CABLEtalk December 2021/January 2022

December 2021/January 2022 £4.50

The next generation Patrick Henderson and Cameron Wood are crowned SJIB’s Apprentices of the Year for 2020 and 2021 cobots be your rises to future colleagues? historic challenge 22 Will 28 Member

legislation questions answered 38 Alarms

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 OPINION

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Could cobots become our colleagues in the future?

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SELECT’s Branch Officers reveal their hopes for the coming year

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Meet SJIB’s Apprentice of the Year winners for 2020 and 2021

FEATURES

Alan Wilson and Donald W Orr look back at a challenging year

NEWS

FEATURES

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All the latest news and updates from SELECT and the industry

FEATURES

FEATURES

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Hosie Electrical Ltd celebrates 40 years as SELECT Member

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Our adventurer Linda gets her fundraising off to a great start

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EuropeOn’s President discusses getting closer to your clients

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Rudi Klein examines whether work can be taken away from you

How to get help with your mental health if Christmas is a struggle

TECHNICAL

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Your questions answered over the changes to alarm legislation

TRAINING

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New courses on drones, smart controls and energy storage

FOCUS FEATURES

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Member Oliver McCrone on protecting historic buildings

APPRENTICES

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MANAGING EDITOR Iain Mason iain.mason@select.org.uk EDITOR Sarah Wolstencroft sarah.w@connectcommunications.co.uk 0141 560 3022 DESIGN & PRODUCTION Ryan Swinney ryan@connectcommunications.co.uk

Apprentices get off to a great start with free toolkits

ADVERTISING David Hughes davidh@connectcommunications.co.uk 0131 561 0022

CABLEtalk is produced by Connect Publications on behalf of SELECT connectcommunications.co.uk

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How high-tech sensors can make homes more energy efficient

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Len Bunton on why conflict-free contracts are so important now

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Why more firms are turning to private health insurance

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

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Five-page special highlighting all the latest gear and gadgets

DIARY

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CABLEtalk

Meet Sharron Aitchison and your chance to win a £50 voucher

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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COMMENT END OF YEAR REVIEW

Hoping for glad

I

n last year’s festive edition of CABLEtalk, I wrote that there appeared to be some cause for optimism for Members in the new year as we began to recover from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I was perhaps a little understated in my views as, for many businesses, 2021 has been one of their busiest-ever years, with several finding it difficult to recruit qualified electricians and keep up with client demands, while at the same time facing material cost increases and shortages.

Added to the optimistic picture has been the high level of electrical apprentices and adult trainees recruited – more than 800 in 2021 – and it’s testament to employers in the sector that they have the confidence to recruit at this rate.

So with 2022 just around the corner, it’s the right time to think ahead to see what the coming year and beyond may bring.

The first thing to think about is the low carbon agenda. With COP26 now over and various commitments made across the world to lower our emissions (albeit some over very extended periods) what will happen in Scotland and, more importantly, how will this affect SELECT Members?

In Scotland, most of our buildings use gas as the primary source of heat and with indications that gas costs will rise, nudging them much nearer to electricity charges, and the fact that new gas installations will be outlawed in the next few years, this will mean an inevitable move towards alternative heating sources.

There is already existing tried and tested technology, including ground and air source heat pumps, solar PV and thermal panels, battery storage etc, and as we move more and more towards an electrically-driven economy, it’s vital that Members look to secure the undoubted opportunities that will come their way.

From a commercial perspective, the Scottish Government’s proposals to change the landscape of retention payments is also a welcome step into the new year.

While the initial plans involve a process of engagement with clients and main 4

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contractors with a view to changing longstanding mindsets over retention, the fact that a legislative option of placing all retention sums into a ring-fenced account exists will hopefully mean that good sense will apply and there will be a sea-change in behaviour, or otherwise we will be pushing hard for legislation to apply sooner rather than later.

We have already had some positive discussions with Network Rail via the CICV Forum as they operate very successfully on a ‘no-retention’ basis.

It would be remiss not to mention our campaign to regulate the electrical industry in Scotland. As 2022 approaches, we are moving towards the submission of a Member’s Bill which would seek to introduce some form of statutory control over electricians.

Despite two parliamentary consultations coming out in support of some form of legislative action, and an increasing number of politicians, organisations and SELECT Member firms signing up to our Wall of Support, the government has dragged its feet in coming up with any proposals. Let’s hope that we will have something positive to say in the new year.

So there is still lots to do, but there are also lots of things to be optimistic about as we enter 2022. In the meantime, I wish all readers of CABLEtalk a safe and healthy Christmas and a positive 12 months ahead.

Alan Wilson Managing Director, SELECT

tidings in 2022

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he past 12 months seem to have passed very quickly, but I’m pleased to say that we appear to be in a better place than when I wrote my festive message this time last year.

The ongoing fallout from COVID-19 continues to affect us all, of course, and I send my warmest wishes to any of you who may have been personally affected by the pandemic.

Uncertainty over Brexit and material shortages are other clouds on the horizon that could be used to paint a gloomy picture, but in actual fact the feedback I regularly receive from fellow Members and the wider industry could not be more positive.

It’s testament to the professionalism in our industry that, instead of seeing their glass as half-empty, most electrical contractors I know have continued to face any problems head-on, rolling up their sleeves and getting on with it.

This can-do attitude and determination to overcome any hurdle has been rewarded with one of the busiest years for business that many of us can remember; healthy order books would no doubt have been on all our Christmas wish-lists this time last year!

Of course, much of what we do has been made possible by the ongoing support of SELECT and its staff, who I know share the same positive mindset as Members.

Last year I wrote that “SELECT always steps up when needed” and 2021 has

been no different, as I’m sure many of you have found out when you’ve contacted the association.

Whether it’s technical know-how, employment advice, help with ECS cards or even just a friendly voice on the other end of the phone, the past 12 months have once again shown the true value of an experienced and committed trade body.

As well as the wealth of advice and information that’s been issued, SELECT’s ongoing efforts behind the scenes have gone from strength to strength in 2021, and we’ve made important progress on the issues of payments and regulation that affect us all.

Our leading role in the CICV Forum also provides another invaluable way for us to speak to government and the wider construction industry, representing your needs and ensuring that the Scottish electrotechnical sector always has a voice at the highest level.

Thanks to all this hard work, it’s heartening to see that membership has grown and is now higher than before the pandemic began, as more electrical professionals come on board and join Scotland’s largest construction trade association.

It’s an often-repeated saying, but as a not-forprofit organisation SELECT really IS driven by the welfare of its Members, not commercial gain, and I think the achievements of the past year have once again proved that beyond doubt.

SELECT’s spirit of commitment, collaboration and cooperation has shone through and I would once again like to extend my personal thanks to our Central Board, Past Presidents, Honorary Members and each individual member of staff.

I also want to thank you, our Members, for the continued positivity and professionalism that has – in the words of SELECT’s own video – kept the lights burning and the wheels turning across Scotland. Such determination has seen us come this far and will no doubt continue into whatever 2022 has in store for us all.

Thank you again for all your support. Have a very merry Christmas and a guid new year and stay safe and well.

Donald W Orr President, SELECT CABLEtalk

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COMMENT CHRISTMAS WISHES

“Here’s hoping we can all get used to the ‘new normal’ and work safely. It would be great to finally have regulation too. It’s also important that we all appreciate the small everyday things that we sometimes take for granted; a laugh and drink with friends, walking the dog, an unexpected visit from a friend. My message is: Keep on being yourselves, stay safe and have an amazing Christmas and a prosperous New Year.”

Stuart Anderson, Chair, Aberdeen & North East Scotland Branch

“My wish is for the introduction of protection of title for electricians in Scotland, a prosperous year for the industry and another good intake of apprentices to boost our future workforce.”

Hopes for the future

With Christmas fast approaching, we asked our Branch Officers what they wanted Santa to bring the electrical industry in Scotland and beyond this year…

“My hope for 2022 is that things return to as normal as possible – or whatever the new normal is. The past two years have certainly been challenging but I’d like to see everyone in the industry continue to collaborate and support each other as we’re all in this together.”

Gordon Paterson, Chair, Dumfries & Galloway Branch

Eric Rae, Vice-Chair, Aberdeen & North East Scotland Branch

‘’It would be great for our industry to finally be regulated. Ongoing training should also be a priority as it’s important that we develop, keep pace with innovation and have a skilled workforce to utilise new and developing technology.’’

Jim Cooper, Chair, Ayrshire Branch 6

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“I’d like to see a more sustainable industry, with a continuation towards renewable technologies and better research, development and investment in recycling and waste reduction. I’d also like to see better implementation of the WEEE directive, reducing the red tape and cost of recycling and putting more impetus on manufacturers to make products that have a higher recyclable content.

Oh, and world peace of course.”

Graeme Anderson, Chair, Edinburgh & South East Scotland Branch

“Once it’s safe to do so, I’m looking forward to returning to face-to-face meetings and events and catching up with SELECT staff in person again. The return of Toolbox Talks is also welcome and it will be good to hit the road and see Members from across Scotland.”

“My Christmas wish is that the campaign for regulation finally comes to fruition. This is something that the industry has needed for a long time and will significantly enhance the safety and wellbeing of the public as well as protecting qualified electricians and stopping rogue tradesmen carrying out potentially unsafe work. I also wish for everyone to stay safe and well and for things to return to as close to ‘normal’ as possible.”

David Harris, Chair, Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch “After all that’s gone on in 2021, I hope we see an end to disruptive issues like material shortages and price rises, and that some kind of stability returns to the industry.”

Craig McGowan, Chair, Lanarkshire Branch

Kenny Berrie, Vice-Chair, Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch “Although online meetings and webinars have been effective, there’s no substitute for looking someone in the eye, so fingers crossed we can open things up and enjoy constructive, in-person events when the time is right.”

David Smith, 3rd Representative, Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch “I’d like to see a decent wage structure for newly qualified electricians to prevent them leaving and going overseas where they could potentially earn more.”

Ian Young, 4th Representative, Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch

“After the past two years of upheaval and uncertainty, I’d like for things to settle down in the industry so we can focus on what we do best.

I’d also like to see progress being made on the issue of payments to help improve cashflow and ensure sub-contractors get paid on time.”

Tony Harvey, Chair, Tayside branch “I’d like to have more readily available skilled and competent operatives to fill the ever-increasing skills gap in the industry.”

Keith Smith, Vice Chair, Tayside Branch “I’d like to see more government funding to assist with apprentice wages. Some smaller companies aren’t in a position to take on an apprentice due to the cost.

If they could get funding for at least 50% of wages, it would encourage more to sign up, increasing the number of qualified electricians and reducing the skills shortage.”

“I’d like to see the Scottish Government finally pass legislation to enable regulation of the electrical industry and make protection of title a reality.

Hopefully businesses can also bounce back post-COVID and remain on a vibrant footing.”

Alistair Grant, Vice-Chair, Inverness & North of Scotland Branch and SELECT Vice-President

Graham Lyall, 3rd Representative, Tayside Branch CABLEtalk

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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NEWS SELECT The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Midlothian EH26 0SB Tel: 0131 445 5577 Fax: 0131 445 5548 admin@select.org.uk

Follow SELECT online at: TWITTER @Updates_SELECT @Training_SELECT @Regulate_SELECT FACEBOOK SELECT.TheECAofS INSTAGRAM @SELECT_Trade_Association

Visit our websites at:

select.org.uk select.org.uk/training cabletalkmagazine.com selectawards.co.uk

Please phone our membership team on 0131 445 5577 to apply to become a Member of SELECT or if you would like more information about joining.

Raising a glass to SELECT after challenging year

Final Central Board meeting of 2021 acknowledges the continued dedication of SELECT Members and staff

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ffice bearers and staff once again raised a glass to SELECT as the final Central Board meeting of 2021 was held via webinar.

President Donald W Orr toasted Members, staff and Past Presidents at the end of the meeting on Wednesday 1 December, attended by senior SELECT staff and Central Board members.

Donald said: “I’d like to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of all our Members this year, as well as the SELECT staff who have supported them through another challenging 12 months.

“It’s only fitting that we also recognise the ongoing work of our Past Presidents and Honorary Past Presidents, who continue to represent the association so well.”

The association also sent personalised

Alternatively you can email us on memberservices@select.org.uk or submit an online enquiry.

CABLEtalk is the official magazine of SELECT and is distributed free to qualifying readers.

ISSN 1365-3288 SELECT is the trading style of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland. The SELECT logo is a registered Collective Mark.

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hampers to Past Presidents in lieu of the annual Christmas lunch, which became a casualty of coronavirus restrictions for the second year in a row.

Gifts were sent to Archie Jay, Alick Smith, Ricky Wilson, Hamish McDonald, David Smith, Eric Rae, Douglas Kelly, John Noble, Richard Allan and Kevin Griffin, as well as Honorary Members Newell McGuiness and Michael Goodwin, along with a message and update on the year’s achievements from Donald and Managing Director Alan Wilson.

Donald said: “We regretfully had to cancel the Past Presidents’ Christmas lunch, but wanted to find an alternative way to show our appreciation for our colleagues’ hard work.

“Our Past Presidents perform an essential and much-valued role, and hopefully this gift goes some way to recognising that.”

Countdown on for alarm law change

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ith just two months becoming clear that there is also still a great to go until new fire deal of uncertainty about what is required safety legislation to be compliant. comes into effect, “As part of our ongoing information SELECT is campaign, we strongly recommend reminding a hard-wired interlinked alarm homeowners to system, installed by a qualified ensure they have compliant heat, smoke and electrical professional. carbon monoxide (CO) alarms installed.

“Self-installed battery systems are The association says it’s vital that of course also permissible, but preparations are made now before if choosing this option, new Scottish Government homeowners should always guidance for homes comes ensure that they only use into effect on February 1 2022, compliant products. reminding the public to: “We’re also reminding the ● Employ a qualified public that they should be electrician to install any given relevant certification Bob Cairney hard-wired systems for the installation of a fire ● Ensure the correct certification alarm system as recommended is issued on completion of any work in BS 5839-6:2019.” ● Check that any self-installed battery The latest reminder came after SELECT alarms comply with relevant standards launched an awareness campaign in ● Report any rogue door-to-door traders September which included an engaging offering to install cut-price alarms animation and a dedicated page on the ● Contact their home insurance provider new website. to discuss any potential impact.

Bob Cairney, Director of Technical Services, said: “Our Members are seeing Technical Q&A: a rise in requests for installation, but it is Pages 38-41

“We strongly recommend a hard-wired interlinked alarm system, installed by a qualified electrical professional” Christmas opening hours The SELECT office will close for the Christmas holidays on Friday 24 December.

The Walled Garden will open again at 8.30am on Wednesday 5 January, when a review of operational procedures will be made in line with relevant COVID-19 restrictions.

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A technical presentation on the new Tolerable Standard was the highlight of the autumn Branch Updates, which were again held online due to ongoing COVID-19 measures.

All eight gettogethers were successfully delivered via GoToMeeting in October, with the topical issue of heat and smoke alarms covered by Director of Technical Services Bob Cairney and Technical Advisers Keith Hagan, Stuart McKelvie, Mark McLaughin, Neil Sim and Darren Sweeney.

Updates on SELECT activity were also delivered by the Directors of Function and Presidential Team, with Training Officers providing latest news from the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT).

President Donald W Orr said: “It was good to see so many new Members attending for the first time, and from feedback it was clear that the presentation proved helpful for a great many people.”

With meeting restrictions still in place for the foreseeable future, preparations are being made to host the next Branch Updates in the same way, with hybrid meetings also a possibility. Details will be made available soon.

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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NEWS ROUND-UP Tributes to Gordon SELECT was saddened to hear of the recent passing of former Branch Officer Gordon Hutcheon.

Gordon was Chair of the Aberdeen and North-East of Scotland Branch from 1999 to 2000 and was an enthusiastic participant in a variety of SELECT committees.

SELECT Managing Director Alan Wilson said: “Gordon was a good friend to a lot of people at SELECT and across the wider industry and we pass on our sincere condolences to his family.”

Protection of title calls grow

Electricians continue to back SELECT’s campaign to regulate the electrical industry and protect us all from the consequences of unqualified tradespeople

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he President of SELECT says regulation of the electrical industry is essential to stop the “incompetent and dangerous” workmanship that Members encounter on a regular basis.

Donald W Orr insists protection of title is the only answer to the faulty electrical work that costs Scotland around £120 million every year.

And he was supported by two fellow Members, who said they signed up to SELECT’s high-profile campaign for regulation after being regularly called upon to fix dangerous work carried out by rogue and unqualified tradespeople.

Donald said: “The level of sub-standard electrical installations we’re still seeing demonstrates there is an urgent need to protect the public from unscrupulous traders. We see incompetent and dangerous work on a regular basis and it could have tragic Donald W Orr results.” The warning

was echoed by two signatories to our Wall of Support, which continues to attract backing from organisations and politicians.

Jim Kerr, of JK Electrical in Glasgow, said: “Hardly a week goes by where I don’t come across electrical work of extremely poor standard. It’s essential electricians be given protection of title.”

Brian McKenna, Director of Glasgow-based Enerlek, added: “Too often I have to fix work that doesn’t conform to the regulations. The title of electrician must be protected and regulated to ensure people are safe.”

SELECT’s campaign, run in partnership with the Scottish Joint Industry Board, the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust and Unite the Union, aims to make it an offence for someone to call themselves an electrician when they have no, or inadequate, qualifications.

Scott completes 26 miles and 25 years SELECT Member Scott McLean had double cause for celebration in October, marking 25 years in business and running a personal best in his first London Marathon.

The keen runner completed the gruelling 26-mile course 10

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on 3 October in three hours, 31 minutes and 25 seconds, raising more than £2,000 for Age UK in the process.

Scott said: “It was my fifth marathon but my first in London and it was a great experience, with the excellent crowd helping me through the

pain of the last eight miles.

I’d like to thank everyone who donated to help Age UK continue to offer their friendship, advice and support to millions of older people.”

Scott had just about got his breath back when it was time to celebrate a quarter century

Apprentice numbers reach 12-year high The future is electric as SECTT celebrates highest trainee intake in Scotland since 2009 The Scottish Electrical Charitable prospects will be brighter if they’re part Training Trust (SECTT) has saluted of a sector that is going to play a key an “excellent” start to the academic year part in all our lives.” after the number of new electrical A total of 2,158 electrical apprentices apprentices and adult trainees reached and adult trainees are currently training a 12-year high. in Scotland, including the 715 More than 800 new learners have apprentices and 126 adult trainees enrolled on the Electrical recruited for the 2021 intake.

Apprenticeship and Adult Trainee Barrie added: “Not only are the Programmes for 2021, with numbers looking good, but the colleges and training centres quality of the young people reporting full classrooms. being taken on – both male The intake is the highest and female – is really in Scotland since 2009 – impressive.” and SECTT says it’s another SECTT and the SJIB encouraging sign of the praised employers for Barrie McKay determination to tackle the taking on apprentices in UK-wide skills shortage . numbers earlier this year.

Barrie McKay, Training and Fiona Harper, Director of Development Manager at SECTT, which Employment and Skills at SELECT manages high-quality training on behalf and The Secretary of the SJIB, said: of the Scottish Joint Industry Board “The industry is committed to the next (SJIB), said: “It’s really encouraging to generation, and employers are see a return to such high numbers. supportive of creating a pool of highly“The figures are particularly satisfying qualified personnel to take their given the position the industry was in business and the sector forward.” this time last year, when only 500 people began training due to COVID-19.

“This improved intake illustrates that Toolkits handover: people recognise the future is electric Pages 50&51 and also understand their personal

of his firm, Stirling Electrical Services, which carries out installation, inspecting and testing and portable appliance testing.

After sharing a speciallythemed cake with staff at the company’s HQ in Fallin, Stirlingshire, Scott said: “It all began 25 years ago today on 8 October 1996. Thank you to

everyone past and present, team members and customers who have been part of our journey. Here’s to another 25 years!”

Donate to Scott’s fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/scottmclean2021 CABLEtalk

SELECT training praised by SQA SELECT’s training department has been praised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) as part of its annual review of our services and courses.

Our online BS 7671 course was singled out for particular acclaim following the annual qualification verification visit to SELECT’s dedicated training centre in August.

The SQA External Verifier commented: “There is a good standard of documentation in place for the centre’s processes. Procedures are comprehensive and reflect that the staff are well experienced with this material and present it in an excellent way to give the candidates a firstclass presentation and online assessment environment.”

The report went on: “Internal verification (IV) processes were also found to be in very good order with a comprehensive IV reporting system in place and IV paperwork and additional student results were reviewed at random during the session.

“Overall, opinion was that good internal procedures are in place, that standards are maintained and documentation is well controlled with a revision history recorded.”

SELECT Training Manager Jenny Cryans said: “This outcome reflects the excellent work delivered by our trainers and administration team.”

The SQA verdict comes hot on the heels of recent feedback from delegates who have taken part in our online BS 7671 training course.

One said: “It was a great option to continue training during trying times.”

To find out more about SELECT training courses, email: training@ select.org.uk, visit the Training section of our website or call: 0131 445 5577.

New training courses set for lift-off in February: Pages 42&43 DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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NEWS CICV FORUM Stay COVID secure through winter The CICV Forum has urged the sector to keep focusing on health and safety to protect colleagues, customers and families from another winter of discontent.

The collective warns that COVID-19 is still a serious threat and vaccinations can only help so much – insisting that it’s vital for the whole construction industry to keep following rigorous health and safety procedures.

Rebecca Crosland, Chair of the Forum’s Health and Safety group, said: “With new cases of COVID-19 being reported all the time, what we do now will have a big impact on the transmission of the virus as we move into the winter and New Year.

“With colder weather approaching, people will be increasingly working and spending their downtime indoors, where the risk of infection is much greater. It is therefore vitally important, even if you have been vaccinated, to keep following all the COVID-19 secure controls to protect vulnerable individuals, your work colleagues and yourself.

“It’s important to get tested regularly, especially if you have symptoms, and to ensure you get vaccinated and receive the booster jab when offered.”

The Forum said it was essential to keep following its advice video on safe working practices and other information on its website cicvforum.co.uk

Green Home Festival to launch in 2022 Building on the success of COP26, the CICV Forum has announced it will be launching a low-carbon homes festival in 2022, delivering practical assistance to help Scotland become a net zero nation.

Running from 8-12 August, the Green Home Festival will 12

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CICV Forum impact praised

Scottish Parliamentary motion congratulates group’s role in supporting construction sector Members of the Scottish Parliament legacy issue, the Forum’s success has have paid tribute to the Construction meant that its membership – made up Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum of 29 trade associations, professional as the unique collective supports the services bodies and companies – has recovery of the construction sector. agreed to continue its activities postMSPs from the SNP, Conservatives, pandemic for the long-term benefit Labour and Liberal Democrats backed a of the industry. motion tabled by Labour politician Ms Lennon, who represents Monica Lennon congratulating Central Scotland, said: “When the Forum for the support, the crisis began, the CICV guidance and advice it has Forum acted with speed, delivered to the sector efficiency and clarity of throughout the pandemic. purpose to become the The unusual first port of call for people acknowledgment in the construction recognises the speed and Monica industry in Scotland to vision with which the Forum Lennon come to for help and advice. was established as the effects of “The sector came together to the COVID-19 shutdown became build a dynamic organisation which apparent in 2020. showed collaboration, commitment and It states that, “by bringing together all a determination not only to save the the major trade and professional bodies, sector but to improve and expand it.” the CICV Forum has pooled industry Alan Wilson, CICV Forum Chair and expertise and knowledge to represent Managing Director of SELECT, said: the interests of Scotland’s diverse “We would we would like to thank construction supply chain with one Monica for placing this recognition consistent voice”. It also notes that, as a formally on record.”

engage the public and businesses in the global challenge, offering demonstrations and hands-on guidance to help everyone reduce their carbon footprint.

The week-long experience will be part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe and will be organised by members of the CICV Forum,

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

who are aiming to build it into an annual event.

One of the event’s organisers, John McKinney, Secretary of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, said: “The event will highlight the important role construction will play for Scotland to achieve its net zero target in the years ahead.”

The Green Home Festival will host around 15 shows targeting homeowners, professionals, local authorities, housing associations and local authorities.

On offer will be practical advice on how to carry out effective retrofit work on older homes as well as the latest technology for new homes.

Further details are available by emailing info@ greenhomefestival.co.uk and a more detailed schedule will be revealed next year.

SJIB to launch fifth phase of ECS cards New Network Infrastructure cards available from 13 December through Board’s online portal

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he Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) is preparing to launch the fifth phase of Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) cards through its online portal.

The Network Infrastructure card will be available from Monday 13 December and is designed for operatives and managers who work in datacomms.

Cards are available in eight network infrastructure categories: Apprentice, Trainee, Installer (Level 3), Installer (Gold), Advanced Installer, Supervisor, Designer and Manager.

To be eligible, applicants must be able to prove they have completed specific training as well as the ECS Health, Safety and

Environmental Assessment within the last 30 months. Alternatively, they must hold a valid approved exemption.

The new card follows the rollout of the portal in May, which means cards can be applied for, renewed and upgraded online in several specialist areas. Using the portal is quick and easy, with applications and payments made via a computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

To find out more and apply, visit the portal at: bit.ly/ECS-portal click on ‘Network Infrastructure’, click on the relevant card and complete the initial online application.

Copies of all relevant certificates and documentation must be uploaded. Failure to do so will delay the application process.

The SJIB has reminded applicants for certain ECS cards they must provide evidence of appropriate health and safety training – and the ECS Health, Safety and Environmental Assessment WILL NOT be accepted.

The plea comes after a number of candidates applied to complete the ECS assessment for particular cards rather than meeting the new health and safety requirements.

These new cards are Electrical Labourer or Operative, ECS Related Discipline, ECS Site Support and ECS Manager. Fiona Cornwall, Employment & Skills Operations Manager, said: “You should complete an initial application and ensure you meet the new criteria.”

NEW MEMBERS Eight firms have become SELECT Members since 1 October 2021

6 1 7

8 3

2

4

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SELECT is preparing to launch a new Associate Membership scheme in January, giving external organisations the chance to play a key role in Scotland’s largest construction trade body.

Open to service providers, manufacturers and other relevant electrical organisations who don’t meet the usual criteria of membership , the scheme

will give Members access to a wealth of services and benefits.

Iain Mason, Director of Membership & Communications, said: “Associate member schemes are frequently used by modern trade associations to help develop a mutually complementary network of industryspecific partners.

“Our scheme will allow us

to build stronger relationships with organisations that can deliver useful services and special offers to Members.

“We have already had interest from some big names in the electrical industry and we look forward to launching the scheme officially in the new year.”

Further details will appear in the next edition of CABLEtalk.

CABLEtalk

1. Angus Alarms & Security Ltd, Kirriemuir 2. Roseblane Electrical Services, Glasgow 3. KJM Energy Ltd, Dunfermline 4. Phoenix Utilities Limited, East Kilbride 5. Greg Electrician, Ayr 6. Neil Richardson Electrical, Laurencekirk 7 Hilltown Electrical Limited, Dundee 8. Alan J Paterson Electrical Contractor, Perth

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NEWS INDUSTRY Certsure appoints Managing Director Certsure is preparing to welcome a new Managing Director, with Richard Orton due to start at the organisation on 10 January.

Richard joins from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, where he has been a director and member of the senior leadership team. He is also a Member of the Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Chartered Marketer.

Certsure Chair Gary Anderson said: “Richard brings 20 years of leadership experience gained in the retail, distribution and third sectors. I look forward to having him on board.”

Richard said: “I am delighted to join Certsure at such an exciting time. “

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New EuropeOn President Martin Bailey replaces Gérard Constantin at European Association of Electrical Contractors

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ELECT Central Board A former President of ECA, in recent member Martin Bailey years, Martin has helped transform has been named as EuropeOn as Vice President the new President and chair of the EuropeOn of EuropeOn, the Value Chain Working European Group. He replaces Association of Electrical Gérard Constantin from Contractors.

Swiss member association EIT.swiss, Martin has led several who spent three years as critical initiatives for the Martin Bailey President of EuropeOn. association, and was instrumental in developing the EuropeOn report on business opportunities for electrotechnical and engineering services contractors after Martin on video for SELECT TV: COVID-19, which featured in a previous Page 35 issue of CABLEtalk.

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Red diesel ban reminder

Professor Rudi Klein collected the Major Contribution to the Industry Award

Rudi honoured at ECA Awards SELECT consultant Professor Rudi Klein was recognised for his outstanding service to the electrical sector with a special gong at the 2020/21 ECA Industry Awards.

The long-time industry advocate and major player in the fight for fairer payment practices received a standing ovation as he collected the Major Contribution to the Industry Award.

Professor Klein joined 16 top-performing businesses and individuals from across the industry who scooped honours at the London Hilton Bankside Hotel on 22 October.

Hosted by TV and radio personalities Steph McGovern and Alan Dedicoat, guests were treated to a range of entertainment, with thousands of pounds also

raised for the Electrical Industries Charity during a prize draw.

ECA Director of Member Services Helen Atkinson said: “Many congratulations to this year’s winners, and also to the nominees who all submitted impressive entries.”

Rudi’s column: Pages 36&37

CABLEtalk

The Construction Industry Joint Taxation Committee (JTC) is reminding construction companies to use up existing stocks of red diesel before a ban comes into force.

From 1 April 2022, construction vehicles can no longer be filled with red diesel.

A JTC spokesman said: “You don’t have to drain vehicles of any residual red but it will be against the law to fuel a construction vehicle with red after the start date.”

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FEATURES SJIB APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Bright futures

The SJIB Apprentice of the Year awards, sponsored by Edmundson Electrical, celebrate the best new talent in our industry. Following the postponement of last year’s ceremony, the awards for 2020 and 2021 were handed out recently, with both winners showing high levels of skill and dedication

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR 2021

Cameron Wood Age: 21 Works: JS Hardie Electrical Studied: Borders College, Galashiels

How do you feel about winning Apprentice of the Year?

I was really surprised when I found out. I definitely didn’t expect to win and I was really pleased. It’s made all the hard work and all the sleepless nights worthwhile.

Why did you want to be an electrician?

I had no idea what I wanted to do.

Getting a trade had crossed my mind but I didn’t know how to get into it. I did work experience with Dave at JS Hardie for a week and I enjoyed it – it was much better than being in school! I’d been on 16

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the tools a little bit all through my life with my dad because he’s a joiner and he’s the one that suggested I try it out for work experience. Later, I got a call from Dave while I was doing my exams and jumped at the chance to start working for him full time with an apprenticeship.

Was your apprenticeship what you expected?

I had a brief idea of what I’d be doing from my work experience. During that time, I’d been doing simple jobs, like wiring smoke alarms, and when I started working, that’s what I was doing. I started with things like testing and running cables – all the easy stuff – and then progressed to more difficult jobs as time went on. The work I do now I’m qualified is mainly domestic and agricultural work – it ranges from rewires and testing to putting up floodlights in farm sheds. We do the occasional new build as well and it’s always different.

How was the college training?

I did enjoy it, but I was quite surprised at the amount of theory that was involved. When I left high school, I was quite happy thinking I’d never have to

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write another essay, but I wrote more in college than I ever did in school! The work was quite challenging – there was a lot of physics involved but I picked it up more easily than I had in school.

How about on site?

I enjoyed the practical work the most and picked it up fairly easily. On site, everything is different. In college, the work that you do is in a perfect environment, but on a building site or in a house, nothing is perfect and there’s always something that can trip you up.

Every day on site is different and I enjoy the variation and being out working. I probably enjoy rewires and new builds the most, seeing something progress from an empty building to a functional house. Seeing them develop makes me feel proud and it’s very rewarding to see it from cables being run to a proper, finished house. I also enjoy wiring fuse boards as well and take pride in making them as neat as I can.

Do you have any advice for others considering an apprenticeship?

Just stick in and study. There isn’t a secret answer to it, it’s just studying. If

Cameron had a week of work experience with David Hardie (left) of JS Hardie before joining as an apprentice

EMPLOYER’S VIEW David Hardie, Director, JS Hardie Cammy’s a worthy winner of the award.

He picks things up well and he’s not scared to ask when he doesn’t know something.

You’re always learning in this job – every day’s a school day and I still come across things that I’ve not seen before and need to work out. His knowledge of the regs is brilliant – he keeps me right! He’s very knowledgeable and he’s also very particular – everything’s always very neat and tidy. He’s also very conscientious and all the customers who have worked with him say he’s a good worker.

He’d worked with his dad before starting with me and that helped him out with things like cleaning and tidying up.

It meant he had the right attitude and was ready to work. I’m sure he’s got a great future ahead of him and he’ll do well.

you’ve got a spare half hour then look at your books – it really adds up. I also wrote things out again and again to learn them, especially things like the safe isolation procedures to make sure that I really knew them and had them in the right order.

How helpful did you find the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) and your training officer?

They were great. I asked for help in the lead-up to my exams and if I emailed them they were always very prompt getting back to me and there were never any problems. The training officers are really easy to talk to and always happy to answer any questions.

What does the future hold?

I’m not entirely sure yet. I’m just trying to save some money and trying to decide what I’d like to do. I haven’t got a solid plan yet. I’ve still got plenty of time to think about it.

Cameron enjoys the variety and challenge of practical work

Apprentice of the Year 2020 Patrick Henderson Pages 18-19 CABLEtalk

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FEATURES SJIB APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR 2020

Patrick Henderson Age: 23 Works: Atalian Servest AMK Studied: Forth Valley College, Falkirk

How do you feel about winning Apprentice of the Year?

When I started my apprenticeship, it didn’t even cross my mind that I’d win an award. I just saw it as a job but it turns out I was good at it! I was surprised when I heard I was getting the award. It’s quite strange because it happened a while ago and now I’m qualified but I’m happy that I’ve achieved it. A lot of the credit goes to the training I got at college and the really good lecturers I had, plus all the help from the company and the tradesmen I’ve worked with. I’ve had a lot of continuing support throughout my apprenticeship from Mike Stark with the structured training plan he provides, and whenever there were questions to be asked he was always available to help or point me in the right direction.

Why did you want to be an electrician?

I’ve always had an interest in it. My older cousin was an electrician and it always sounded good so I thought I’d go for it as well.

“I want to go as far as I can in my career, I’ve been clear about that since day one” 18

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Was your apprenticeship what you expected?

At first, it was harder than I had expected. Atalian Servest AMK are more a commercial company and the work we undertake is different to what I’d heard about and expected.

I enjoy the challenging sides of the job more than the easy sides. I was quite nervous before my Final Integrated Competence Assessment (FICA) but once I got started the nerves settled a bit and I just treated it as a job rather than as a test. Then when I finished my apprenticeship and qualified, I’d only been working for a few months before lockdown hit. I couldn’t wait to get back to work afterwards.

How was the college training?

I didn’t know what to expect with college but I’d enjoyed doing physics a lot in school and obviously that features a lot so college was good. You learn a lot that you don’t learn on site,

EMPLOYER’S VIEW Mike Stark, Director at Atalian Servest AMK

and it covers all the theory that’s just as important as the practical side.

At first, the biggest challenge was remembering things, like circuitry and how things are wired. Now it’s become second nature, but when you begin there’s a lot of new skills to pick up and take in. You go in knowing nothing and you’re learning different ways of doing things.

How about on site?

I’m always interested in things I’ve never done before so working on site has been great. It’s always challenging and a lot of the job involves quite a bit of problem solving – working in old buildings where you need to find a way through. The containment work was quite tricky at the start but I’ve got a lot more experience now and it becomes easier. I like getting the chance to be on jobs from start to finish and seeing the transformation – watching a building site turn into a

hotel or an office. Seeing that end result is something I really enjoy.

What does the future hold?

I want to go as far as I can in my career, I’ve been clear about that since day one. I’m currently doing my HNC in electrical engineering, which Atalian Servest AMK has supported me to carry out at night school.

They’re still investing in me and I’m still training. I wanted to do it now while I’m still young and getting experience. I’ve also applied for my Advanced Competence Assessment (ACA). I’m really pleased this is the career path I followed and I feel like I’ve made the right choice.

Do you have any advice for others considering an apprenticeship?

Stick at it. There are good days and bad days but keep at it and keep asking questions.

Patrick has displayed his dedication and commitment since starting with Mike Stark (left) at Atalian Servest AMK

We’re all so proud that Patrick’s been given this award and he absolutely deserves it. From day one, Patrick knew what he wanted to do and what his end goal was. He’s very dedicated and he knows what he wants to do. When he started, he pretty much said he wanted my job and that’s what I wanted to hear. It shows his approach to things. I remember him phoning me after his FICA and he wasn’t sure how he’d done – when we got the results he’d got 98 per cent overall.

We have a great dedication to our apprentices and like to take them on a journey from day one to when they complete their apprenticeship. But we can only do so much, the remainder is down to the application and commitment of the apprentice.

I’ve got so much respect for what SJIB and Edmundson are doing to recognise what Patrick’s achieved, despite COVID-19.

I’m really pleased they decided to continue with it and recognise the work of the apprentices. They deserve it.

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FEATURES CHARITY FUNDRAISER

By Linda Rolfe, Events, Marketing & Communications Coordinator

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Pounds for Peru Our adventurer has made a great start to her fundraising quest in aid of the Electrical Industries Charity – but still needs YOUR help to meet her target

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fter two months of activity, I’ve been bowled over by the generosity and kindness of everyone who’s contributed to my Macchu Picchu fundraiser, so thank you!

As you’ll know from the last issue of CABLEtalk, I’m undertaking a five-day trek through the Peruvian Andes next September in aid of the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC).

So far I’ve raised around £500 towards my target figure of £5,000 thanks to Members and colleagues.

As well as my fundraising web page, bit.ly/LindaInca, I’ve boosted the coffers with a couple of bake sales and by painting nails for friends and family.

It means I’m one step closer to Peru and, more importantly, that the EIC can continue to do great things for electricians in need, such as: ● SUPPORTING the family of a two-year-old ; TE cancer sufferer with DA UP financial aid and a trip to his favourite place, Peppa Pig World ● KEEPING a retired electrical worker and his family warm by helping to fund a new central heating boiler, and ● HELPING an addiction and anxiety sufferer on the road to recovery by funding a counsellor and rehab.

Stories like these are the reason I’ll be tackling the jungle next year – so please dig deep to help the EIC continue making a difference in the lives of so many people.

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I’m currently busy organising a race night, footballers’ Q&A evening and

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Upcoming events

Linda has been busy painting nails and baking treats to raise money

Ladies’ Day, with raffle prizes donated by local businesses. A few online quizzes and games are also coming up, so keep following SELECT on social media for the latest updates.

As far as training goes, the walking boots are being broken in and I’ll be spending the next few months trudging through snow and mud – although I don’t plan any camping trips until the summer.

My Santa list is also a bit different this year, with the usual perfume and

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make-up replaced with things such as a head torch, waterproofs and a sleeping bag. It’s different but also exciting, so thanks again for all the generous donations. Merry Christmas everyone!

PLAY YOUR PART! To sponsor Linda and help electricians via the EIC, please go to bit.ly/Linda-Inca

FEATURES MENTAL HEALTH

A helping hand at Christmas The financial pressures of this time of year and ongoing impact of COVID-19 will once again mean a stressful festive season for many.

The Electrical Industries Charity understands this impact on financial and emotional wellbeing and offers a lifeline to those in need

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hile many of us are looking forward to a holiday with loved ones, Christmas can be a challenging time for those struggling with financial pressures, isolation, anxiety and addiction.

For some, the pandemic has exacerbated these issues and the legacy of the last 18 months will be most felt during the upcoming Yuletide period.

Christmas is when some people are at their lowest ebb, with loneliness

magnified by images of happy families elsewhere. Other may be worried about the cost of presents and feel pressured into taking on or adding to debt.

Those struggling with such issues often feel they can’t go on and need somewhere to turn during the festive period – which is where the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) can help.

With suicide rates 2.7 times the national average in the electrical and energy sector, the charity has taken huge strides to champion positive mental health and trained more than 10,000 people in mental health

awareness. The EIC also knows the festive period can be particularly hard financially and emotionally, so if you’re facing a tough 2022, its expert welfare team is here to help stop the circuit of anxiety, debt and depression.

Throughout the festive season, its experts will be on hand to deliver practical assistance, including financial help to those whose circumstances have been made worse by the pandemic.

From advice to counselling sessions and financial grants to CV support for those who may have been made redundant, the charity is here to help.

Tessa Ogle, CEO and MD of the EIC, said: “We understand the pressures this year has brought, and this festive period may be understandably hard for those who are struggling. We continue to support our industry colleagues with financial support, emotional assistance or just a listening ear. You don’t need to suffer in silence – the EIC is here for you.”

HOW TO FIND HELP To find out more about how the EIC can help this Christmas, call 0800 652 1618 or email support@electricalcharity.org

The festive season will be difficult for many after the stress of the pandemic CABLEtalk

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FEATURES COBOTS Cobots allow humans and robots to be interdependent and focus on what each of them does best

Image: © Hilti Group

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

Rise of the cobots

Today’s industrial revolution has seen machines increasingly replace traditional roles around the world. However, this same technology could also enhance jobs in the electrical sector by taking over strenuous and dull tasks, working side-by-side with contractors and freeing up minds for more creative and rewarding assignments. It’s time to introduce the robot’s friendly cousin – the cobot

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By Roger Flølo CEO, nLink AS

ne of the most predominant and promising trends in robotics over the last years has been the increased prevalence of collaborative robots or ‘cobots’. As the name indicates, these type of robots are collaborative – and thus often regarded as more friendly than the often bigger industrial robots.

It has been less than a decade since we saw the first cobot prototypes intended for use in job sites. We thought of these as early prototypes that sometime in the future – maybe – would pave the way for subsequent, more sophisticated versions.

Today, Amazon has deployed more than 200,000 robots in its warehouses, Boston Dynamics offers a range of different collaborative robots and Hilti has launched a ceiling drilling robot for the construction and electrical contractor industry.

There’s no doubt that the future is already here when it comes to cobots, with the growth rate of deployment around the world now exceeding 25 per cent annually. This growth is not just related to the growing take-up of cobots, but also to a convergence between cobots and traditional Continued on page 24 >>>

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FEATURES COBOTS >>> Continued from page 23

industrial robots, which are increasingly adopting some of the benefits of cobots as a result of advances in sensors, machine vision and motion control.

In the future, cobots won’t just operate in factories, but in offices and job sites too. So don’t think big and bulky machines – think small and agile.

What are cobots? And how will they affect future work?

To understand the impact that collaborative robots can have, it’s essential to understand exactly what they are. Basically, they are a niche group of robots designed to interact physically with human workers in a shared workplace.

These compact robotic assistants were created to address the safety challenges posed by traditional industrial robots. A ‘protective stop’ is triggered when a cobot comes in contact with a human, ensuring that the movement of the cobot is halted and does not harm the person. From protective stop the cobot can resume its task upon human command without resetting or rebooting.

With cobots, the idea is for humans and robots to be interdependent and safely focus on what each of them does best. This makes them an especially ideal solution for being assistants to craftsmen of all trades, performing tasks that would otherwise be too difficult for

the human or robot to do alone.

The consistent labour shortage is an unfortunate trend in the construction industry, but cobots may be able to ease that burden and one day replace human labourers for low-skilled work.

Robots and cobots: the same but different

The difference between cobots and robots is actually not about technology, it’s about the type of work they do and how they do it. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), robots are automated tools designed for independent use in industrial, domestic and professional environments. In cobotics, the difference in the automated technology is in their collaborative intention.

Cobots are robots that are not meant to replace their human counterparts; instead they are meant to work directly with them with the intention of improving productivity and enhancing safety.

Since cobots are not entirely independent, they are meant to have some degree of supervision while working. Because of the less stringent safety requirements, cobots are also fairly simple to programme compared to (autonomous) robots. This allows their human counterparts, the robot operator, to make modifications to their actions on-site when necessary.

Designed with an emphasis on safety, cobots typically incorporate rounded shapes to prevent human injuries and sensors to control the accuracy of their actions. Functions to stop movement are programmed into cobots along with power and force limitations to minimise the possibility of human injuries.

Types of work for cobots

Cobots are designed to interact physically with human workers in a shared workplace 24

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One of the key drivers for successful robotisation and cobotisation is job enhancement. According to a number of epidemiological and ergonomic studies, the construction sector is in the top three occupations for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), along with the manufacturing and meat processing industries.

This issue has persisted for decades, and despite many efforts, we have seen deterioration rather than improvement

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Image: © Hilti Group

compared to other industries.

According to a report from The Health and Safety Laboratory, one of the reasons for this is that tasks carried out within construction trades can vary throughout the day, but can also be repetitive.

Construction workers may have little or no control over which task can be carried out at a particular time, as this can depend on environmental conditions such as inclement weather when working outdoors or at height, and also upon other conditions such as the delivery of materials or the progress of other trades.

Tasks are often performed at maximum pace to meet deadlines, placing the worker at increased risk of not only chronic WMSDs, but also

“The idea is for humans and robots to be interdependent and safely focus on what each of them does best” of a building site to another ● Prefabrication: for small assembly line production and transportation of components ● Assembly: to perform specific tasks, such as tightening screws, with adequate accuracy ● Inspection: in areas that are difficult for humans to access.

Cobots do not typically require as much power to operate as standard robots since they are often relatively small and agile.

Because of the less stringent safety requirements for cobots, one can allow more of the programming to be done by the end users themselves.

This gives the option to deploy cobots for multiple tasks, and they can be moved from one project or job site to another when needed.

What not to expect from a cobot Cobots represent a new breed of robots, intended to take away strenuous job tasks

of acute injuries. Cobots can therefore be deployed for tasks that might otherwise be thought of as repetitive, tedious or even dangerous, but essential.

When we are evaluating job tasks suitable for cobotisation, we often refer to this as the search for tasks which are ticking the boxes of the 3Ds: dangerous, dirty and dull, i.e. repetitive.

This may decrease labour costs and result in the reduction of repetitive or physically demanding jobs for workers who can be reassigned to more mentally demanding or creative tasks that can be completed alongside the collaborative actions of cobots.

Cobotic applications in construction and electrical contracting include: ● Logistics: to transport heavy materials or equipment from one part

Though cobots find application in industries like healthcare, polymers and plastic, food and beverages, automotive, machining and agriculture to name a few, there are still hurdles to overcome.

The flipside of being collaborative, small and agile, are reduced workload, force and speed compared to an industrial robot. A typical workload as of today for a cobot is up to 15kg, limiting the application possibilities, i.e. cobots are not suited for heavy duty tasks of less repetitive nature.

Cobots are also usually less accurate than their non-collaborative cousins, which is reflected in the price tag.

‘Blind’ cobots may have an accuracy of 5mm. However, equipped with sensors such as distance sensors, cameras or in cooperation with a total station or a laser tracker, it is the accuracy of the sensors that determines the accuracy of the cobot. By adding the right sensor to the feedback loop, the accuracy could be reduced to 1mm. It all depends on the application.

As cobots are introduced to new

applications, their software developers, hardware engineers and operators will face a quite steep learning curve. Both humans and machines need training and learning to ensure that everything is being done properly and guarantees return on investment.

A tenfold productivity increase over the first year of operation is not unusual, illustrating the complexity, but also the potential, of developing an efficient collaboration between humans and advanced machines.

Cobots on site

Since cobots are designed for taking over dull or repetitive tasks and allowing employees to instead take on other tasks that require human efforts, companies can upskill their existing staff to engage in more meaningful work.

An example here is drilling robots, which are now commercially available.

Drilling in ceilings is necessary, but is a strenuous and repetitive task that most electricians would prefer to avoid if possible due to the repetitive nature and static work postures, contributing to the occurrence of low back and musculoskeletal symptoms.

These are conditions also referred to as repetitive strain injuries (RSI), cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) or occupational overuse syndromes (OOS), which are all well known and described in scientific literature.

Since a drilling robot also could drill holes and document the job for all trades at a job site, the overall productivity is increased. In fact, a new business opportunity opens up in offering ready-drilled and documented buildings.

And why shouldn’t electrical contractors take on the leading role?

After all, they’re already covering electrical wiring, communications infrastructure and fire and safety at a job site. Smaller and more lightweight Continued on page 26 >>>

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FEATURES COBOTS >>> Continued from page 25

cobots like Boston Dynamics’ ‘Spot’ are suitable both for inspection tasks and for continuous monitoring at a job site, documenting as-built information and interacting with the BIM model.

Robotising data-gathering tasks fits into a fully digital workflow, starting with planning (BIM), through data gathering (e.g. scanning), to execution like drilling.

Activities like logistics, cleaning and waste management all contain subsets of tasks associated with being dull and dirty. When left for cobots to do, it will free up productive time for the human workers to focus on their core work tasks.

When a fleet of different cobots are operating at the same job site, there will be a need to coordinate them, compile data that is collected and download new, updated task plans to the fleet of cobots.

The cobots will also require supervision and service.

All of these activities, and in particular supervision and service, represent a huge future business opportunity for electrical contractors, as these by nature easily could upskill their workforce to also take on these new tasks as an extension to current business.

models and value chains compared to traditional robots.

Thanks to this innovation, they have already become a new trend that needs to be noticed – even by industries or professions that normally have had nothing to do with traditional robots.

Despite the rather pessimistic predictions in the prize-winning book

by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Martin Ford, Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future, cobots actually represent a new and more friendly breed of robots, intended for taking away strenuous job tasks and increasing job attractiveness.

Offering cobot operation as a service at job sites could be a new business opportunity offered by electrical contractors, creating new types of job which require technical insight in the electric and electronics domain, digital skills and a general interest Image: © Hilti Group

What will the future bring?

We’re still in the early days of the development of versatile, mobile and collaborative robots, but as they learn and adapt, productivity will increase.

The human workers will also learn and adapt, and the robots will be designed to do an increasing number of tasks. Altogether, this forms an adaptable robotic ecosystem pushing new boundaries.

With a rapidly increasing market, more research and development (R&D) efforts will be put into development of cobots with higher workloads and development of new applications.

An inherently safe system can be put to use more freely. In combination with the other small increments of innovation such as lower weight, neater size, lower price, easier safety certification and more intuitive movement patterns, cobots will inevitably shift around on the business 26

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Companies are turning to cobots to improve their employees’ health and safety performance

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in electrified objects. Sounds like something suitable for an electrician, doesn’t it?

Many companies around the construction and electrical world are turning to cobots to improve their employees’ health and safety performance, and optimise operational productivity and product quality.

It won’t be cobots that put you out of business – but rather the companies that are quickest to adapt and work alongside our new cobotic friends.

Roger Flølo is the CEO of nLink AS, a Norwegian-based company that designs and develops mobile robots that solve real life problems. For further information about cobots, visit www. nlinkrobotics.com or www.nlink.no

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FEATURES 40TH ANNIVERSARY

The team welcomed Hosie Electrical’s first electric vehicle in November

Hosie: Life begins at 40 Aberdeenshire business Hosie Electrical is celebrating 40 years as a Member of SELECT with a focus on the local community and a new branded electric vehicle

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berdeenshire business Hosie Electrical recently marked a landmark achievement – 40 years as a Member of SELECT. The firm, which is based in Inverurie, near Aberdeen, took to social media to celebrate joining the association on 25 November 1981.

Richard Blundell, Managing Director, said: “We’re proud to have been a Member of SELECT for 40 years. The association is great for technical support and practical answers from practical people and it’s always a pleasure to speak to staff who genuinely want to help.

“We also regularly take part in SELECT training, which has been of huge use, particularly with the development of new technology. We’ve found that we’re installing an increasing

number of electric vehicle (EV) charge points and photovoltaic panels,.”

To help mark the anniversary, SELECT presented the firm with a special CABLEtalk cover and created an animated social media celebration.

Established in 1961, Hosie Electrical provides services ranging from domestic and commercial installations and

electric heating to heat and smoke alarms, electrical installation condition report (EICR) and PAT testing and emergency lighting.

Employing a team of 25 people, more than half of Hosie’s electricians have more than 10 years’ service, and it also has five apprentices in its ranks.

The company recently introduced its first EV, complete with livery featuring the slogan ‘Think, choose, support local’.

Richard said: “We’re a big believer in having close ties to the community and we’re looking forward to delivering local services for the next 40 years – with SELECT by our side of course!”

QUICK FACTS Hosie Electrical Based: Inverurie Phone: 01467 620 831 Website: www. hosieelectrical.co.uk Managing Director: Richard Blundell Contracts Manager: Colin McRobbie Electricians: Dave

Anderson, Damian Bartecki, Ross Benzie, Daniel Burr, Jim Fowlie, Barry Gordon, Lee Ingles, Colin Milne, Kieran Paterson, Craig Petrie, David Riddoch Apprentices: Jack Hibbitt, Aaron Lees, Lewis Maciver, Rhys

Simpson, Cameron Thomson Administration and Accounts: Linda Brand, Amanda Fellows, Rebecca Kirkpatrick, Stephanie Mackay, Fiona Mortimer, Heather Thomson

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FEATURES MEMBER PROFILE

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Protecting the past and present SELECT Member Oliver McCrone reveals the challenges of fitting the latest arc fault detection devices in a historic townhouse to help protect the building – and the people who use it – from the risk of fire

By Tim Power

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>>> Continued from page 29

ladstone’s Land, one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, has undergone a £1.5 million restoration and is now equipped with the newest electrical fire prevention technology: arc fault detection devices (AFDDs). The 500-year-old six-storey townhouse reopened in the summer with a new coffee shop and ice cream parlour – in keeping with its long historic commercial use – and, in addition to a revamped three-storey museum, it now also boasts four luxury holiday flats for rent on the top floors.

The building is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and the main contractor Laurence McIntosh, a bespoke architectural joinery firm, subcontracted J. K. McCrone Electrical Services for the electrical overhaul, which included the installation of AFDDs in fuse boards throughout the building.

Started by James McCrone in 1974, J.K. McCrone is based in Edinburgh and has built up a reputation for electrical work on high end and historic properties. It is now run by his sons Oliver and Paul with support from eight electricians and two apprentices.

The requirement for AFDDs was a ‘first’ for Oliver, who oversaw the electrical contracting work for the Gladstone’s Land project. He said: “We had to rewire and install distribution boards for the downstairs commercial

Oliver’s Edinburgh-based business was started by his father James in 1974

units, which included the new café and ice cream parlour, plus three floors of the museum section of the building and the four new apartments at the top, and all distribution boards stipulated the use of AFDDs. “I’ve heard about AFDDs before but until now had never been instructed to fit them on a job. They were required by the client, the National Trust for Scotland, and, in this case, you can understand why because a potential fire caused by a spark from a faulty appliance or wall socket could do untold damage to

this historic building. However, it was also important to protect the safety of people working and visiting the building, particularly guests staying overnight in the new apartments.

“Guests often bring their own appliances like phone chargers, laptops or tablet devices as well as things like curling tongs and hair dryers, which can cause sparks if they are faulty. The whole point of the AFDD is to detect fluctuations in the electrical current which indicate an arc fault and cut off the electricity to that circuit.”

WHEN TO FIT ARC FAULT DETECTION DEVICES BS7671:2018 18th Edition Wiring Regulations recommends that they be fitted in the following locations: ● Premises with sleeping accommodation (e.g. a youth hostel) ● Locations with a risk of fire due to the nature of stored or processed materials (e.g. barns) 30

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● Locations with combustible construction materials (e.g. a building constructed primarily of timber) ● Fire propagating structures (e.g. chimney like spaces, lift shafts) ● Locations with endangering of irreplaceable goods (e.g. museums).

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

AFDDs are available in a number of different configurations for use in a domestic installation: ● They can be installed as a standalone device in series with a suitable protective device, i.e. your circuit breakers or RCBOs to the relevant standards ● They can be installed as one single device that

consists of an AFDD combined with a protective device such as a circuit breaker or RCBO ● Some manufacturers also offer add on AFDD modules for their other protective devices, these are however only compatible with that manufacturer’s protective devices.

“A potential fire caused by a spark from a faulty appliance or wall socket could do untold damage to this historic building” consequences this has on the size of the consumer unit, as Oliver explained: “When you have a one-bedroom flat with a kitchen then you are probably dealing with around six circuits, such as a couple of rings for power, lighting, a boiler, fridge etc, In this case, QUICK FACTS the normal RCD consumer unit might be 400mm wide by 250mm deep but if you need to fit additional AFDD units then you are going to need a bigger consumer unit as the AFDDs are almost double the size of normal protective devices. And this is an issue as it takes more time to install and, in some cases, is a problem of where to ‘hide’ J. K. McCrone the unit in a room so that it Electrical is not an eyesore.

Services “So, when you’ve got a one bedroom flat with stone walls BASED: and a spiral staircase that’s Edinburgh 500 years old, as we had to PHONE: contend with at Gladstone’s

Unlike circuit breakers or RCDs, the AFDD does not have an electromechanical trigger but uses a microprocessor to analyse current flow and voltage curves to identify any changes that indicate an arc fault, and then it instantaneously trips the circuit. Manufacturers claim that AFDDs can reliably 0131 339 1842 differentiate between an arc WEBSITE: fault – both series and parallel jkmccrone.co.uk –and the waveform signature in normal switching and control events, thus preventing false tripping.

AFDDs have been used in the USA for the past 20 years to reduce the risk of fire due to faulty conductors and connections, and have been used in Germany since 2016. In the UK, the 18th edition of BS 7671 recommends the use of AFDDs on 230 volts AC final circuits that include ring circuits, radials, spurs etc , to provide additional protection against fire.

While they provide extra fire protection against arc faults, the main practical issue with working with AFDDs is their size and the

Oliver outside Gladstone’s Land

Land, then the space for fitting a larger consumer unit is limited. It’s not a modern property with places to put these boxes in cupboards or utility areas – there’s just no space.

“However, we worked with the joiners to mount them within nice cabinets to help them blend in with the 16th century style of the apartments.”

Helpfully, for the Gladstone’s Land project, the AFDDs were integrated into the new distribution boards which were designed and manufactured by Hager, who also delivered them to the site prefabricated.

Oliver’s team had already removed the existing distribution boards for the museum and other rooms and rerouted the electric mains to a new location where a new large board for both the café and museum could be located.

The main three phase distribution board was a 24-way unit, fed with a 125 amp main switch and a surge protective device. It had multiple miniature circuit breakers and Residual Current Breakers with Over-Current (RCBOs) fitted for final circuits. Adjacent to the main board, attached, was an extension enclosure housing 17 AFDDs serving ring circuits and appliance radial circuits. The board came prewired, linking the final circuit fault devices to the AFDDs, all final connections were made to the AFDDs. The main board serves all final circuits within the basement, toilets, café and ice cream parlour and the museum areas.

Oliver added: “The distribution board for the café and museum was enormous.

We’re talking about a three-phase installation that already has a fairly big distribution board but when you add the AFDDs it’s huge, twice the size of Continued on page 32 >>>

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FEATURES MEMBER PROFILE >>> Continued from page 31

normal. AFDDs were fitted on most of the circuits for fixed appliances and socket circuits – around 20 circuits in all – to protect against the risk of fire, but this meant we also had weight issues. It was probably in the region of 35kg, but as it was all prewired, we could not take it to bits so we had to find a way to safely mount it on a wall. This was installed by prefabricating wall brackets and fixings so the board could be lifted into place in one motion, taking the weight prior to finally fixing it to the structure.”

The renovation started in January 2020 and, because of COVID-19 interruptions, was not fully finished until August 2021, but Oliver does not think this is the last he has heard about AFDDs. He explained: “I can see a time when AFDDs will be specified as standard because there has been a trend in recent years of introducing fire protection technologies in buildings, particularly after the Grenfell Tower tragedy.”

However, while AFDDs may be effective at dealing with potentially hazardous arc faults they come at a price. They can be anywhere between £75-£100 a unit and, as you need one AFDD for each circuit, particularly for fixed appliances and sockets, the cost soon adds up.

He added: “I remember when RCDs came on the scene around 15 years ago and they too were astronomical in cost at that time. They weren’t a requirement before 2008 on most jobs but now they are, and while they are still not cheap – costing around £30 compared to a £7 circuit breaker – they are now part of our electrical regulations and need to be installed.

“I’ve never known any new technology that’s been introduced over the past 30 years, like AFDDs, that hasn’t ended up becoming a legal standard. Risk assessment is a big issue in the electrical industry today and there’s a lot of onuses on the designers of electrical systems, so while AFDDs are currently a ‘recommendation’, I can see them become a standard requirement in the near future.”

One of the slight worries that Oliver has about AFDDs is their ability to 32

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ELECTRICAL SAFETY FIRST CORE DATA SET – SCOTLAND DEATHS, INJURIES AND FIRES 2018/19

3,429 563 9

accidental dwelling fires of electrical origin - 74.1% of all accidental dwelling fires

These fires caused

They caused

casualties - 64% of all casualties from accidental dwelling fires

fatalities – 24% of all deaths from accidental dwelling fires

Source: FOI of SFRS

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differentiate between real arc faults and arcs created as part of an appliance’s normal function. He explained: “You have to be careful how you design and test an installation with AFDDs as I believe that nuisance tripping could be a problem with these sensitive sensors, particularly with fixed appliances like boilers, freezers and ovens etc.

“In addition to arcing because of bad wiring or poor connections, you also get natural arcing caused by components within an appliance ‘kicking in’, like a washing machine starting or a thermostat instructing a compressor to kick in to cool a warming freezer.”

Oliver suggests spending time testing each fixed appliance to make sure nuisance arcing is not happening and tripping the AFDDs. If there is an issue of that happening, then the appliance should be put on its own circuit – you don’t want a faulty kettle tripping out a commercial freezer.

Oliver thinks that the uptake of AFDDs will take some time but he

THE SELECT VERDICT

By Darren Sweeney, Technical Adviser

Oliver at work on a distribution board

recommends that his fellow electricians get familiar with the new technology, so they are able to advise their clients if applicable. He said: “I don’t think electricians will be installing AFDDs when they are not specified in a job but they should be aware of what they do and how they can increase fire protection so they can advise their clients where necessary as part of their professional service.

“For example, it’s the same with surge protection: the new wave of devices on the market which obviously protect against overvoltages coming into the installation. I have a client who is a musician and has thousands of pounds worth of electrical equipment in his house that I am refurbishing. Although

the work has not stipulated surge protection devices, I have talked about the benefits of having this technology installed because of the value of his equipment. The cost to install surge protection is a fraction of the cost to replace any damaged equipment if a major surge was to occur.

“Therefore, in the same vein, I think electricians should find out more about AFDDs and the benefits they bring to added fire protection, particularly for buildings used for accommodation, from youth hostels to hotels and especially properties used as Airbnb.”

AFDDs are also recommended in commercial premises that house combustible materials and where there are fire propagating structures in buildings like timber frame houses and thatched roofs. They also provide strong fire protection in places that house irreplaceable items and collections, such as museums, libraries or historic buildings, such as Gladstone’s Land.

Summing up his experience with AFDDs, Oliver has some advice for his electrician colleagues: “Just bear in mind that distribution boards housing these AFDDs are twice as big and twice as heavy as normal boards, and they will probably take twice as long to install.

“So, do I think AFDDs are a good thing? Yes, I do, but remember somebody has to be willing to pay the extra for them.”

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It was great to meet Oliver for a technical assessment and see for myself the project he’d carried out at Gladstone’s Land.

Given its nature, location and historical importance, the installation was never going to be straightforward and certainly threw up some interesting technical challenges.

Among them was the pre-wired and configured distribution and protective devices provided by Hager.

Seeing the narrow staircases and 17th century corridors for myself, it must have been a mammoth task to manoeuvre such a precious cargo into its final resting place.

After taking a good look around, the pièce de résistance for me was the main distribution board and consumer units in the residential property, complete with AFDDs installed on all socket outlet final circuits.

Understandably for such an important project, providing arc fault, residual current, overload and short circuit protection will ensure this unique piece of Scottish culture is preserved for everyone’s future.

Well done to Oliver and the guys at McCrone for doing such an excellent job.

Darren Sweeney

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FEATURE SELECT TV

Be brilliant for your clients assessment and advise on green and digital solutions.

4. Show and tell: Make clients aware of the quality and impact of your work. Stress the importance of the whole building – e.g. lighting, comfort, connectivity – and how 1. Control your own destiny: it’s managed and improved by Engaging directly with end-clients contractors like you. helps develop stable relationships 5. Listen: To better understand which will bring higher value and a client’s needs, ask them about their profitability and better address the overall challenges. After the work is issue of late and unfair payments. done, carry out a short satisfaction 2. Remember, cash is king: survey to re-engage and help improve Engaging directly and agreeing your processes. concrete deadlines and reminders 6. Nurture customers for life: will cut out the middle man and help It’s easier to deal with someone you you get paid directly. know and trust. Maintenance work 3. Get more value per client: and optimising systems are Learn to upsell your activity. good ways to offer full lifecycle engagement.

Don’t limit yourself to the 7. Be a practical bare minimum – instead consultant: At a time ask about a client’s needs, offer to run an where advisory firms are blooming, capitalise t a eo the vid on knowing how Watch get-close buildings work. Never bit.ly/ be afraid of making clear your depth of knowledge.

8. Offer affordable business models: The leasing of PVs, EV chargers and batteries is a rising trend. Offer leasing models as a business solution to clients, or encourage them to piggyback existing companies who are marketing it.

Martin said: “I hope this first video offers practical advice on getting closer to clients and improving business practices. Keep an eye out for our second video, in which I’ll be discussing how to improve productivity and performance.”

The new President of EuropeOn, Martin Bailey, has made an exclusive video for SELECT TV in which he outlines the key ways contractors can get closer to their clients

I

mproving relationships with customers is a vital part of any modern business – and our latest Member video offers practical tips to help make it happen.

Created in partnership with EuropeOn, the short film narrated by new President Martin Bailey is part of a planned series which aims to strengthen electrical contractors’ position in the value chain.

The 10-minute video – which is now hosted on the Members-only SELECT TV platform – outlines the following eight key steps that contractors can take to improve their relationships with customers:

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35

FEATURES LOSS OF WORKS

The difficult matter of give and take In his latest exclusive advice column for Members, our resident expert examines a recent court case in Scotland to answer the question: Can work be taken away from you and given to someone else? given to a competitor. What is the legal position?

Well, you have a right to carry out the contracted work in order to earn your expected margin. Very clear works are necessary to enable the other party to contractually deprive

By Professor Rudi Klein Barrister and SELECT consultant

I

n this issue, I’m going to examine the thorny issue of having work taken away from you and given to a rival contractor.

So, let’s say you have a contract or sub-contract for electrical works priced at £20,000. You start work but are then told that 50% of your work is being omitted.

To your horror, you subsequently discover that the work has been

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you of work in order to pass it on to another party.

To illustrate what I mean, let me talk you through the case of Van Oord UK v Dragados UK Limited that recently arose in Scotland’s Appeal Court, i.e. the Inner House of the Court of Session.

The case

Spanish-owned Dragados UK was the main contractor the for Nigg Bay Harbour Project in Aberdeen, which was to allow more, and larger, vessels to dock in the city.

Van Oord was employed as the dredging sub-contractor and tendered a ‘blended rate’ for dredging of £7.48 per m3.

However, Dragados issued an instruction to omit a substantial slice of the work from Van Oord’s subcontract with the intention of giving it to a third party. This was done through an amended New Engineering Contract (NEC) subcontract. As a result, the ‘blended rate’ was reduced to £3.80 per m3.

The Dragados amendment

Please read the following statement carefully: “The Contractor may, in the event that a corresponding instruction is issued by the Project Manager under… the Main Contract only, also give an instruction to omit… Work, even if it is intended that such work will be executed by others”.

What did the court decide?

The court held that Dragados was in breach of the sub-contract. It could only issue its instruction to Van Oord in the event that a corresponding instruction had been issued by the Project Manager under the main contract. Such instruction had never

THE FACTS

DRAGADOS Main contractor for Nigg Bay Harbour Project

Amended NEC subcontract that enabled it to issue instruction to omit works and hand them over to a third party

Tendered a “blended rate” for dredging of £7.48/m3

VAN OORD Dredging subcontractor

been issued. The court therefore concluded that this breach of the sub-contract gave rise to a contractual “compensation event”.

This was in stark contrast to the judgement in the Outer House of the Court of Session, which had first heard the case. Inexplicably, this lower court had held that, in spite of the breach, Dragados could reduce the contract price to reflect the value of the omitted work.

The judges in the Inner House also held that the contractual requirement for the parties to act “in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation” – which is standard in all NEC contracts – was not just aspirational.

In this case it meant that a subcontractor was not required to comply with an instruction issued in breach of contract.

Three things to remember

● It is a breach of contract to take work away from you and give it to others UNLESS there are clear works in your contract to this effect.

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● Don’t agree to clauses enabling work to be taken away from you and given to others WITHOUT appropriate compensation to include loss of profit on that work. ● If you have an NEC contract, check that the requirement in Clause 10 for parties “to act in spirit of mutual trust and cooperation” has been retained.

TAKING WORK AWAY In his latest video for SELECT TV, Rudi outlines the issue of taking work away in more detail. He takes a closer look at the case of Van Oord UK v Dragados, outlining the major points and the significance of the court’s decision.

He also reveals what advice he would give to SELECT Members to help them avoid finding themselves in similar circumstances. Watch now at bit.ly/STV-takework DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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TECHNICAL ALARM QUESTIONS

Alarm clock is ticking

As the deadline for new legislation gets ever nearer, Members are installing an increasing number of heat and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in properties across Scotland. This surge to install suitable systems is also raising a wide number of technical questions, so our in-house experts are here with the answers to some of the most frequent queries from the front line

Q: Do I have to provide residual current device (RCD) protection for the circuit I am installing to supply a mains-powered fire detection and fire alarm system?

The supply for the smoke alarms and heat detector is being taken from a local light switch and wiring is PVC sheathed (flat twin and earth), installed in a designated zone in the wall at a depth of less than 50mm from the surface.

A: Yes, an RCD with residual operating current not exceeding 30mA should be provided for additional protection as required by Regulation 522.6.202.

Regulation 411.3.4 may also be applicable and should be considered.

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This regulation requires additional protection to be provided by an RCD with a residual operating current not exceeding 30mA for AC final circuits supplying luminaires.

Q: I am installing a fire detection and fire alarm system in an existing owner-occupied flat.

Which grade of system would be recommended and why?

A: When installing a mains-powered fire detection and fire alarm system in an existing owner-occupied flat, the minimum grade and category recommended in BS 5839-6 is a Grade F2 LD3 system. However, Note G to Table 1 in the standard advises that in Scotland the minimum required by the

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

The deadline is approaching to comply with new fire safety laws increasing demand for smoke alarm installation

INSURANCE Q: Customers have asked whether not installing a satisfactory fire detection and fire alarm system will affect their home insurance.

What should I advise?

A: This is still a grey area. However, we are currently recommending that Members should advise customers that it will depend on the terms and conditions of their individual home insurance policies. Homeowners should always contact their insurer to check if the new rules are included in their policy.

Please note that an informative note to BS 5839-6 advises that since Grade F systems are only suitable for installation in existing single-family dwellings of no more than two storeys, a certificate of conformity to BS 5839-6 is not normally required by any enforcing authority and is unlikely to be required by a fire insurer.

COST Q: I am quoting to install a fire detection and fire alarm system for a customer, but they are querying the price, saying that the Scottish Government said it would only cost £220. What should I tell them?

A: The figure given by the Scottish Government was only ever provided as an example of the cost for a self-installed interlinked battery-powered system in a two-storey house. Obviously, the costs associated with

Tolerable Standard is a Grade F1 Category LD2 system. Note that the installation of a mains-powered fire alarm system in a flat – classified as Schedule 3 work – normally requires to be carried out under the scope of a building warrant and BSD TH handbooks recommend the equivalent of at least a Grade D2 Category LD2 system for compliance. Also note that the Scottish Government fact sheet, Fire and smoke alarms: Changes to the law, advises that in some instance if the homeowner prefers for a batterypowered system to be installed, e.g. to prevent damage and upheaval to the fabric of their property, this may be acceptable to the local authority verifier if being installed as part of work associated with a building warrant for an alteration, conversion or extension. The homeowner should, however, have obtained the local authority verifier’s agreement for this prior to arranging for the work to be

the installation of a fire detection and fire alarm system to comply with the Tolerable Standard will vary dependant on the grade and category of system to be installed and the type and make of alarms to be installed, i.e. a mains-powered system that is installed by a qualified electrician is likely to cost more than a battery-powered system installed by the homeowner!

Q: My customers say they just want the

carried out. This type of installation will also satisfy the minimum requirements of the Tolerable Standard provided the batterypowered alarms are radio frequency (RF) linked alarms installed as per Scottish Government guidance. Note also that the installation of a batterypowered fire detection and fire alarm system can be carried out without requiring a building warrant in such instances.

cheapest option as long as it meets the new standard. Is this, OK? A: We all know that customers are often driven by cost and yes, a mainspowered fire detection and fire alarm system always provides a higher reliability system than a batterypowered system and is the best option. However, guidance on what is deemed acceptable for compliance with the new legislation does allow for battery-powered systems and is acceptable.

Q: What certification should be provided following the installation of a mains-powered fire detection and fire alarm system in a dwelling?

A: BS 5839-6:2019 is the code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. It recommends that Continued on page 40 >>>

The public should always use a SELECT Member to install and test their systems

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TECHNICAL ALARM QUESTIONS >>> Continued from page 39

for mains-powered Grade D systems, certification as provided in Annex E of the standard is provided to the user. Annex E provides a model, Certificate for design, installation and commissioning of fire detection and fire alarms and a certificate based on this should be issued on completion of work. Note that when installing a mains-powered system, compliance with BS 7671: 2018 (as amended) Requirement for Electrical Installations is also required. An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificates (MEIWC) as relevant should be issued to the person ordering the work. Also, don’t forget to provide operation and testing instructions for the system and hand over any user manuals together with the certification.

ROGUE TRADERS

Q: A customer told me they have had someone coming to their door offering to install the alarms for them. What should we tell them?

A: Unfortunately, there are plenty of unskilled and unscrupulous people out there looking to take advantage of the introduction of new legislation.

Our advice would be to always use the services of an accredited installer such as a SELECT Member who is accredited in SELECT Work Category 3.3 – Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Dwellings – and who should be able to advise on design, installation and commissioning and provide required certification.

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THE SELECT VIEW SELECT’s view is that only suitably competent persons should be installing fire detection and fire alarm systems in Scottish homes.

SELECT Members accredited in Work Category 3.3 are assessed as being suitably competent to carry out fire detection and fire alarm work to BS 5839-6 and will

also be familiar with the requirements and guidance for compliance with the new legislation being introduced under the Tolerable Standard.

Where undertaking such work under the scope of a building warrant, it should also be noted that Approved Bodies and Approved Certifiers of Construction registered

Q: What certification should be provided following the installation of a battery-powered fire detection and fire alarm system in a dwelling?

in SELECTs Certification of Construction Scheme will also have the necessary competence to undertake and certify such work Knowledge of relevant legislation, standards and quality manufacturer products is paramount to ensure the fire safety of all residents in Scottish homes.

Q: What certification should be provided following the installation of a mains-powered or batterypowered CO alarm?

A: BS 5839-6:2019 recommends that for A: There is no specific certification battery-powered Grade F systems, requirement given for this in the certification as provided in standard BS EN 50292:2013 Annex E is given to the user guide. However, a CO alarm when installed by a that is mains-powered will To find ou t more professional installer, e.g. require the supply to it to and acce ss Memb an electrical contractor. be verified as being er resource Where a battery-powered compliant with BS s go to bit.ly/hea Grade F system is installed 7671:2018. An EIC or t-smoke by the user, landlord or fire MEIWC as relevant for the and rescue service, circuit that supplies the certification is not necessary alarms should be provided, for the purpose of conformity to together with operation and BS 5839-6. It is worth noting, however, testing instructions and any user that where a solid interlink is used in a manual. Note that the CO alarm should Grade F1/F2 system then that wiring make a different sound to that produced would mean that the system would come by the fire detection and fire alarms to under the requirements of BS 7671 differentiate it from these alarms as for certification. outlined in Clause 13.2 of BS 5839-6.

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Carbon monoxide alarms should emit a different sound to heat and smoke alarms

NEW RESOURCES FOR MEMBERS TRAINING

Details of the free CPD accredited training scheme from Aico, which provides electrical contractors with the latest requirements and information to select, site, install and maintain Aico alarms to the highest quality.

CERTIFICATION

ANIMATION

A two-minute information film, designed to be shared online and

across social media platforms, educating the public on what they should do next

and reminding them to use a SELECT Member to carry out any electrical work.

Details of where to obtain certificates of design, installation and commissioning that can be given to clients to show that an installation complies with the relevant standard. Certificates are available via SELECTcerts or in paper format.

the public should always use a SELECT Member to install and test their system.

A list of the most commonly-asked questions about the new standard, to help prepare Members and their clients for the changes. These will be updated in line with any changes as the 1 February 2022 deadline draws nearer.

GUIDANCE

Three free downloadable guides, one giving an overview for the public, the others providing more technical in-depth advice for Members. Print copies of all three brochures are available by emailing: memberservices@ select.org.uk

FAQS

TEMPLATES

SELECT has created a downloadable image for Members to use on their website or

social media business page, along with an example message explaining why

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TRAINING NEW COURSES

Get ready for learning experiences SELECT will be rolling out new courses in smart controls, energy storage systems and drone surveying next February, working in partnership with West College Scotland, Paisley

By Jenny Cryans Training Manager 42

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Smart controls

The first of our new courses is designed to give learners an insight into the benefits of using smart controls for heating, lighting and power circuits in buildings.

Focusing specifically on Lightwave and Salus products, the session will lead learners into the Lightwave Pro Installer programme, integrating voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home Kit and using tablets and smart phones to program and activate devices and routines.

Learners will learn how to add additional products on to existing systems and will also be issued with notes and documentation on the various products, which

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

Date: Tuesday 8 February 2022, 9am-4.30pm Cost: £195 plus VAT for SELECT Members and £225 plus VAT for non-Members.

they can work on after the course.

No formal entry requirements are required, but it’s recommended that learners have, or are working towards, an SVQ III MA in Electrical Installation or equivalent.

The course is not

recommended for people who are not electricians, although anyone is welcome to come for an overarching knowledge but may struggle with some of the terminology discussed during the day.

We would not advise anyone to install these

Energy storage systems This one-day course offers an introduction to energy storage systems which can be designed for domestic and commercial installations.

These systems are designed to store energy from micro renewable sources as well as off-peak electrical supplies, with stored energy used at an alternative time or for back-up purposes.

The course will include the basics of solar PV design, an insight into basic energy

system design including the uses of such systems and the key criteria looked at during the process, the operation of these systems and the different types of systems and the energy outputs of these.

Candidates will also be able to interact with a working solar PV system, which should help reinforce the content delivered on the course.

A short, open book multiple-choice question paper will be completed at the end of the day’s course content.

Date: Monday 7 February 2022, 9am-3.30pm Cost: £160 plus VAT for SELECT Members and £260 plus VAT for non-Members.

Drone surveying

products who are not electrically skilled persons, as per the definitions in BS 7671 and The Electricity at Work Regulations (Regulation 16).

No home study is required and there is no formal exam. Instead, delegates will receive a college certificate of attendance.

This half-day course is designed to give learners an insight into the benefits of using drones to survey areas such as buildings, sites and land.

The course will show off the technological advancements in recent drone technology, as well as highlighting the safety benefits of using this equipment, e.g. avoiding the need to work at height.

Date: Tuesday 22 February 2022, In addition, the session will cover the Drone Code in detail, 9am-12pm Cost: £210 plus VAT for highlighting key dos and don’ts of drone flight and looking at the rain. A decision will SELECT Members and £240 plus VAT for the requirements and tools of be made the day prior to non-Members. flight planning, such as pre- and the course and if the course post-flight checks and safety and is cancelled learners will be emergency planning. notified of this cancellation. If The course is structured to maximise you don’t hear from SELECT, then participant engagement by using a the course will be going ahead. combination of lectures, video presentations No home study is required and there is and practical demonstrations to highlight no formal exam, with delegates attending that drone flight has to be treated as the course receiving a college certificate seriously as any other form of flight. of attendance.

Learners will also be issued with notes and documentation on the Drone Code and flight planning assessment, which they can Further details on these and other SELECT training courses can be found work on further after the course. at www.select.org.uk, by calling There are no formal entry requirements, SELECT Training on 0131 445 5577 but you should note that the course is very or by e-mailing training@select.org.uk much weather dependent as we cannot fly in

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FOCUS HEALTHIER HOMES

Climate fight comes home As our homes become increasingly connected and high-tech, environmental sensors are now being used to create living spaces that are safer, healthier and more energy efficient

By Tony Boyle Relationships Manager, Aico

T

o tackle climate change, net-zero targets have been introduced around the globe at local, national and international levels.

Reaching net zero, the balance between the amount of greenhouse gases we produce and those we remove from the atmosphere, is likely to be the most important and pressing challenge our society will face during our lifetimes.

Our homes contributed more than 20% of the UK’s total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions last year through the burning of fossil fuels for heating and cooking, and this figure is significantly higher when including emissions from 44

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the production of the electricity we use.

We all have a responsibility to reduce our emissions and we can play an active role by decarbonising our own homes.

Navigating this effectively and efficiently will require collaboration and working together towards this shared goal.

With new innovations in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, the notion of a connected home could prove a real asset in making our homes not only more sustainable, but also more efficient and ultimately safer – with a focus on wellbeing.

Substantial progress has been made in reducing emissions in other areas such as electricity generation, with the replacement of coal with greener alternatives such as wind and solar. Our homes, however, have shown little improvement.

New, well-insulated homes go some way to addressing this, and can make use of IoT to ensure they are performing as promised. These technologies are not restricted to new homes, however, and there is a real opportunity to use IoT to improve the understanding of our existing homes.

The UK has some of the oldest

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housing stock in Europe and this presents its own challenge to decarbonisation.

Draughty and poorly-insulated homes are more difficult to heat and result in substantially higher emissions. Reducing the energy needs of older homes is crucial both in reducing their carbon impact and in tackling fuel poverty.

IoT technologies can identify the poorest performing homes to reduce emissions and help to provide affordable and healthy living environments.

Aico’s new HomeLINK Environmental Sensors monitor temperature, humidity and CO2 levels within the home. This provides an overview of the home’s indoor conditions, facilitating cost savings and providing a healthier home.

Temperature monitoring, alongside the HomeLINK Resident App, gives insight into the energy efficiency of a property, providing advice on measures that can be implemented to make improvements, and contributes to reducing home energy costs.

Humidity and CO2 monitoring within the HomeLINK Environmental Sensors help to manage indoor air quality, ensuring adequate ventilation and air circulation and identifying preventable issues like damp and mould at an early stage to positively impact health and wellbeing.

With COVID-19 further highlighting

Aico’s HomeLINK Sensors monitor temperature, humidity and CO2 levels within the home

the importance of well-ventilated spaces, the Scottish Government has introduced the Business Ventilation Fund.

This will provide advice and financial support to businesses on improving ventilation to help mitigate the spread of the virus and provide better indoor air quality.

Insights from the new Environmental Sensors on indoor environmental conditions allow for preventative measures and proactive maintenance,

enabling landlords to adhere to requirements outlined in standards and legislation, such as the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 and the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH2), as well as supporting reaching net-zero targets.

EESSH2 is working towards developing the Scottish Housing Standard, which sets out the path for how Scotland’s homes and communities should look and feel in 2040, applying to

PROTECTION FOR EVERY HOME Aico, an Ei Company, is the European market leader in home life safety, pioneering new technologies and offering high quality alarms, developed and manufactured in Ireland.

All Aico alarms meet UK standards and offer a variety of sensor types

to guarantee protection for every home, the cornerstone of which is delivering education, quality, service and innovation.

Aico has expanded its Connected Home offering through HomeLINK, a multi-award-winning high-tech software

team within Aico that leverages cutting edge home integration and analytic technologies to address the needs of social landlords and their residents.

all tenures. EESSH2 will provide a wealth of benefits to homes and importantly to residents’ health and wellbeing by tackling fuel poverty through the examination and improvement of the energy efficiency of properties, and indoor air quality through data collection and subsequent implementation of measured action.

As we transition from the Tolerable Standard to EESSH2, resident engagement and empowerment for all tenures from home owners and social housing to private rental is crucial to ensure any success of such standard and to guarantee that we collectively develop safer homes. Adding another dimension to home life safety, Aico is duly striving to create safer, healthier homes.

Find out more about Aico’s HomeLINK Environmental Sensors and much more at www.aico.co.uk For more information on the Business Ventilation Fund, please visit www.gov. scot/news/business-ventilation-fund

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FOCUS PAYMENTS

By Len Bunton

FRICS FCIArb, HON FRIAS

Contract Expert

I

n previous editions of CABLEtalk, you’ll recall that I’ve written about the importance of both project bank accounts (PBAs) and the Conflict Avoidance Process (CAP), and I’d like to update you on both.

Let’s deal with the latter first, and I’m delighted to see that good progress is being made in getting an increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to sign up to the Conflict Avoidance Pledge.

Operated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), this initiative commits your business to a collaborative way of working by ensuring early intervention in potential disputes, whether about payment or technical matters.

Used either up the line with an employer or down the line with a supply chain, it’s also a great way to market your business and say: “We’re into collaboration, not confrontation.”

As Chair of the Scottish CAP Working Group, I’ve been very encouraged by those who are signing the pledge and we’re now seeing excellent teamwork from the construction organisations

The CAP fits for SMEs

With the impact of delays and material shortages beginning to bite, the importance of conflict-free contracts and smooth cashflow has never been more important, as our expert explains

“I’m delighted to see that good progress is being made” who use it and equally excellent feedback on the results.

So far, it’s clear that the industry fully supports an early intervention process to avoid expense disputes, but what we need is more awareness and commitment to help implement

“CAP provides an opportunity for disputants to keep control of their disagreements and be involved in finding a satisfactory and costefficient solution. That makes it a very important option. CAP does require behaviour changes across the board but, if adopted, should reduce conflict in the long run.”

Janey Milligan, Managing Director, Construction Dispute Resolution 46

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one of the most important industry developments in years.

But don’t just take my word for it – check out the testimonials from respected industry figures on this page and you’ll see why so many recommend it as a positive move for our sector.

Project bank accounts

PBAs are hugely welcome and ensure far faster payments and we’ll hopefully see them being used much more on public-private sector projects in the next 12 months.

The Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum, in which SELECT plays a leading part, has recently set up a dedicated sub-group to help develop knowledge of the process, draw up case studies and generally share essential guidance.

If you’d like to learn more, the Forum has even added a dedicated section on its website to help SMEs understand the process better. Check it out at www.cicvforum.co.uk/useful-links

“The introduction of CAP could act as a catalyst for behavioural change within the industry. Providing a means to challenge actions or decisions at an early stage could change the way parties behave and pave the way towards making the construction industry a more collaborative and integrated place to work. The amount of effort and time involved in disputes is enormous and CAP has the potential to address the issues causing the dispute early and find a resolution before time, energy and money are wasted, not to mention the impact disputes can have on the relationship between the parties involved.”

Ian Honeyman, Commercial Director, Scottish Building Federation

Cashflow and contracts

“CAP has the opportunity to avoid disputes going down the formal resolution procedure route, that will most likely be expensive and time-consuming. More important, however, is that parties signing the pledge at the outset demonstrate that they are going into contract with the intention of avoiding disputes. Successful contracting relies on strong relationships, which rarely recover once a dispute is handed over to adjudication. CAP keeps everyone talking, preserves relationships and will lead to improved contracting behaviours and outcomes.”

David MacDonald, National Hub Programme Director, Scottish Futures Trust

“It’s vital that CAP is promoted along the supply chain so the whole project delivery team is focused on conflict avoidance. This has to be the future of dispute resolution given that other forms of resolving disputes – including adjudication – have become prohibitively expensive. I urge all firms to sign the pledge.”

Rudi Klein, Klein Legal and SELECT consultant

The proper use of PBAs and CAP can help smooth the path for businesses and maintain that all-important industry lifeline – cashflow.

Sadly, we’re currently experiencing an increasing number of cashflow issues in Scotland. The reasons are many – the ongoing effects of the pandemic and lockdown, low productivity during restart, material price rises and supply issues.

Throw in the issue of payment applications being cut back and payment periods being extended and it’s vital to have an absolute focus on your cashflow.

So don’t forget: Always make sure you have a payment schedule in your contract and stick to it, submit fully detailed applications for payment, and engage with employer or the contractor so you get no surprises when a payment certificate arrives by email.

And most important of all – ensure parties use CAP at all times to encourage collaboration, not confrontation.

CABLEtalk

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

47

FOCUS PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE

By Vicki Leslie Client Relationship Manager, EC Insurance Services Limited

T

here’s one thing we’ve all had in common over the last year or so – we’ve all been impacted by the global pandemic.

For some people it has been a stressful time, for others it has been a chance for life to slow down a little bit. Whether you feel the last 18 months have been positive or negative, one thing that has been significantly impacted by COVID-19 is healthcare.

Recent statistics from Public Health Scotland show that a record high of almost 400,000 people are waiting to see an NHS specialist for an outpatient appointment. Even more worryingly, nearly 50% of people waiting for an appointment have been on the NHS waiting list for over 12 weeks, with one in 12 people waiting more than a year.

The immense strain on the NHS does not show signs of easing and with this comes the impact on those people who need treatment.

The BBC recently reported on Mick

Health is your wealth

With the knock-on effects of COVID-19 impacting on waiting times and treatment, an increasing number of businesses are turning to private medical insurance to help keep their workforce healthy and productive

Moloney, a 64-year-old man from Aberdeenshire, who has been waiting three years for surgery, requiring a knee replacement on both his right and left legs. The delay in receiving treatment has had a substantial effect on Mick’s life with everything “coming to a standstill”, including his ability to work.

The prospect of losing crucial staff to this problem is a potential issue for employers. For some, the prolonged absence of even one member of key staff could threaten the very existence of their business.

Furthermore, a shortage of skilled

400,000 Estimated number of people waiting to see an NHS specialist for an outpatient appointment 48

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electricians is contributing to the problem for construction and electrical businesses. The Scottish Government published details last year on the sectors with the highest density of skills shortage vacancies, i.e. hard to fill because applicants lacked the relevant skills, qualifications, or experience. The construction sector was joint second on the list at 34%.

The skills shortage presents a challenge for businesses both now and in the future, but there is also an opportunity to increase focus on employee welfare.

For businesses looking to grow and thrive in a challenging environment, they will need the support of their employees.

As the demand for projects increases and the supply of skilled electricians remains relatively low, employers should consider how they attract new people while keeping their existing employees healthy and productive.

There are many advantages to businesses that provide good quality

50% of people

waiting for an appointment have been on the NHS waiting list for over 12 weeks

1people in12 waiting more than a year

The ability to see a doctor when you need to is important for workers

employee benefits such as private medical cover, healthcare cash plans, access to virtual GPs and health assessments. They will be meeting employee needs that are driven by the pressures that the NHS is under, while protecting their most valuable assets – their employees.

Being able to access healthcare support quickly is vital. After all, prevention is better than cure. The private healthcare sector has responded positively to the impact of COVID-19 by developing a range of remote services that can be accessed without the need to visit a GP surgery and, in some cases, even hospital.

Private medical insurance isn’t just an insurance policy; it’s about providing health services to your employees so they can get a faster diagnosis of conditions and quicker access to treatment which leads to reduced absences.

Many people are reluctant to seek support currently due to concern around a lack of resources and the pressure on the NHS. But illnesses did not stop because of COVID-19 and we need to ensure people can access treatment when needed.

Services such as the Babylon Digital GP, which gives members access to a GP 24 hours a day, seven days a week, are hugely beneficial. Members can arrange a video or telephone appointment with a doctor any time of the day or night.

If treatment is required, the GP can provide a referral which then goes straight into the private medical insurance benefit.

Having a healthy and productive team is at the foundation of a business’s success. Having healthcare cover can not only help keep staff fit and boost their productivity, but it can also help attract and retain the best people.

SELECT offers Members access to private medical insurance thanks to our partnership with ECIS, who are a specialist employee benefits broker with a wealth of experience in the health and wellbeing market.

ECIS work with businesses to provide a range of products and services to help your business and your employees thrive.

Whether you have an existing healthcare scheme in place, or are new to employee benefits, for information about how ECIS can help you and your business, please visit www.ecins.co.uk or call 0330 221 0241.

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DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

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SPONSORED EDITORIAL

No such thing as a free lunch…

Adjudicators’ fees and decision enforceability- do you have to pay?

By Rebecca Barrass Senior Associate The recent court decision (Davies & Davies Associates Ltd v Steve Ward Services (UK) Ltd) has looked at the issue of whether an adjudicator should be entitled to their fee when it transpires their decision is unenforceable.

The parties had embarked on a fixed fee adjudication.

Shortly after, the adjudicator found he did not have the powers to make a decision and, as such, resigned as adjudicator before he could issue a decision.

Steve Ward Services (UK) Ltd was asked to pay for the adjudicator’s time but refused on the basis that in withdrawing from his appointment as adjudicator, Mr Davies had breached the terms and conditions of his said appointment.

This issue had been raised in a Court of Appeal decision, PC Harrington Contractors Ltd v Systech International.

In that case, it was decided an adjudicator would not be entitled to payment where an enforceable decision had not been reached. The result was that many adjudicators started to include terms in their contracts that they shall be entitled to payment 50

CABLEtalk

in the event of an adjudication ceasing prior to a decision being issued.

Mr Davies referred the court to the terms and conditions of his appointment, which he claimed were drafted in light of the PC Harrington decision.

That clause stated that in the event of the adjudication ceasing for any reason, a fee invoice would be raised and payment due within seven days, unless there was an act of bad faith by the adjudicator.

The court ruled the adjudicator’s decision to resign was not a breach of the terms of his appointment. Despite Steve Ward Services (UK) Ltd contending the resignation was done in ‘bad faith’, the claim was successful.

The decision makes it clear that decision or no decision, parties may still be left with a fee to pay. As such, parties should always think before entering into an adjudication and take advice on whether there is a risk of incurring fees without gaining a decision. ● For more advice, contact Rebecca Barrass on 0141 303 1164 or email rebecca. barrass@macroberts.com

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

APPRENTICES FREE TOOLKITS A productive partnership has once again has seen the delivery of toolkits to all new 1st Stage electrical installation apprentices and adult trainees across Scotland

N

ew learners are picking up the tools of the trade thanks to a generous initiative by the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) and Edmundson Electrical.

The donation means each new recruit in Scotland is being issued with a Ck Magma Technicians Rucksack, which includes: ● VDE combination pliers

● VDE side cutters ● VDE screwdrivers x5 ● Tape measure ● Junior hacksaw ● Spirit level SECTT has also supplied new recruits with a current edition of the BS 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Requirements) and the IET On-Site Guide.

Barrie McKay, Training and Development Manager at SECTT, said: “This is a great venture and I am personally grateful to

Equipped for success Edmundson Electrical for supporting the new apprentices and trainees and making sure they can start on their learning journey with the right tools for the job.

“Coupled with the guides, this giveaway will provide each learner with a great introduction to their apprenticeship as well as a

head start with completing the SJIB Tool List. It will now be down to each apprentice and adult trainee to maintain and update their toolkit as they progress through their apprenticeship.”

Apprentices and adult trainees are now arranging to collect their toolkits from their nearest branch of Edmundson Electrical,

where they will also meet the branch’s manager.

Matt Ward, Head of Training and Development at Edmundson Electrical, said: “We are delighted to be playing a part in helping to secure the future of the electrical contracting industry in Scotland by supporting SJIB apprentices and adult trainees as they

embark on their careers.

“We are a big supporter of apprenticeships ourselves and have been running our own apprenticeship scheme for more than a decade.

“During that time, we have given opportunities to more than 1,000 apprentices nationally, many of whom have gone on to enjoy great careers with us.”

Edmundson Electrical serves the country from more than 380 locations, each carrying a comprehensive stock and run by friendly, experienced and highly motivated staff.

Its customer base includes electrical contractors and engineers, power generation, utilities, construction, air conditioning, heating and ventilation, refrigeration, security and fire prevention.

First stage apprentices with their kits at Ayrshire College’s Ayr Campus CABLEtalk

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51

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

A complete range of smoke, heat and CO alarms Cavius has been at the forefront of the smoke alarm industry since 2004.

Internationally recognised for manufacturing the world’s smallest alarms, Cavius now offers a complete range of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. All the alarms communicate wirelessly, bringing an unrivalled system communication between wireless batteryoperated alarms and mains powered alarms.

The Cavius alarm design has revolutionised the smoke alarm industry, bringing not only an extremely well-functioning alarm, but a compact one too. Cavius alarms use the highest-quality components to ensure reliability, stability and a 10-year warranty. The software in the Cavius smoke alarms includes a fire detection algorithm with features similar to that found in expensive analogue detection systems.

James Cavan, UK Sales Director, has spent his whole

working career within the electrical industry, originally in wholesale, before moving to focus on fire detection products for the domestic market. For the last 25 years, James has specialised in alarm specification, working with social housing providers, contractors and distributors across the UK. James said: “When I first saw the alarms, I knew that offering customers simple, unobtrusive designed products that are fully compliant with UK Building Standards, and are 100% tested and proven to work, will have a big impact on the domestic alarm supply chain in the UK. “They offer amazingly simple wireless interconnective technology and a unique one-man test.

Sales have already taken off, with distributors and contractors recognising the unique benefits and quality of the products.” ● For more advice, visit www.cavius.co.uk

James Cavan of Cavius

52

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eFIXX partners with Luceco Group to launch 30 under 30 awards eFIXX has announced the launch of its ‘30 under 30 awards’. In partnership with headline sponsor, Luceco Group, these awards will recognise up-and-coming talent within the industry and showcase the next generation of electrical contractors.

With more than 70 years’ industry experience, Luceco Group, which includes the BG Electrical, Luceco Lighting and Masterplug product brands, is internationally recognised as one of the market leaders in key electrical categories.

Gordon Routledge, CoFounder of eFIXX, commented: “The electrical industry is undergoing a period of tremendous change, with everything from electric vehicles to smart buildings driving the demand for talented electricians. The eFIXX 30 under 30 awards will celebrate the young people who are seizing the opportunities – those set to become the future leaders.

By showcasing those already excelling in their careers, we will shine a light on the exciting options available in this dynamic industry.”

John Williams, Trade and Specification Director at Luceco Group, added: “This award will recognise trailblazing individuals who go above and beyond in their daily working life, demonstrating excellence and a desire to contribute positively to this industry.

“We are extremely proud to be part of this process in recognising the emerging stars, and we hope this accolade will reward the brilliance of the next generation of electrical contractors.”

Nominations are now open.

It is free to enter, and you can nominate yourself or a colleague – entrants must have worked in the industry for at least one year. This is a great opportunity to gain recognition for your own work or the work of someone you know. Entries will close on 14 January 2021 and the winners will be revealed mid-March 2022. ● For more information on the 30 under 30, please visit: www.awards.efixx.co. uk/30-under-30

PRODUCT SHOWCASE Our guide to the latest industry solutions

A sack full of goodies

We’re making a list – we’re checking it twice. We’re going to find out the product launches that will delight us this festive season

5-PAGE SPECIAL

1 ESP LAUNCHES FORT - A SMART HOME SECURITY SYSTEM Leading security solutions supplier ESP has launched a smart security range – Fort.

The complete range of smart security products, which includes intruder alarms, video doorbell, video security light, sensors and a selection of 1080p cameras, will all operate under a subscription-free app called Click Smart+. Users will have control of a raft of connected home and security products all from one secure, easy to access platform.

The Fort Smart Security range has been designed to bring simple, smart solutions together for a safer and more

comfortable home. It features contemporary styling and has been designed to be simple to install, maintain and use and provide a hassle-free security solution.

ESP has produced a brochure which can be downloaded at www.espuk.com and a video can be viewed at youtu.be/3vy3N1unvHI

2 UNICRIMP FEELS THE FORCE WITH OB1 HIGH-SPEC HYBRID SEALANT Leading cable accessories supplier and Scolmore Group company Unicrimp is the exclusive distributor of the original multi-surface sealant and adhesive brand OB1 through the UK electrical wholesale channel.

OB1 is a market-leading, high-spec hybrid construction sealant and adhesive that has a tried and tested formulation which has been used by the trade for more than 15 years.

What makes OB1 stand out is its versatility, flexibility and its 24-hour full curing time. It provides an alternative to mastics, wood and PU adhesives, silicones, acrylics and butyl rubber sealants. This product is capable of bonding and sealing an extensive range of materials

including aluminium, wood and MDF, plastic, metal, steel, mirror, lead, concrete, glass, tile, polycarbon, PVC and felt. OB1 also works in damp conditions and even under water. It contains no solvents so it will never crack or shrink, can be applied on wet surfaces, painted or moulded and it has a very high bond strength, with resistance to fungal and bacterial growth.

OB1 multi-surface construction sealant and adhesive is available in a 290ml tube, in white, clear, black, anthracite, grey, silver, brown, terracotta and beige.

Also available in the range are a multi-surface cleaner (aerosol 500ml) and a multi-layer paint and varnish remover (aerosol 500ml). www.unicrimp.com

Continued on pages 54-55 >>> CABLEtalk

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Our guide to the latest industry solutions 3 DONCASTER CABLES COMBINES POWER AND DATA WITH EV-ULTRA®

As the largest British-owned manufacturer of general wiring products in the UK, Doncaster Cables has a wealth of experience in the cable market.

The brand has grown extensively since launching in 1984 and is internationally recognised throughout the industry.

As the need to develop a suitable electric vehicle charging infrastructure becomes more prevalent, Doncaster Cables has developed a cable that provides electricians with a solution that allows a quicker, neater and easier installation.

EV-Ultra® combines power and data within one cable to a llow installers to save time on installations while leaving their clients with a more aesthetically pleasing install. The innovation followed an 18-month research and development project, during which Doncaster Cables overcame the many problems associated with the close proximity of power and data cables.

Installing a cable that is not manufactured to a recognised British Standard brings installers a new challenge, which is why Doncaster Cables requested the assistance of the British Approvals Service for Cables 54

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(BASEC) to develop a Certificate of Assessed Design (CAD).

BASEC CADs are suitable for unique variant products, where no specific national or international standards exist to verify a cable’s design.

BASEC works closely with manufacturers to undertake an appropriate testing programme, with both initial and ongoing routine testing, to evidence the product’s characteristics. The assessed design approval also incorporates ongoing surveillance testing to ensure consistent levels of quality and safety are maintained over the longer term.

Aaron Walstow, of Doncaster Cables, said: “As a company, providing our customers with the highest levels of conformity to support the safe installation of cabling into their projects is a top priority. Gaining the CAD product approval from BASEC helps to provide an easier sign off process for installers and end users of the EV-Ultra cabling. It enables them to prove that the cable has been thoroughly performance tested.

To demonstrate compliance customers can also reference a BS specific number in relation to the CAD.”

DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022

4 OVIA SHEDS LIGHT ON PRODUCTS WITH BUMPER CATALOGUE Ovia has launched its biggest, most comprehensive catalogue since the company was established two years ago. At over 400 pages, the new Ovia Issue 3 catalogue boasts an additional 100 pages on the previous edition and features a raft of new products, including additions to the floodlighting range.

The new Inceptor Ace range of adjustable LED asymmetric floodlights provides high-quality indoor and outdoor lighting solutions.

Asymmetric floodlights are superior in concentrating light where it is needed by using reflectors to direct light.

The full Inceptor Ace floodlighting range can be seen in the new Ovia Issue 3 catalogue, which can be downloaded from the Ovia website at www.oviauk.com

5 HULTAFORS TOOLS SHARPENS UP ITS CHISEL OFFERING WITH NEW RANGE

Hultafors Tools’ new chisels offer a superior ergonomic design and 11 different blade widths up to 40mm – a striking balance between precision, sharpness and durability.

HDC Chisels are designed for jobs on site that need strength and precision for accurate chiselling work.

All the blades are forged using a unique steel formula into a one-piece I-beam construction for strength and rigidity with a robust profile for extreme breaking strength and a design that maximises power

transmission downwards through the tool.

Additional features include an ergonomic Santoprene handle with an impact resistant nylon striker that can be replaced when worn down.

All chisels are supplied with holsters that protect the cutting edge to prevent damage or possible injury when handling.

Getting more information on the Hultafors Tools range is easy.

You can call the helpline on 01484 854788, check out www.hultafors.co.uk or email sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk

5-PAGE SPECIAL 6 WORK IN COMFORT AND STYLE WITH SNICKERS WORKWEAR 37.5® CLOTHING Not only will you stay warm with Snickers Workwear’s 37.5® Technology clothing, you’ll look and feel cool too. With styles for both professional tradesmen and women, they excel at ventilation to keep you cool and moisture transportation to stop you getting cold.

The 37.5® Technology fabric is a very quick-drying material that

captures and releases moisture vapour – like your sweat - for superior coolness and dry working comfort.

So, to make sure you get the right protection, visibility, flexibility, durability and ventilation, check out the Climate Control garments from Snickers Workwear that work together to suit your workday.

8 VERSATILITY REIGNS WITH SNICKERS WORKWEAR BASELAYER The Snickers Workwear Baselayer clothing for professional tradesmen and women uses high-tech breathable fabrics for ventilation and body moisture transport for sustainable warmth and comfort.

The base, mid and top-layer clothing combines to keep you working dry, warm and comfortable. With sustainability at the forefront of Snickers Workwear’s clothing philosophy, garments are available in recycled polyester and merino wool as well as the 37.5® Technology ventilating fabric to suit different types of work.

For more information, call the helpline on 01484 854788, check out www.snickersworkwear. co.uk or email: sales@ hultaforsgroup.co.uk Continued on pages 56-57 >>>

7 TAKE CONTROL WITH SNICKERS’ FLEXIWORK INVERTED PILE JACKET The Snickers Workwear climate control system includes functional base layers, insulating mid layers and weather-protective outer layers.

These technically advanced working clothes allow craftsmen and craftswomen to adjust to changing weather conditions on site.

Take the new FlexiWork Inverted Pile jacket for example. This warm and versatile pile jacket can be used both as a jacket in cooler conditions or a mid layer when the weather is more inclement. Made of laminated polyester fabric with a furry pile lining for optimal warmth and comfort, its ergonomics also feature shaped shoulders for a great fit and optimum freedom of movement.

Hi-tech, advanced fabric

technology like this is integral to all Snickers Workwear’s garments that always combine well with the Snickers Workwear hallmarks of best-in-class durability, comfort, ergonomics and fit.

For more information visit www.snickersworkwear. co.uk or call the Snickers Workwear helpline on 01484 854788.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Our guide to the latest industry solutions 9 GET SMART WITH SCOLMORE’S CONNECTED HOME PRODUCTS Scolmore’s range of Click Smart+ products has been created to simplify and streamline connected home products – lighting controls, smart sockets, security cameras and sensors.

It utilises Zigbee technology – one of the most widely adopted smart home communication protocols.

Zigbee-certified devices require the Click Smart+ Hub and communicate using a mesh network which creates multiple pathways for the connection of multiple smart home devices without compromising signal and communication range. The

range comprises the Smart Gateway Hub – the control centre of all Zigbee connected devices – one-gang and two-gang smart sockets, a plug-in smart socket, camera, PIR sensor, window/door sensor, plus temperature and humidity sensors. Go to www.click-smart.com

10 BG ELECTRICAL TAKES USB WALL SOCKETS TO THE NEXT LEVEL BG Electrical has developed a market-leading 30W Type C USB wall socket, the most powerful of its kind.

This latest innovation is the only true fast-charging wall socket with integrated fast charge ports for both USB-C and USB-A. Delivering true, fast charging of mobile phones, small laptops and tablets, BG’s superior solution can deliver a 50%

charge in just 30 minutes for mobile devices and 60 minutes for tablets - 70% faster than standard 5W charging.

Integrated smart charging automatically switches the socket to standby mode once the device is fully charged, eliminating any potential damage caused by overcharging.

Find out more at www.bg-type-c.uk

11 BG ELECTRICAL REVEALS LATEST ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES CATALOGUE

BG Electrical is delighted to announce the release of its latest wiring accessories and circuit protection catalogue.

The new 230-page catalogue features all of BG’s new product offering with really insightful product information, all organised into easy-tonavigate colour coded sections,

so that its customers can quickly and easily source and order the right product for their particular application.

Highlights include new high powered 30W USB sockets with A and C outlets and a new Nexus Grid modular range.

View the catalogue at www.bg-catalogue.uk

12 CASTRA SHINES WITH NEW ADJUSTABLE LED FLOODLIGHTS The new Castra range of residential LED floodlights has been designed with innovative features to aid installation.

Floodlight positioning can be adjusted with the use of a unique, patentpending, rotatable ball joint bracket, which enables not only up and down adjustment,

but side to side.

Castra LED floodlights offer a high Lm/W output and include an adjustable PIR with settings and override functionality, allowing dusk-tilldawn use only.

Both the floodlight and PIR are IP65-rated and are supplied pre-wired with one metre of cable, to save installation time.

Find out more: www.castra-floodlights.uk

CONTACT OUR TEAM TO SHOWCASE YOUR GREAT NEW PRODUCTS HERE

David Hughes: 07767 407 402 davidh@connectcommunications.co.uk 56

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5-PAGE SPECIAL

13 CONTROL YOUR DEVICES WITH BG AND LUCECO SMART! HOME SYSTEM The BG and Luceco Smart! range is an affordable smart home system that’s easy to install and control by app, allowing users to take control of their connected devices from anywhere. Features include: • No costly hub required, unlike other systems.

• Easy to install and set up, just download the BG Home App and go.

• Conveniently control devices away from the home via the BG Home App. • Intelligent smart meshing prevents routers being overloaded and crashing.

• Product support,

instruction guides and videos available on our dedicated website.

The system includes a comprehensive range of smart power and lighting products for both interior and exterior home spaces.

Find out more at www.bg-home.uk

14 LUCECO LAUNCHES NEW 344-PAGE PROFILE PRODUCT CATALOGUE Luceco is delighted to announce the launch of its latest Profile catalogue, available now.

The new 344-page catalogue features all of Luceco’s new product offering with really insightful product information, all organised into easy-to-navigate colour coded sections, within a brand new design theme.

Highlights of the 2021-22 Profile catalogue include: • FType Compact premium

LED downlights, launched earlier this year.

• New Castra adjustable LED security floodlight range.

• New LED Smart lighting range powered by the BG Home App. • Extended commercial and industrial lighting categories, with new ranges.

• New and modern external domestic wall and garden spike lighting range.

View the catalogue at www.luceco-profile.com

15 GIVE YOUR DEVICES A BOOST WITH TIMEGUARD’S FAMILY OF CONTROLS

What could be simpler for making sure devices like fixed heaters, towel rails or immersion heaters aren’t left on when not needed than the Timeguard Boostmaster family of controls?

They all incorporate the ingenious boost button that enables users to call for power with the press of a button with the assurance that the device will turn off again automatically.

They can see how long is left, add some extra boost, or change their mind and switch off immediately if required.

All fit into a standard 25mm back box. Choose from the new push-button digital countdown

CABLEtalk

timers, with minute-by-minute display, or one of the original models offering 15-minute increments with a column of LED lights showing how long is left.

There’s an option which combines boost and fused spur protection and one with both time control and a fused spur integrated. Whether users want countdown ‘ON’ time or to be able to extend programmed timing with the press of a button, there’s a Timeguard Boostmaster to suit. Economy 7 users can also benefit from extra boost.

See the range at www.timeguard.com

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DIARY SELECT TEAM

GETTING TO KNOW YOU Sharron Aitchison

Employment & Skills Administrator Hello Sharron. How long have you been working at SELECT? This is actually my second time at The Walled Garden. I was here for a year and a half before leaving in July 2019 and I’ve been back for around two months now.

Tell us a bit about your work life so far and how you ended up at The Walled Garden.

I left school and worked in a shoe shop for a year, then started my administration working life and have never looked back. I’ve worked for Nationwide Building Society, Scottish Water, Glencorse Barracks and Aaron House Care Home and have now been lucky enough to secure another role back at SELECT.

What does your job entail?

Tell us more about what you do.

Going forward, I’m going to be predominantly grading, but at the moment I’m helping with apprentice registrations, which is certainly keeping me busy!

“I like the balance of seeing my colleagues face-to-face when I am in the office but also the freedom of working from home”

What do you think are the main benefits of SELECT membership?

The main thing for me is the security of having a SELECT expert on hand when you really need them. The past 18 months in particular have brought home the importance of having a friendly voice on the other end of the phone who can help you with whatever you need, whether it’s a technical issue or an employment enquiry. Everyone at The Walled Garden really does go the extra mile to help Members.

What do you find most enjoyable about your job?

Helping people successfully resolve their query or application. At the moment it’s also lovely to catch up with colleagues who I haven’t seen for two years, although this is happening in dribs and drabs as not everyone is in the office at the same time.

What’s a typical day like for you at work?

So far I’ve mainly been registering all apprentices on the system and ordering their relevant ECS cards.

It’s great to see the next generation of electricians coming through.

Do you get the chance to meet SELECT Members?

Unfortunately not at the moment, but if things return to semi-normal next year I would like to attend some of the SELECT events and meet Members in person.

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What impact has the COVID-19, lockdown and working remotely had on your working day?

I don’t think it’s really impacted me much. Before restarting at SELECT, I was at work every day throughout lockdown as Business Support Administrator for Aaron House. By being sensible and sticking to the guidelines, we were lucky and prevented any cases of COVID-19 being transferred into the home itself. Now I’m back at SELECT, I currently work from home three days a week. Having a skeleton staff in the office is a sensible decision and reduces the risk for everyone. I like the balance of seeing my colleagues face-to-face when I am in the office but also the freedom of working from home.

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS: Cheese or chocolate? Cheese Dog or cat person? Dog First car owned? Astra convertible Favourite film? It’s a toss-up between The Grinch and Dumb & Dumber Favourite TV show? Game of Thrones and This is Us, although I’m watching The Punisher at the moment Favourite holiday spot? Cyprus Dream date? Billy Connolly Favourite colour? Black One thing people might not know about you? I’ve seen AC/DC in concert three times and also have an HNC in accounting

WIN

£50 OF

COMPETITION

CHRISTMAS MOVIES A D E F G H I J K N L M N O H P Q R S T I U

B A C H R I S T M A S C A R O L R S T Q T V

C R A B C D E F G T H I J K M V W X Y U S W

D T F M A V E G T I I L T H E S N O W M A N

E H G G T D B K L V H G D W A Q W S L R W X

F U B R J Y E K L I R F J T L F E D K G O Y

G R D R L I N K L T G W B F O W T F I J N Z

S C R O O G E D J Y L H J H N T U H J P D P

H H E B M U Z Z L D A I D T E J W Y O O E O

I R S B L I E W I R I T E S H T L E Y O R N

J I T I O O R R U G J E H F M D J R E Y F M

K S R E P I M U K P Y C H K L M A Y U F U L

L T F T H E G R I N C H Q A R L C R X B L K

M M O H L Y R I K L P R A E R K K G N Y L J

N A P E H U E N R Y I I H J K D F H O E I I

O S I R T I M M J L W S U K L E R J E L F H

P C N E R L L S M F E T I T A G O K L B E G

Q B D I D K I T H Y I M O M H M S L L R K F

R A B N E J N H M G B A D S A N T A J Y L E

S Z F D L O S J F H T S N M E D O T H L O D

T Y A E I H Y G T G H K L F N M E E N U U C

VOUCHERS

October/November 2021 answers:

U T H E P O L A R E X P R E S S W T L P Y B

V W X R A B H J K L P O H G F D E R T Y I A

A B C E D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q C R S T

B G A F Z Y X W S E L P P A E E F F O T V U

G U Y F A W K E S J K L M N O P Q R N S F T

C N D I E F G H I E X P L O S I V E S V I U

W P X G Y Z A F B C D L E F G H I J P K R L

I O H Y F G E L O N D O N A B O N F I R E M

J W K L M N O A B C D T R S T U Q P R O W N

K D D F G J L M C H E T C V X S A X A Q O X

L E F F D R B E B J W E S J L C P C T E R W

M R O C K E T S D L D R R H M N A V O R K V

N P E H R E A W D T V S T G B M R B R T S U

O L W C A T H E R I N E W H E E L N S Y R T

P O O B N D S D F N H N G F S A I M C U E S

Q T L A D G F V G K E F G H N S A M B S T R

R S R A T N V B B L X Y A D O D M V A P B Q

S R K A R B V M U U E U S F V F E X Z A O P

B T H F I N M P T I C I D G E G N Z Y R N D

A Y T T A T M I R O U O F H M H T Q X K M E

R J F W L C O M S P T M B J B K K E W L L C

R O R H D V B R F M I M N L E L L R V E K F

E H T U F H O U S E O F L O R D S T U R J G

L M H Y R E S M H H N K J M N N M Y T S I B

S A B C D G E H F I J K L M N O P Q R S H A

Here’s your chance to win £50 of Amazon vouchers with our prize wordsearch about Christmas movies compiled by SELECT Training Administrator Laurie Burns. Find all the words, take a pic of your finished grid and email it to memberservices@select.org.uk by 14 January. The winner will be drawn at random. T&Cs are online. Congratulations to October/November winner Lorraine Gray from CEF.

• • • • • • • • •

A Christmas Carol Arthur Christmas Bad Santa Die Hard Ebenezer Elf Gremlins Home Alone It’s A Wonderful Life • Jack Frost

• • • • • • • • •

Joyeux Noel Nativity Noel Robbie the Reindeer Scrooged The Grinch The Polar Express The Snowman White Christmas

Keep up to date with Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, all SELECT meetings and events are subject to change. We will update Members with new information as soon as possible. In the meantime, follow our website www.select.org.uk Twitter @Updates_SELECT @Training_SELECT @Regulate_SELECT

Facebook SELECT.TheECAofS Instagram @SELECT_Trade_ Association

select.org.uk select.org.uk/training cabletalkmagazine.com selectawards.co.uk CABLEtalk

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