COMMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
Making Active Safety the New Business Standard
David Williams, Schneider Electric’s VP Transactional Business UK & Ireland, says electrical safety is an industry- wide responsibility.
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t stretches beyond the day-to-day activities of electricians and electrical contractors, and its importance cannot be understated. In fact, over 1,000 electricity-related workplace accidents are reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annually – with some even leading to fatalities. However, digital innovations in electrical
distribution and safety are looking to lower these risks and, ultimately, save lives. With digital innovations win the electrical space, we can build electrical distribution networks with active safety at their core. An active safety system provides an elevated level of protection and advanced visibility, helping to anticipate, predict, alert, and protect against electrical faults. It is a system that puts safety at its core. So, what does electrical safety look like now? What changes can we expect? And how will active safety systems drive forward the changes we need to create a safer electrical future?
SAFETY AS AN INDUSTRY-WIDE RESPONSIBILITY Creating a safe working environment and safety- conscious routines when working with electricity is paramount. When organisations consider safety, it should not just be the responsibility of technical personnel. It involves everyone within an organisation from
electrical engineers and installers to electricians and facilities managers. Safety is a concept that must be weaved into every part of planning, implementation, and ongoing operations. It 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 (above all) safety.
ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS: THE 10 October 2024 Irish Manufacturing
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. Facilities managers can get total, and remote,
oversight of equipment and systems, helping to for integration with automation, AI, and ML. Active safety systems can even allow contractors to provide a service-level contract - using these safety rather than a standard single installation job. So – are you ready to make visible the invisible?
FUTURE OF WORKPLACE SAFETY 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 sat 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 facilities managers greater control over building conditions and the ability to work proactively to minimise risk.
ACTI9 ACTIVE: REVOLUTIONARY CIRCUIT PROTECTION 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 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.
reach the UK and Irish markets and is a testament to Schneider Electric’s continuous commitment 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 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 businesses worldwide work together to
prioritise electrical safety, Acti9 Active emerges as a pivotal solution for those looking to de-risk their operations and digitalise electrical distribution. As with the global push towards a sustainable future, allowing leaders to pinpoint areas where energy can be saved and emissions lowered.
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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