INDUSTRY NEWS INDUSTRY REACTS TO PRS SAFETY CHECK REGULATIONS In January, The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 were announced. These will enforce mandatory electrical safety checks in the private rented sector – news which has been welcomed across the industry. Mike Smith, ECA Technical Director, says, “We greatly welcome this new commitment to mandatory electrical safety checks, which comes into effect on April 1, 2020. This new legal duty will help to protect millions in rented accommodation across England by requiring electrical inspection and testing by a competent person, at least every five years. “The dangers posed by electricity, in terms of both fire and electric shock, need to be taken seriously and they should be properly managed. When the new regulations are introduced this spring, tenants will be able to hold landlords to account for the safety of the electrical installations in their property. The regulations will also encourage landlords
to look after the electrical safety of their assets in the knowledge that it’s a legal requirement on every private landlord. “We will also be looking for this new regulatory approach to apply to the social housing sector in the near future, and for wider application in the UK.” Martyn Allen, Technical Director at Electrical Safety First, comments: “This commitment by the Government to bring mandatory electrical safety checks into force is a success for millions of renters and their landlords in England. “It is long overdue for the dangers posed by electricity in the home to be taken as seriously as that of gas, so this legislation provides essential protection for millions. But, while we welcome this crucial step in protecting tenants, electrical safety should not be a ‘tenure lottery’. Electrical Safety First would like to see this regulation extended to the social housing sector in the very near future.” John O’Neill, Technical Director at NICEIC & ELECSA, adds, “I am pleased
OVIA SEEKS TO FILL GAP IN THE LIGHTING MARKET Electrical solutions provider, Scolmore Group, has officially launched a dedicated, independent lighting company named OVIA. Leading industry expert, Mike Collins, is heading up the business, while a highly experienced sales team is currently taking the new OVIA offering out to customers across the UK. Collins explains, “Our aim is to provide contractors with a broad range of lighting products that are quick and easy to install and will save them time and money on any given project. We believe that we have a winning formula with this new OVIA range. We already have a reputation for quality and reliability and we believe we are hitting the market at the right time to fill a gap for a broad spectrum of entry level lighting products that are highly competitively priced, offer a range of unique features and benefits, and are unmatched by competitors.” The premium products within the OVIA lighting range will come under the Inceptor brand, which contractors will already be familiar with. A dedicated website and a comprehensive 196-page downloadable product catalogue are available to provide customers with quick and easy access to everything they need to know about the OVIA collection. OVIA, oviauk.com
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that the new Government has taken action in this important area. We look forward to working with landlords to ensure they understand the benefits of using registered electrical contractors to undertake the testing and inspections that will be vital to
keep tenants safe. We remain committed to working with industry partners and other stakeholders, to raise standards both in the PRS and across the industry generally.” ECA, eca.co.uk
‘INVESTORS IN PEOPLE’ ACCOLADE FOR RIELLO Riello UPS has been recognised for the work it does to support its staff by a flagship people management programme. The Wrexham-based business has achieved Investors in People ‘We invest in people’ standard accreditation after successfully passing an assessment covering topics such as leadership, trust and company values. As part of the assessment process, several members of the Riello UPS team met with representatives from Investors in People to discuss job satisfaction, work-life balance and the opportunity to develop new skills. The rigorous evaluation praised Riello UPS for its strong commitment to developing high-performing teams and providing opportunities for learning and training, along with how the company structures staff roles and delivers continuous improvement. The Investors in People scheme was launched in 1991 as a government-backed project to make work better and help businesses ensure staff are at the centre of their growth and development. Riello UPS, riello-ups.co.uk
HOT WATER GUIDANCE AIMS TO EASE COMPLIANCE In an effort to improve hot water provision in the healthcare sector, a new guide has been launched that outlines the most important technology to look out for when complying with Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 04-01. Created by Heatrae Sadia, Taking the pain out of hot water in healthcare highlights the key considerations for NHS management, care home professionals, facilities managers and estate managers on how to ensure safety for patients, visitors and staff via hot water technology. Healthcare professionals have a number of water provision issues to consider, including the rise of Legionnaire’s disease, keeping energy bills and maintenance to a minimum by investing in new and improved equipment, and preventing ‘never events’ from happening – including serious incidents such as scalding. HTM 04-01 addresses all of these technicalities, covering design, installation, commissioning and operational management, paying close attention to the risk of waterborne pathogens such as legionella. However, its commitment to covering every aspect of healthcare provision in minute detail makes HTM 04-01 a challenging and sometimes inaccessible document. Simon Russell, National Sales Manager at Heatrae Sadia, says, “With many technicalities to be aware of, there is an increasing need for simple and compliant
solutions. We’ve aimed to develop content that ticks all the boxes in an easy and understandable format, saving invaluable time for busy healthcare professionals.” To access the guide, visit www.heatraesadia. com/healthcare Heatrae Sadia, heatraesadia.com
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