Electrical Safety
ongoing operations and is truly an industry-wide responsibility to keep all staff, tenants, and visitors safe.
As well as protecting people, improving electrical safety is also a legal requirement. With recent regulations in effect since 2022 that mandate the use of AFDDs in Higher Risk Residential Buildings (HRRB), Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO), purpose-built student accommodation, care homes, and recommend their use in all other locations, it is clear that upgrading electrical distribution should be top of the agenda. The next chapter for organisations is their end-to-end power distribution, categorised by remote monitoring, resilience, sustainability, efficiency, and (above all) safety.
The future of workplace safety with active safety systems
As we look to the future, electric and digital will come together to improve safety. This blend will enable systems to be proactive – constantly looking for potential threats and hazards. The only way to do this is through a fully connected and digitalised electrical distribution network. This greater visibility of electrical health enables the creation of an active safety system, where electricians and electrical contractors can bring together multiple connected devices such as arc fault detection devices and power tags in one management system. Active safety systems are like having a smart watch. Instead of monitoring your heart rate, sleep, steps, and movement, then telling you to stand up if you have been sitting at your desk for too long, an active safety system tracks a building or site’s vitals and sends alerts if there are abnormalities, or if actions need to be taken.
This digitalisation and higher level of connectivity will enhance electrical networks, giving engineers greater control over building
ewnews.co.uk
“Digitalisation and higher level of connectivity will enhance electrical networks, giving engineers greater control over building conditions and the ability to work proactively to minimise risk.”
conditions and the ability to work proactively to minimise risk. They can set customisable pre-alarms for any unexpected or dangerous changes, see why a circuit has tripped in a particular location, and work with teams to rectify the root cause. Engineers can get total, and remote, oversight of equipment and systems, helping to drive efficiency, reduce risks for staff, and allows for integration with automation, AI, and ML. Active safety systems can even allow contractors to provide a service-level contract - using these safety notifications to unlock additional revenue streams rather than a standard single installation job.
Tried and tested technology The technology at the core of active safety systems is Acti9 Active. This is an evolution of the tried and tested market-leading system and sets a new industry standard in electrical safety. Acti9 Active provides state of the art circuit protection to ensure the safety of electrical installations, reducing downtime and protecting infrastructure. Furthermore, maintenance
costs can be saved utilising its fault detection software – reducing outages and any serious errors that could threaten lives. Acti9 Active is the first product of its kind to reach the UK and Irish markets and is a testament to Schneider Electric’s continuous commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. It is the only solution that boasts this enhanced level of connectivity and allows for proactive remote monitoring, giving electrical installers and facilities managers alike, the ability to see how their buildings systems are wired and configured, and the insights to assess whether all the circuits currently in place are needed. Acti9 Active is not just a circuit protection solution – it is a strategic investment for businesses aiming to embark on a safer and more sustainable journey. As companies all around the world collaborate to make electrical safety a top priority, Acti9 Active becomes a crucial tool for those wishing to digitalise electrical distribution and reduce operational risk. This revolutionary solution not only offers safety benefits but also supports the global movement towards a sustainable future by enabling leaders to identify places where emissions can be reduced, and energy can be saved.
Electrical distribution is ultimately going to be more important than ever as our world becomes more digital and electric. We can only genuinely increase electrical infrastructure resilience while fostering efficiency, sustainability, and safety through improved connection and active safety measures.
January 2025 electrical wholesaler | 15
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
