates the safety of tenants, aids compliance across housing stock and ensures ease of monitoring for Registered Social Landlords. Andy added: “Going forward,


renewable technologies in traditional and new build properties will take centre stage as councils strive to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. With gas being phased out, battery storage, heat pumps, PV arrays and electric vehicle charging are under discussion, as well as the infrastructure that supports them.”


Increasing value The LAF realises that it’s one thing to get its members excited about new products and developments but it’s quite a different situation when they return to their council and find they are stonewalled by finance. That’s why it encourages members to bring people with the purse strings to understand the


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