Electrical Issue 52

Page 1

EE Y FR OP C

ISSUE 52 - NOV/DEC 2015



contents

2016 events now released

Plumb power heat Light TRADE EVENT DUBLIN 2016

EXPO

THURS

WED

05- 06

OCTOBER CITYWEST HOTEL, DUBLIN THE TEAM

Karen McAvoy

Adam Hassin

Managing Director Publication Manager Editor Editorial ROI Correspondant Head Designer Designer Accounts Business Support Photography Printed by

Janice Uprichard

Karen McAvoy Janice Uprichard Adam Hassin Diane Day Denise Maguire Julie Anne Guiney Jo Wilson Michelle Owens Gemma Sheppard Gordon McAvoy W&G Baird

62

Contents... ISSUE 52 - NOV/DEC 2015

NEWS & VIEWS

Edmundson Electrical, Portadown

Reproduction of whole or in part of this publication, without prior permission from Karen McAvoy Publishing Ltd, is strictly prohibited.

www.elecmagazine.com

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45

5

New accreditation for Beacon

Lights, camera, action for Energia

7

Irwin Electrical celebrates 20 years

50-60

Edmundson Electrical, Coleraine

62-63

Boost for SparkSafe

8 10

Vaughan’s hit the greens

12-13

Ireland’s Electrical Event review

14-15

features

Q&A – Jim Rice, Schneider

46-47

Lighting

24-39

Project profile, Tannaghmore PS

66-71

Electrical Industries Charity golf day

53

Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) 75-80

IN FOCUS Publishers of: • Plumbing & Heating Magazine • Electrical Magazine • Northern Builder • Yearbooks • Diaries

41-43

UrbanVolt’s new lighting system Launch of Powerhouse Generation CONTACT US The Forge, 13b Lisburn Road, Moira BT67 0JR Moira: 028 9261 2990 Dublin: 01 696 8319 e electrical@kmpltd.co.uk w www.elecmagazine.com

50

Win a BMW with Schneider

21

Project profile, Galgorm Resort & Spa 84-87

EHC’s Happy Chappy

23

Training

88-92

Electrical Magazine is published on a bi-monthly basis and distributed throughout Northern Ireland and the A TRADE MAGAZINE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND & REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Republic of Ireland on a controlled circulation.

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 3



news

Less than one in six firms ‘fully ready’ for BIM as deadline looms

UrbanVolt to roll out new lighting system New Irish company, UrbanVolt is planning to invest €30million over the next 12 months to roll out energy-efficient lighting solutions for SMEs. The company, which only began trading in April, has signed a threeyear deal with Bord Gáis Energy to become the preferred lighting supplier to its 30,000 commercial customers. Bord Gáis Energy will help fund the installation of LED lights with the aim of reducing energy bills for SMEs. UrbanVolt retrofits the lighting at no cost to the SME, with the two parties taking an equal share of the savings achieved over a five-year period. According to the company, most customers will see a 50% reduction in lighting energy costs after its fee.

Kevin Maughan, UrbanVolt Chief Executive and co-founder, said that access to funding and incentives for energy efficiency hadn’t reached SMEs until now as their projects were not large enough individually to be attractive. “Our partnership with Bord Gáis Energy allows SMEs to gain immediate and significant energy savings with no capital investment,” he stated, adding that the partnership model would enable SMEs to “dramatically reduce their energy costs”. According to John Cussen, Category Manager, Bord Gáis Energy, the offer would be available to all SMEs and not just its existing customers. T: (RoI) 01 697 1500 or (NI) 00353 1 697 1500 W: www.urbanvolt.com

Fewer than one in six firms (16%) in the building services sector are ‘fully ready’ to use Building Information Modelling (BIM) on projects, according to new survey findings from the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA). With the government deadline for the mandatory use of ‘BIM Level 2’ in all Whitehall-procured contracts just months away, nearly six in ten firms (57%) said they were not fully ready, while over one in four (27%) said they were ‘not ready at all’. Yet, despite the above findings, nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) say that BIM Level 2 will be ‘good for the sector’, while almost six in ten (57%) say it will be the ‘future for building services’. ECA Director of Business Services, Paul Reeve, commented, “In addition to flagging up our findings to government and the industry, we will be working with our ‘BIM readiness’ partners to tackle the important gaps identified by the survey, as soon as possible.” The sector-wide ‘BIM readiness’ survey was held in conjunction with the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and building services and engineering consultancy, BSRIA. W: www.eca.co.uk

NICEIC and ELECSA launch ‘Apprentice of the Year’ contest NICEIC and ELECSA have launched their ‘Electrical Apprentice of the Year’ competition, open to all level 3 students throughout the UK. Each entrant will be asked to take part in a series of different challenges, with the final eight contestants taking part in a grand final at partner sponsor, Clik Scolmore’s headquarters in Tamworth. Kicking off in December, the competition is split into different stages – an online exam, then a practical exam and, for the grand final in the summer, practical tests

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and an interview by NICEIC and ELECSA’s Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth. The winner will be announced at a special awards event at the Belfry Golf Resort in Warwickshire. There are a host of prizes up for grabs, with the eventual winner getting a £2,000 holiday voucher which can be spent on a trip of their choice. There is a £500 holiday voucher for the runner-up and each finalist will also receive an iPad. W: www.niceic.com/apprentice W: www.elecsa.co.uk/apprentice

Ballymena: Units 57-59, Ballymena Business Centre, 62 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena, Armagh: Armagh Business Centre, 2 Loughgall Road, Armagh T: 028 2565 0750 – F: 028 2563 0725 – E: enquiries@ett-ni.org www.ett-ni.org

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 5


WHO WE ARE

IES’ methods of deployment made every project very straightforward.

Stuart Kirk,

WHAT WE DO

IES Compliance will ensure conformity with local Environmental Health & Safety Legislation as well as the statutory compliance of all assets within a client’s building that relate to electrical and pressure systems, fire safety (including fire detection and suppression systems), lifting equipment (including lifts and escalators), gas systems, F gas and water quality management.

head of energy and carbon. Morrisons PLC

WHO WE ARE

IES Fire & Security offer a full-service solution, providing our customers with access to the highest quality products available on the market, and the means to install them.

WHAT WE DO

IES Compliance provides robust management of the statutory and regulatory compliance requirements for your premises, utilising game-changing integrated application technology that brings down operational costs by over 20%.

IES are an extension of our business.

IES Fire & Security Services include: Access Control, Building Management Systems, CCTV Installation, Intruder Alarm Systems, Fire Detection & Alarm Systems, Emergency Lighting Service, Maintenance, Testing, Inspection and Repairs and a Fire Extinguisher Service. Using established relationships with experts in the field, we can cover all mandatory requirements with a solution that is energy efficient and cost-effective.

Paul Goodall,

retail & hospitality director, Philips

For further details contact us: GENERAL ENQUIRIES: 028 9024 7528 NEW BUSINESS: 0800 2545020 EMAIL: info@i-e-s-ltd.com

www.ies-ltd.com


news

Verified or not?

Energia teams up with Odeon Cinemas Under the terms of a new energy deal, Energia will supply electricity to three Odeon cinemas around Ireland, with Castletroy in Limerick, Dublin’s Point Village and the group’s new cinema at Charlestown, Dublin 11 set to benefit from the scheme. Energia’s Daniel Wolverson, said, “We are confident that Odeon Cinemas will get real savings from this new electricity deal with Energia. They join over 60,000 Irish businesses that have chosen Energia for their electricity and gas supply. Energia’s ‘Cash for Kilowatts’ scheme also provides funding to companies for energy efficiency projects. It means that any company spending more

than €5,000 on an energy efficiency project can qualify for funding of up to 30% of the project value. The new scheme is open to all businesses, whether or not they are customers of Energia.” As well as benefitting from the generous funding, businesses will also make very significant ongoing savings through the energy efficiency projects. For example - LED and high efficiency lighting can reduce lighting costs by up to 75%; a new boiler or heating controls can save over 25% of annual fuel costs; and new refrigeration systems can reduce costs by up to 30%. W: www.energia.ie

Scolmore celebrates double award success Leading wiring accessories and lighting manufacturer, Scolmore, followed up the company’s success at Northern Ireland’s Electrical Awards by winning two awards at the Electrical Industry Awards. The company’s new Mode Locating Plug Socket triumphed in the Innovative Commercial Product of the Year, as well the Innovative Residential/Domestic Product of the Year categories. This followed on from the Inceptor Max winning the Highly Commended award in the Innovative Lighting Product of the Year category at Northern Ireland’s Electrical Awards in Belfast. Marie Parry, Scolmore Group Marketing Manager said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have

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received this recognition from the industry. It is a great accolade for all the team members responsible for making this possible. It goes to show that, in an industry dominated by technological advancements, it does pay to keep a focus on those products at the other end of the scale that are the bread and butter for the industry. T: (NI) David Rankin on 07785 621117 or (RoI) Click Litehouse on 01 2811 122 W: www.scolmore.com or www.clicklitehouse.ie

LIA Laboratories is advising lighting specifiers and installers to ensure that the products they are considering for use have been subject to a meaningful, independent verification. “Many people believe that the CE Mark is the only certification that is required, but it’s important to bear in mind that suppliers ‘self-declare’ the CE Mark. There is no independent verification of safety or performance,” warned General Manager, Mark Salt. Through its LIA Labs Verified scheme, LIA Laboratories provides a complete accredited testing, verification and certification service for all lighting equipment from lamps/LED modules and control gear through to luminaires. Equipment verified by the scheme, which operates in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust (EST), gets a certificate and can carry the LIA Labs verified and EST brand. Verified products are also published on LIA Labs’ certification website with full report details. T: (NI) 01952 290907 or (RoI) 0044 1952 290907 W: lialab.org.uk

Meters for hospital to cut energy Energy meters are to be installed at Sligo Regional Hospital to measure and monitor energy consumption across its significant users over the next two months. The hospital is participating in the OPW’s Optimising @ Work programme and recently held an Energy Awareness Day for staff and members of the public. The Energy team in Sligo Regional Hospital has also established a tri-monthly sustainability newsletter called Green Times, which will provide information on various initiatives being undertaken by the hospital to reduce energy. W: www.opw.ie

Copper in electrical contacts A new and valuable resource, issued by Copper Development Association, discusses the nature of the electrical contact and the material properties required for contacts across various applications. Copper is present in nearly all electrical contact applications, either in the material of the contacts themselves, as a backing material, or in the construction of the contact carrier connections and terminals of the switch contact assembly. This in-depth, yet easy-to-read, resource explains why copper is such a good contactor. W: Download it for free at www.copperalliance.org.uk

Ballymena: Units 57-59, Ballymena Business Centre, 62 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena, Armagh: Armagh Business Centre, 2 Loughgall Road, Armagh T: 028 2565 0750 – F: 028 2563 0725 – E: enquiries@ett-ni.org www.ett-ni.org

• APPRENTICE • ELECTRICAL • BUSINESS • HEALTH & SAFETY

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 7


news

Data centres may be good news for wind energy

The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) has warned that Ireland will have to accelerate electricity generation as over €2billion worth of data centres come on stream over the next five years. It’s believed that the new centres could increase Ireland’s energy demand by 18% and make an EU target for the country to generate 40% of all power from renewable sources by 2020 a more challenging goal. Wind energy is expected to account for 36 percentage points of that 40% target. About 18% of Ireland’s electricity demand was met by wind power last year. The IWEA claims the surge in data centre construction could lead to serious benefits for wind energy

Award-winning social housing development installs Aico alarms

companies as multinationals seek to power their facilities using green energy. The association has predicted that €1.36billion may need to be invested in Irish renewable energy infrastructure to meet the associated electricity demand. The report for the IWEA was undertaken by Callaghan Engineering, a firm which has worked on several data centre projects in Ireland. It reckons that data centre power usage in Ireland currently equates to about 7% of peak winter electricity demand and 8.6% of demand during summer. The report also noted that companies are now looking beyond Dublin to build new data centres. W: www.iwea.com

New energy company offers financial rewards to business customers Factories, quarries, hospitals and hotels are just some of the big energy users who could be set to benefit from the launch of a new energy company into the Northern Ireland market. PowerHouse Generation will give local businesses the opportunity to earn significant financial rewards by having the ability to reduce their demand on the electricity grid. The demand reduction scheme was introduced by the transmission system operator and payments are administered through the SEM (Single Electricity Market). The company has been operating as a Demand Side Unit (DSU) in the Republic of Ireland since 2011. T: (NI) 028 9261 2612 or (ROI) 048 9261 2612 W: www.powerhousegeneration.com

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Aico Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms have been installed at Newington Housing Association’s triple award-winning housing development in North Belfast. The scheme, to transform an historically volatile interface area of North Belfast, features 36 newbuild and re-habilitated houses. Each property has been fitted with five Aico alarms, hard wired together for maximum tenant protection and controlled through the use of a single wallmounted switch. Three optical smoke alarms are located in the main habitable areas and escape routes and one heat alarm in the kitchen. The CO alarm is located adjacent to the boiler in each house. Aico’s Ei160RC Series of mains-powered smoke and heat alarms have been designed to offer social housing providers the highest quality protection for BS 5839-6 Grade D applications. T: (NI) 01691 664100 or (RoI) 0044 1691 664100 W: www.aico.co.uk

Tenant, Geraldine McKee, and Newington Housing Association Housing Officer, Margaret Duffy using the Aico alarm control switch.

Energy prices up 33% since 2010

Pictured (from left), Richard Watson, Chairman; Sam Thompson, Managing Director; and Sam Alexander, Technical Director, PowerHouse Generation.

Energy prices have jumped by almost a third in five years, despite four new suppliers entering the market. According to price comparison website bonkers.ie, there has been a 22% increase in electricity prices over the last five years. With up to 86% of households continuing to pay standard prices, consumers are missing out on potential savings of €370million per year, according to the website. The price rises come despite the fact there is now more competition in the market, with four new suppliers coming into play since 2010. W: www.bonkers.ie

Ballymena: Units 57-59, Ballymena Business Centre, 62 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena, Armagh: Armagh Business Centre, 2 Loughgall Road, Armagh T: 028 2565 0750 – F: 028 2563 0725 – E: enquiries@ett-ni.org www.ett-ni.org

• APPRENTICE • ELECTRICAL • BUSINESS • HEALTH & SAFETY

8 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

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sparksafe LTP

Full implementation of Licence to Practice a step closer!

T

he process towards full implementation and roll out of an electrical Licence to Practice system has taken a significant step forward following the recent CIFNI (Construction Industry Forum of Northern Ireland) members meeting. Members of the influential group met at the Central Procurement Directorate Headquarters at Hollywood Exchange during September 2015 to consider feedback from a number of pilot projects specifying the new SparkSafe LtP requirement. The purpose and functionality of the system received a unanimous positive response from the industry representatives to effect the following recommendation ‘That CIFNI members consider the wider roll out of the Licence to Practice (LtP) Initiative to all appropriate Government construction contracts from 1 January 2016.’ The CPD and most CoPE organisations will begin to routinely include an electrical Licence to Practice requirement in the prequalification and contract documents on the majority of construction and maintenance projects going forward. The recommendation effectively means that Northern Ireland is the first part of the United Kingdom to adopt a true electrical Licence to Practice system aimed at benefiting electrical workers, electrical contractors and the industries customers.

Martin & Hamilton connect with SparkSafe

B

uilding contractor Martin & Hamilton recently signed up to the SparkSafe initiative to help further improve the company’s quality management in relation to the appointment and management of electrical contractors. Commenting on the initiative, Gerard Graham, Business Development Manager at Martin & Hamilton said, “As part of our supply chain management, we have always recognised the NICEIC accreditation as a means to categorise any electrician installation business as industryapproved. “We view the SparkSafe initiative as going one step further, as it provides a means to not just check that an electrical sub-contractor is an approved electrical installation business, but also that the individual people working for that company are licensed electrical workers.

“For relevant public sector projects where Martin & Hamilton is the main contractor, we will now be able to view each electrical worker’s identity and licence type remotely to help ensure that only licenced electrical workers are on our projects. This will also help us comply with the new public sector construction tendering procurement policy.” David Hamilton, Managing Director of Martin & Hamilton, added, “As a quality-assured, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified company, we are always trying to identify new ways to improve quality control across the company. “As electrical work is a key trade in the construction industry we welcome the new SparkSafe Licence to Practice system as a means to help us continue to improve our service and increase the Health & Safety standards on our projects.”

‘That CIFNI members consider the wider roll out of the Licence to Practice (LtP) Initiative to all appropriate Government construction contracts from 1 January 2016.’

Recommendation to implement national pay rates

A

recent pay and conditions survey has found that 76% of qualified electricians are being paid below the minimum, nationally-determined rate of £13.15ph. Unregulated pay and conditions in the local industry is taking its toll on the ability of employers to recruit and replenish a fit-for-purpose workforce. SparkSafe is recommending that the industry works towards the full implementation of the 2016 national pay rates and restores the conditions of employment that are appropriate to electrical workers.

Charlotte Bamber, SparkSafe Systems & Compliance Director, (centre) pictured with David Hamilton, Managing Director, (left) and Gerard Graham, Business Development Manager, both of Martin & Hamilton which has recently joined the SparkSafe initiative.

SparkSafe T: (NI) 028 2566 6835 or (RoI) 048 2566 6835 E: enquiries@sparksafeltp.co.uk www.sparksafeltp.co.uk

10 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

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Built to last Switchgear Cabinets & Control Rooms What can you expect? • Electricity Meter Cabinets • Telecom Network Cabinets • Telecom Secure Cabins • Secure Feeder Paillars • Transformer Secure Housing • Secure Portable Equipment Buildings • Secure UPS Control Rooms • G59 Secure Panel Stores • All Work 2 Year Warranty Made to order - Temporary or Permanent Solutions

General Cabins & Engineering Ltd 21-25 Corr Road, Killyman, Dungannon, BT71 6HQ. Tel: +44 (0)28 8774 7566 - Fax: +44 (0)28 8774 6866 Email: info@generalcabins.com

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www.generalcabins.com - www.generalranges.com


golf day

city electrical factors ltd

REQUIRE ACCOUNT MANAGER / SALES REPRESENTATIVE Due to growing sales we are currently looking to recruit Account Managers for our branches in Northern Ireland. City Electrical Factors Ltd is a private limited company established in 1951 and is still owned by the same family resulting in great financial stability. We are one of the UK’s leading Electrical Wholesalers. As well as 393 branches throughout the UK, the company also has branches in Australia, Canada, Spain and the USA. We have an Annual turnover in excess of £1.1billion and employ over 8000 people worldwide, many of which have been promoted from the UK. CEF UK is supported by its own Manufacturing and Distribution operations, these 26 subsidiary companies supply our Branch network with over 35 own brand ranges, covering 39,500 product lines. Such a dynamic company requires enthusiastic, hardworking people with a positive attitude who want to develop a career which could, with the right attributes, lead them to a senior management role. A competitive salary and a quality car will be provided. Successful candidates do not necessarily need previous wholesale electrical experience but a basic knowledge of electrical installation products would be an advantage.

Ready to hit the fairways are (from left) TJ, Les Murphy, Fran Whelan and Joe McCarron.

J.Vaughan Electrical Contractors Ltd recently held their annual golf outing at the iconic Wicklow resort…

Teeing off at Druids Glen

T

he course at Druids Glen was in spectacular shape, thanks to course manager Marcus Doyle and his team. After some tea and scones, J.Vaughan Electrical Contractors (JVE ) was called to the first tee by Bert Lang who did an excellent job in starting a terrific group of invited guests from the construction and medical care sectors, consultants, clients and friends. Participants were in great form and eager to try out some new skills coached by Golfing Pro Kevin Beirth, nephew of the legendary Michael McGuirk. Players were challenged to beat Kevin on driving nearest to the pin on the 12th hole, which three players managed to do. After an excellent day, participants made their way to the courtyard area for drinks and dinner. After the BBQ dinner the guest of honour, Irish multi-Olympic boxer Paddy Barnes, took photos and signed autographs while mixing with the guests with

At CEF we have a real entrepreneurial vision and ethos encouraging people to forge profitable careers for both themselves and the company and placing a real emphasis on personal and professional development. If you are interested in joining a company with excellent career opportunities, please send your cv to: careers@cef.co.uk

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2015.

12 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

Tony Donnelly, Marks & Spencer; Gavin Daly, CSD; Brendan Kane, McLaughlin & Harvey; and Brian Raymond, O’Connor Sutton Cronin.

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golf day

city electrical factors ltd

Lease Finance Solutions from City Electrical Factors Olympian Boxer Paddy Barnes (front centre) with (from left) Gavin McCoubrey, Robert Fyffe, Paddy Barnes Sr and Golf pro Kevin Beirth, with Graham Martin (back).

his father Paddy Senior. JV.E. representatives Eddie Nolan, Colm Mc Alinden and John Downes made the presentation of prizes. After the presentations, Joe Vaughan took the microphone to thank all those who attended and who helped to make the day such a resounding success. Joe commented, “We have all been through a tough few years but we now see positive signs for the future of the Irish construction industry. JVE is primed and ready to work with all our clients and associates in getting Irish construction back on an even keel.” All the management and staff at JVE would like to thank the staff at Druid’s Glen Resort, Co. Wicklow, Irish Olympian Paddy Barnes, Kevin Beirth for the golfing advice and tips and all the participants who played (whether good or bad) and helped to make the day so memorable. Hopefully the weather and conditions will be as good in 2016 for the next event! Winners Runners-up 1 Brendan Kane – 1 Robert Fyfe – Totalis McLoughlin & Harvey 2 Gavin Mc Coubrey – Meth 2 Tony Donnelly – Marks Health Care and Spencer’s 3 Finn Aherne – JV Tierney’s 3 Brian Raymond – 4 John Gallagher – Enercon O’Connor Sutton Cronin Beat the Pro Kevin Beirth 4 Gavin Daly – CSD 1 Paddy Barnes (Snr) 2 Brian Raymond 3 Eddie Nolan

Did you know... CEF can now offer simple fixed-term lease finance for many of your product needs? A wide range of equipment can be leased, including: • CCTV • Alarm systems • Lighting - inc. LED lamps • Inverters • Hand dryers • Solar PV • Voltage optimisation • Test equipment • Air conditioning • Domestic appliances • Heating for commercial use

Leasing equipment through your local CEF branch makes good business sense... CEF will help you identify the right products for your business and our leasing team will guide you through each step: Step 1: Provide a free of charge survey and design solution Step 2: Recommend the right solution for your business Step 3: Offer free advice on the best leasing solution - in conjunction with our partners Step 4: Assist with the lease finance application and processing Step 5: See the whole job through - from initial survey to product supply

Some of the key benefits to your business include: • Convenient and fast • Makes the right solution for your business affordable – right now! • Conserves working capital and existing credit lines • Tax efficient • Fixed repayments and flexible terms • Quick and straightforward application process Your local CEF Account Manager can help identify your requirements, and don’t forget that CEF offer free of charge surveys and design schemes.

Brian Raymond beats the Golf Pro Kevin Beirth, with Colm McAlinden of JVE in the background.

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Paddy Barnes Sr beats the Pro, Kevih Beirth.

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CONTACT US Ballymena 02825 658 526 Belfast East 02890 732 631 Coleraine 02870 352 411 Lisburn 02892 670 555

Newry 02830 250 555 Bangor 02891 456 880 Belfast North 02890 371 007 Craigavon 02838 332 789 Londonderry 02871 266 288

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 13


Ireland’s electrical trade show review

Ireland’s

Electrical trade event REVIEW 2015

Gordon Wheatley and Andrew Murphy of NVC Lighting.

Plenty to get your hands on at the Toolfix stand.

The impressive Saturn LED stand.

IRELAND’S ELECTRICAL TRADE EVENT MAKES THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS FOR THOSE WORKING IN THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY…

Tadhg Kirwan and Aoife Keenan from METAC.

Ireland’s Electrical Trade Event shines a positive light on the industry

N The interactive Core Electrical stand.

Barry O’Halloran, Colm Kearney and Noel Lawler on the NEW/CED stand.

Julia Shastak and John Cummins at the Pilltow Engineering stand.

14 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

ow celebrating its third year, Ireland’s Electrical Trade Event has proved another resounding success, for exhibitors and visitors alike. Held as usual at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin on October 7 and 8, the event was double the size of last year’s show and has been widely hailed as a great success. Over 50 exhibitors attended the two-day event, covering all aspects of electrical work, from innovative lighting solutions to power and automation technologies, heating controls and testing and measurement. The show offered the perfect opportunity for contractors, consultants, specifiers and architects to keep up-to-date with

Dave Ainscough at the Unitrunk stand.

the latest industry innovations, while also showcasing solutions for both new build and retrofit projects. It also provided a chance to see informative product demos on the latest products and equipment, and meet industry experts face-to-face. “We were delighted with the feedback we received from the show,” said Janice Uprichard, Publication Manager for Electrical magazine, which organised the event. “It was bigger and better than ever, and there was something for everyone – including a variety of prize draws and offers which provided an added bonus for those attending. These included free approved calibration on-site, a free gift for every visitor, exclusive show discounts and prize draws.”

The Scolmore range from Click Litehouse.

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Ireland’s electrical trade show review

Gina Dunn from SuperRod and Alan Brown from Core Electrical.

Pritesh Mistry and Mark Jordan of Erico Caddy.

At the Horstmann stand are Duncan Dawes, Horstmann, and Stephen Ryan, Sales Rep, O’Neills Electrical, who are the agent for Horstmann through the electrical wholesalers in Ireland.

Paul McGarry making the draw for the Spectrum competition!

Aidan McDonnell and Jawoslaw Adryjanowski meeting customers at the Drives and Controls stand.

Carmel Murphy chats with a customer at the Tegral Lighting stand.

Carl O’Meara and Ken Groves, CK Tools.

Declan Balfe showcases the Demesne Electrical range.

The busy Chronotherm stand.

Philip Connor (right) at the ConstructionPV stand.

Simon Wood talks testing at the Megger stand.

Paul Morrow from Klauke Greenlee.

Darren Sweeny and Brian Moran from Dimpco highlighting the new Quantum heater.

Davd Beacon and Louise Byrne from Boddingtons Electrical.

Jaroslav Skoda, Kirtsy Johnston and Helen Johnston from Surge Protection Devices Ltd.

ipad mini winner Larry O’Rourke of Medlocks (left), is presented with his prize by Paul Healy ASM, Ansell.

David Linger and Michael Gwynne from ViriBright.

Paul Healy and Daniel Hope from Ansell.

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 15


trade show

2016 Event

TRADE EVENT DUBLIN 2016

Ireland’s Electrical Trade Event set to return to Dublin

THURS

WED

05- 06

OCTOBER CITYWEST HOTEL, DUBLIN

I

reland’s Electrical Trade Event in Dublin will return bigger and better than ever in 2016, providing exhibitors with the perfect arena to promote their products and services direct to the trade. Building on the success of a similar event in Northern Ireland, this trade-only event has been a continuing success since it was initially launched in 2013. It will return to the Citywest Hotel on October 5-6, 2016, where the show will once again bring visitors the latest electrical innovations and new technologies for new build and retrofit projects. This will include the latest lighting solutions and

LEDs; power and automation technology; cables and cable management; electrical distribution; and electric heating and controls. Other areas covered by the trade event include testing and measurement; tools; surge protection and wireless technology. The event attracts a diverse audience, with the core of visitors made up of electrical contractors. However, it also attracts large numbers of electrical wholesalers, distributors, consultants and architects in addition to facilities managers, training centres and representatives from the Government and Public Sector.

For More information contact T: (RoI) 01 696 8319 T: (NI) 028 9261 2990 E: janice@kmpltd.co.uk www.elecmagazine.com

#ElectricEventDub2016

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2016 Event

Plumb power heat Light

EXPO New expo to hit Titanic Exhibition Centre

07- 08 THURS

electrical and plumbing and heating sectors. This will include those from within specific trades, including electrical contractors, gas engineers, plumbing and heating installers, electrical wholesalers and plumbers’ merchants. However, by combining the mechanical and electrical specialisms, this expo will also be essential for M&E contractors and M&E consultants not to mention architects, builders, facilities managers, purchasing managers, and representatives of the Government and Public Sector.

WED

A

new concept in trade shows has arrived with the launch of the Plumb Power Heat Light Expo at the new Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast on September 7-8, 2016. The largest plumbing, heating, electrical and lighting exhibition in Northern Ireland, this event will showcase innovative designs, sustainable products, energy efficient technologies and renewable energy all under one roof. With interactive product displays and dedicated zones, this unique expo will attract visitors from right across the construction,

SEPTEMBER TITANIC

exhibition Centre

BELFAST

For More information contact T: (NI) 028 9261 2990 T: (RoI) 01 696 8319 E: info@kmpltd.co.uk www.elecmagazine.com www.elecmagazine.com

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EVENT

AWARD-WINNING TECHTALKS SEEN AS ESSENTIAL SEMINARS FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS…

Belfast TechTalks prove popular

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he recent return to Belfast of the award-winning TechTalks by the NICEIC proved a popular diary date with electrical contractors and others working in the electrical industry in Northern Ireland. Part of the latest series of TechTalks taking place across the UK, the Belfast event was placed at the Culloden Hotel on November 11. TechTalks are handy, informative, half-day seminars aimed at anyone operating within the electrical industry. Regular presenters at the Belfast event, Tony Cable and Darren Staniforth took the stage once more to deliver a number of technical seminars throughout the day, to help electrical contractors keep up-to-speed with developments in the trade and aid them in their day-to-day job. Special talks ranged from fire alarm design, installation and commissioning, to new consumer units, EICR coding and CDM regulations.

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Alongside the technical seminars, attendees had the chance to visit the expo to meet leading manufacturers and suppliers, pick up goodies and take advantage of some excellent discounts. A local area engineer was on hand to answer any questions. Headline sponsors, Peugeot, WF Senate, CPN Cudis, Brother and Electrium also lent their support to the TechTalks, and the feedback from this year’s event was very positive. “TechTalks give us the opportunity to go round the country and speak to our contractors about the latest happenings within the industry and find out, first-hand, the issues they want us to look at,” said Sarah King, Marketing Events Executive at NICEIC. T: (NI) 0843 290 3456 E: techtalk@certsure.com W: www.niceic.com

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 19



AUTUMN PROMOTION

Drive a new BMW i3 for two years with Schneider Electric’s promotion…

Fancy a new BMW?

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chneider Electric is launching a new promotion on the EZrewards Scheme for its installer partners, in association with BMWi UK. Installers now have a chance to win a BMW i3 on a two-year lease for free or other exciting driving experience weekly prizes, simply by purchasing a qualifying product. Running between October and December 2015, this latest promotion has been launched on the back of the successful ‘Love Lisse’ campaign, which gave installers the chance to win a holiday worth £2,000 along with thousands of instant prizes. In the weekly draws commencing November 6, participating electrical contractors will go in the running to win: • The chance to drive a BMW i3 for two years • The chance to drive a BMW i8 for a weekend • A PalmerSports race day experience • A BMW Driving Experience Day package

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Additional prizes are available to be won at trade counter events with participating electrical wholesalers. Tim Barber, Customer Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric, commented, “We are really excited to launch this latest promotion for our valued community of installer partners. BMWi is well known for its visionary concept for sustainable mobility. A partnership with BMWi reinforces Schneider Electric’s commitment to planet sustainability. “As the global leader in energy management and automation we provide connected technologies that will reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives, empowering people to do more with less. We encourage all installers to get involved!” Schneider Electric customers can purchase any of the following products to enter the competition: • Lisse wiring accessories VanPack • Lisse USB socket with mobile phone shelf • Easy9 Amendment 3 compliant 2+5+5 and 6+6 Loaded boards • Drayton heating controls • Digistat+

• Thermostat • MiTime single channel • MiTime dual channel • LED hand held torches • LED Site Lighting Each one of these products comes with a peel and reveal card containing a code, offering the possibility of winning one of the great prizes on offer. Installers simply visit www.ezrewards.co.uk to input their code and look out for the prize draw each week to discover if they have won a prize. Furthermore, all participants will be entered into the grand prize draw for the chance to drive a new BMW i3 for two years. The winner will be revealed on December 18, 2015. For more information about the EZ Rewards scheme visit www.ezrewards. co.uk. For further information please visit www.schneider-electric.com/uk. Alternatively, follow the company on Twitter @SchneiderUK or Facebook www.facebook.com/SchneiderElectricUK. T: (NI) 0870 608 8 608 or (RoI) 0044 870 608 8 608 W: www.schneider-electric.com/uk

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 21



electric heating

ELECTRIC HEATING COMPANY INTRODUCES STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY TO ELECTRIC HEATERS…

I’m a Wi-Fi ready hAPPy chAPPy

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ith over 12 years’ experience in supplying electric heating and hot water products to the UK market, the Electric Heating Company (EHC) has launched the latest in heating technology – the Wi-Fi ready eco SAVE electric heater. Manufactured from high grade aluminium and housing high-performance heating oil and elements, the eco SAVE has been designed to meet the heating demands of the modern home. Due to the modular construction and air flow outlets at the top of the heater, the eco SAVE benefits from fast heat-up times and provides an even surface temperature with optimum convection. The heater is fully programmable 24/7

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and offers eco, comfort and frost protection settings with a mains power on/off switch located on the side of the radiator when heat is not required. The easy-to-use digital programmer is located at the top of the radiator for ease of operation, and is easily accessible for future maintenance purposes. The PCB is housed in an easy-to-remove cartridge system to avoid removing the heater from the wall if a repair is required, and the eco SAVE is supplied with a 10-year warranty on the body of the heater and two years on the electronics. A SmartHome Wi-Fi kit controls the eco SAVE heater with any Apple or Android smartphone, tablet or PC. It is simple to install when connected to the internet within the property, and when the app has been fully downloaded you are able to control your heating anywhere/anytime 24/7. The app has several menus which allow time

“A SmartHome Wi-Fi kit controls the eco SAVE heater with any Apple or Android smartphone, tablet or PC.” and temperature settings; limiting power consumption; power and temperature statistical data; individual heater and system control; and weather forecast. Combined with the SmartHome Wi-Fi kit, the eco SAVE heater is ideal for hotels, student accommodation and properties for let, as all the heaters can be fully controlled remotely anywhere/anytime 24/7. The ‘click and fit’ brackets supplied make the installation of the heater simple and easy. T: (NI) 01698 820533 or (RoI) 0044 1698 820533 E: info@electric-heatingcompany.co.uk W: www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk

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lighting

Distributors of:

WITH OFFICES IN: BELFAST - 028 9075 6436 DUBLIN - (01) 860 1860 CORK (021) 488 3434 FOR OUR FULL PRODUCT RANGE SEE: www.ecilighting.co.uk

PiltownEngineering engineering the future

MANUFACTURER AND SUPPLIER OF LIGHTING COLUMNS FOR ROADS, SPORTS, HOUSING, AMENITY AND SECURITY LIGHTING, PUBLIC LIGHTING PILLARS, BRACKETS, T BARS & ACCESSORIES. Tel +353 (0) 51 643131 Fax +353 (0) 51 643648 Email: info@piltownengineering.ie www.piltownengineering.ie

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lighting

LIGHTING our regular insight into the diverse lighting sector includes a specific focus on recent projects and energy saving solutions...

Unbeatable value from Megaman’s Economy range

Danlers ControlZAPP – more than an energy-saving control

Megaman has extended the comprehensive Economy Lamp range of LED lamps. Designed to offer the perfect alternative to their CFL counterparts, they use only a fraction of the power with no reduction in performance, output and quality of illumination. The Economy 15,000 hour lamp range represents unbeatable value and provides a myriad of options to cater for the requirements of most domestic and leisure installations. T: (NI) 01707 386 000 or (RoI) 0044 1707 386 000 W: www.megamanuk.com

Programmable by Android phone or tablet, Danlers ControlZAPP offers real-time scheduling for switching, lux control or function changes, plus PIR occupancy switching and adjustable photocell for daylight control. Switching/dimming functions can be controlled by sunset and sunrise prediction, and there is automatic time adjustment for BST. Innovative twin-level time lag function with short visit mode allows even greater energy savings, and there are versions for switching only, DALI dimming and 1-10V dimming. T: (NI) 01249 443 377 or (RoI) 0044 1249 443 377 W: www.danlers.co.uk

Aurora launches first smart product Aurora’s first smart product, the AOne Control Solution, is now available. The AOne control app communicates with the LED luminaires via the AOne hub. Partnering with Zigbee, the hub transmits the signal from the app into a message, enabling the lamps to react to the instructions given. W: www.aurora lighting.com

Enlite’s E8™ adjustable downlight makes LED affordable

Make the switch to Contactum Contactum’s eye-catching line of multi-material switches features inspirational designs in a large selection of metal and moulded switches, with an array of finishes for the home, office or hotel environment. All products come with a choice of white or black insert colour options and a variety of lacquered finishes to reduce fingerprints. They come with a 25-year guarantee and are BS1363 and BS EN 60669 compliant. T: (NI) 0208 208 7419 or (RoI) 0044 208 208 7419 W: www.contactum.co.uk

Enlite’s new E8™ adjustable fire- rated downlight has made quality LED technology really affordable. Ideal for any home, this luminaire’s 60° wide beam angle enables a large spread of light to create a less intense and more comfortable feel. With an efficacy of up to 74lm/W, homeowners and other residents can benefit from extremely low energy costs. From bathrooms to bedrooms, E8 is suitable for multiple applications. W: www.auroralighting.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 25


COVER STORY – TIMEGUARD

ANDY DOUGLAS, TIMEGUARD’S MANAGING DIRECTOR, OUTLINES HOW a combination of design and installer FRIENDLY FEATURES MAKE for A WINNING COMBINATION…

Plug and Play? I t’s great to see so many new lighting products coming onto the marketplace and delivering ever-better opportunities for energy savings for the customer. But all their new features are all pretty useless until the customer makes up his or her mind, and the controller or lighting is installed and set up. That is where your profits are made…or eaten up. Manufacturers can help themselves by helping to sell an idea; and then making it as easy as possible to complete the job. Even though we have the opportunity to bring really exciting technical and energy saving innovations to customers, because retooling was too expensive in a price-led market, they have often looked exactly the same as their predecessors.

That may have made it harder to convince the customers to upgrade and, even when you do, it probably means you are going to have to deal with old-style and cumbersome wiring. So take an iPAD with you when you go to scope a job and show them what you are recommending. Even better, take a sample along. Aesthetic design is all-important these days - people don’t want ugliness in and around their homes and offices. So, while our core promise will always be one of superior branded quality, at Timeguard we do feel that it is important to reinforce our investment in superior componentry, with designs that help to communicate that difference. Our R&D team includes designers

“It is important to reinforce our investment in superior componentry, with designs that help to communicate that difference.” 26 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

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COVER STORY – TIMEGUARD

who were reared on the likes of Apple, Habitat and Zara Home, so they take good product design for granted. Our electronic Programastat wall thermostats and heating controllers marked a watershed in our approach, but the real revolution was our approach to outdoor LED lighting. But we do not allow cosmetic design for its own sake - each design feature has a function. So essential cooling fins (missing from cheaper LED lighting) became rows of pins making up the featured metallic backs of our newly design LED lights; the need to diffuse LED beams for courtesy lighting and expand the beam for effective security became diode arrays and reflector plates; and so on. The end result is, we think, an easier sell for you.

NOW PLUG … These design features extend to making an installer’s life easier, too. Spring clips, replaceable knock outs, separate mounting brackets and clip-in baseplates are the way ahead. Tough polycarbonate housings make products much lighter, but you still don’t need to be balanced up a ladder hanging on for dear life to a heavy luminaire. With our NIGHTeye pan-and-tilt LED security lights

you can simply wire up the base plate, then clip the main body of the unit in place. It couldn’t be quicker, simpler or safer. The feedback from installers was so great that we’ve done the same with our PIR detectors. Our floodlight designs have separate mounting brackets which are fitted first and then hold the unit while you connect it. Made a mistake with an outdoor socket? Customer changed their mind about the location? No worries – we’ve designed in replaceable cable knock outs that mean you keep the IP rating intact.

..AND PLAY Keep it simple and match your choice of product with what the customer. You ought to be able to check out the user instructions on the manufacturer’s website to give you an idea of how easy they really are to use! Its horses for courses. We offer everything from electronic thermostats that still operate using a dial, through to zoned heating controllers for larger homes so their owners really can enjoy maximum comfort. All too often, property owners and occupiers simply don’t realise how versatile and effective the technology at their fingertips can be; and when they don’t reap the

benefits, that reflects badly on you. The old days of needing to be a genius to programme a timer are, thankfully, past. But do still take a little time to go through it with your customers - hopefully once you’ve set-up a timer, or the field and lux sensitivity of a PIR detector, it will suit a happy customer’s needs for years to come. All the same, it’s still worth making a note to phone back in a few weeks to check. The line between, “The man’s a genius ” and “It’s no ****** use – they sold us a dud” can be very thin indeed. Even when it’s not your fault, bad reviews can be online in no time. Of course, some of the duds we’ve been hearing about recently have been LED lights, originally accepted to be the answer to everyone’s energy-saving dreams. Here, the reliability issue seems to come down to the quality of the componentry, with drivers and the real ratings of PIRs used for automatic switching of LEDs, named as prime culprits. My advice is, as ever, caveat emptor branded quality counts. If a manufacturer is prepared to put an extended guarantee behind their products, you can bet it’s because they know there will be a negligible number of returns.

Timeguard Limited, Victory Park, 400 Edgware Road, London, NW2 6ND T: (NI) 020 8452 1112 or (RoI) 0044 20 8452 1112 - E: sales@timeguard.com www.timeguard.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 27



lighting

THORN INTRODUCES FIVE NEW HIGH PERFORMERS TO ITS ‘OVER-THE-COUNTER’ LIGHTING RANGE…

New trade products from Thorn

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horn’s bright and eye-catching trade identity has gone from strength to strength since its initial launch and, to support this, the company has launched five new ‘over-the-counter’ products. “Our five new products allow us to extend our offer, especially with ArrowFlex, which is great for creating stunning lighting effects with minimal budgets. Also, with the two new Voyager products our emergency range has received an upgrade,” said Michael Martin, Regional Director, Ireland. The new range comprises: • Cetus Mini - Expanding the existing Cetus LED range, the Cetus Mini benefits from a special reflector optic with a beam angle comparable to MR16 lamps for visual uniformity. Available as fixed or adjustable, the recessed LED downlight offers a high efficacy of 95Llm/W. Cetus Mini has a small 77mm ceiling cut out. Additionally, fire rated (30, 60 or 90 minutes) versions are available. • ArrowFlex – Providing flexible LED strips to add atmosphere, ArrowFlex consists of up to 60 highly efficient LED per metre (5m strip supplied) and provides shadow-free performance with excellent thermal control.

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It is supplied ready for surface mounting either in vertical or horizontal niches, offering a continuous line of homogeneous light. Available in a variety of luminaire lumens per meter (400–870Llm/m) and three colour temperatures (2700K, 3000K, 4000K), ArrowFlex suits a great variety of applications. • HiPak – This LED high bay is ideal for HID refurbishment. Available in 15 000, 20 000, and 25 000lm, HiPak is designed as a direct replacement for 250/400 HID luminaires and, in comparison, can significantly reduce energy consumption by >50%. HiPak is also available DALI dimmable for further energy saving opportunities. The cooling fin housing design allows airflow through the luminaire, preventing components from overheating and ensuring optimum performance in harsh industrial environments from -30°C - +50°C. HiPak is sealed to IP65 and impact resistant to IK08. • Voyager Blade – This attractive LED emergency exit sign benefits from significantly reduced power consumption, compared to 11W TC-SEL exit signs, as well as the long-life advantages of LED. Flexibility is enhanced with a choice of

three-hour duration maintained or nonmaintained operation, and a single code can be wall or ceiling mounted. The range also offers single, double-sided and suspension options. With IP30 protection, it is dust-tight to stop dirt ingress and jetproof for ease of cleaning. • Voyager Escape – An unobtrusive recessed 3W emergency LED kit, Voyager Escape offers three-hour emergency nonmaintained operation, plus all the benefits of high power LED technology, resulting in reduced power consumption and minimal maintenance. With a high luminaire output of 110lm, 8 meters spacing is optimum, reducing the number of luminaires required per project. The product has been designed with the installer in mind; its plug and play fixing method reduces installation costs and time, which means that more projects can be completed in a day. The next time you visit your local wholesaler, look out for these new ranges designed to help you deliver a great solution for your next job. T: (NI) 01388 420042 or (RoI) 0044 1388 420042 W: www.thornlighting.co.uk

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LIGHTING

Des Duignan, Aurora’s Director for Ireland, explains why Enlite’s E6060™ LED flat panels are the perfect solution for the office…

The right LED panels for work spaces

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pecially designed and engineered for work spaces by the Aurora Group, Enlite’s E6060™ LED flat panels address issues such as flickering and glare in panels which can trigger problems such as headaches, fatigue, blurred vision, eyestrain and reduced visual task performance. Although lumens and hours are important when choosing LED panels, SDCM, flicker and UGR are three key features that should not be ignored, particularly in office, education and commercial environments.

SDCM All light sources have a colour temperature, a level of warmth or coolness, measured in Kelvin (K). The colour consistency of all light sources is measured so that they are within acceptable tolerances in terms of colour deviation. Colour uniformity in panels is essential. This is often expressed by the size of MacAdam ellipses via ‘Standard Deviation of Colour Matching’ (SDCM) and measurements are given a number. An SDCM of 1 is deemed undetectable, with 2-3 having virtually no colour deviation; an SDCM of 6 or less is acceptable for ErP compliance.

UGR There are two types of glare; Discomfort Glare and Disability Glare. Discomfort Glare makes you instinctively look away from a bright light source or have difficulty in seeing a task, whilst Disability Glare impairs the vision of objects without necessarily causing discomfort. The Unified Glare Rating (UGR) measures the degree of discomfort glare, where the luminance of a light source is greater than what the eye can adapt to. UGR calculations should meet with document CIE 117-1995 - Discomfort Glare in Interior Lighting. Disability Glare is not covered in the metric of UGR. UGR values generally range from 10 to 30. Artificial lighting systems producing UGR values of 10 or less are assumed to produce no discomfort.

LED Flicker The human eye is sensitive to flickering light which can lead to health implications. Therefore flicker is important in commercial applications. There are two

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basic forms; one is AC power frequencyrelated light fluctuation, usually at twice the supply frequency while the second is light fluctuation primarily caused by incompatibility of the light source to LED Driver and/or switch/ dimmer. The Flicker Index is accepted as the most efficient calculation as it includes differences in waveform shape. However, standards are unclear in terms of maximum acceptable flicker in LED lamps and dimmable LEDs, particularly at the lower end of the dimming scale. Many drivers in the marketplace have a simple circuit design to minimise cost to the detriment of flicker, but removing flicker is a focus of the Enlite range without compromising costs. T: Des Duignan, Director for Ireland, (RoI) 01 696 8028 (mobile) 083 420 6847 (NI) 00353 1 696 8028 (mobile) 00353 83 420 6847 E: des.duignan@auroralighting.com W: www.auroralighting.com

Enlite’s E6060™ panels – designed for work At Aurora, we designed and engineered our Enlite E6060™ panels especially for work space environments where consideration for SDCM, flicker and UGR factors is needed. To ensure that all lighting panels in the same range are of the same colour, we chose 4 SDCM as we feel this ensures colour consistency. Attaining a low UGR at high wattages is not an easy task and we are very happy to be able to achieve a UGR rating of 19, which we feel is very acceptable for commercial office applications. LED flicker is often caused by poor driver design but the Enlite driver has been carefully developed to minimise flicker and at a power factor greater than 0.9. What’s more, Enlite’s E6060™ panels offer a quality solution that’s cost effective and quick to install.

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 31


LIGHTING

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LIGHTING

On the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council project, Hilclare designed a lighting system utilising the Varas LED range

Previous success with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council secures new project…

Hilclare illuminates new council facilities

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ilclare Lighting has brightened up the council maintenance department at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. Working closely with Fermanaghbased contractor GR White & Son, Hilclare was asked by the council to design a lighting scheme for the new workshop and vehicle service bays that focused on delivering effective yet efficient lighting. “Investing in new lighting to cut energy bills is a growing trend across the both public and private sectors and we have enjoyed a lot of success in this area,” explained Steven McMurray, Northern Ireland Project Engineer for Hilclare Lighting. “We work closely with the end user to find out what their expectations are before providing a complete design package alongside energy calculations that outline the savings. “The high standards of our product range and the reliability of our LEDs make a significant difference, not only in the quality of light but also reducing the energy required. It’s a win-win situation.” Steven added, “We worked with Fermanagh District Council before it was amalgamated with Omagh and

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“Investing in new lighting to cut energy bills is a growing trend across the both public and private sectors.”

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that helped us secure this contract for this new facility. We were also delighted to again be working with the team from GR White & Son. They match our highly professional approach and, as demonstrated on this project, it is a factor that leads to a straightforward job.” On the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council project, Hilclare designed a lighting system utilising the Varas LED range, which have been specifically designed to directly replace a standard HID low bay fitting. Designed to be suspended or trunking mounted, the body of each Varas LED is fabricated from white finished mild steel. Diffuser options include clear polycarbonate and opal PETG. Suitable for many warehouse and factory environments, this luminaire uses multiple LED strips to produce a very efficient lighting solution. This project is the latest example of the overall solution delivered by Hilclare. Years of experience allows the company to provide expert advice, technical ability and the drive for economic viability for luminaire and

lighting solutions for both business and the public sector. From initial designs created by an in-house design team to product innovation, Hilclare Lighting offers customers a fully integrated luminaire and lighting solution. With more than 20 years’ experience as one of the leading commercial lighting manufacturers in the UK, Hilclare provides an extensive catalogue of some of the latest and most innovative industrial lighting solutions. These products are used by businesses, Public Sector organisations, and numerous buildings to provide a combination of lighting, aesthetics, and safety conscious lighting.

At a glance… • Rigid mild steel construction, paint finished white • 91mm deep, low profile design • Integral emergency version available • Life 50,000 hours (L70) • The control gear allows fixed output, TouchDim or • DALI

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 33



lighting

LED GROUP SHOWCASES THE NEW TRIUMPH ACTIVATE THE FIRST TRUE, DIMMABLE DRIVER-ON-BOARD FRD ON THE MARKET…

Robus Triumph in Hong Kong

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ED Group has launched the latest product from its LED ROBUS lighting range to the international market at this year’s prestigious Hong Kong Lighting Fair. Underlining the company’s commitment to delivering continuous innovation in LED lighting, ROBUS showcased the new Triumph Activate - the first true, driveron-board fire-rated dimmable downlight on the lighting market. The Triumph Activate 8W IP65 LED downlight provides the best of today’s state-of-theart technology with a driver-on-board and chip-on-board combination. Available in Cool White and Warm White, the high specification of the ROBUS Triumph Activate makes it the downlight of choice, outperforming all current LED downlights in its class.

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Other stand-out products in the ROBUS range are the extensive range of LED linear fittings with exciting new innovations to the range such as the new Scholar, Sultan and Caesar battens. Designed for demanding commercial or domestic applications, the ROBUS Caesar is the ultimate energy-saving, IP20 LED linear batten providing an equal illumination pattern. The Caesar range is available in three luminaire lengths (4ft, 5ft and 6ft), ideal for both new installations and retrofit applications. Available in standard and emergency, the simple twopart housing facilitates quick and simple installation. With a long LED life and no lamps to change, maintenance costs are significantly reduced, particularly in 24/7 operations and inaccessible areas. The ROBUS Scholar is available in 50W

and 60W surface or suspension mount IP20 LED batten, and it replaces standard 2x36W or 2x58W T8 fluorescent battens. With an attractive and pleasing aesthetic, it also boasts significant energy savings of around 40% and provides an exceptionally long service life. T: (ROI) 01 709 9050 or (NI) 0800 973 220 W: www.ledgrouprobus.com

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lighting

AWARD-WINNING DESIGN FROM HELLERMANNTYTON PRODUCES EASY-FIT, ENERGY-EFFICIENT SOLUTION FOR MOUNTING DOWNLIGHTS…

HellermannTyton shines bright with SpotClip

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ellermannTyton’s SpotClip product continues to be a preferred costeffective, easy-fit, energy-saving solution for mounting downlights in Northern Ireland. SpotClip dramatically reduces the risk of overheating and heat build-up through its unique four-leg ceiling brace design, which recently won the Innovative Product of the Year Award at Northern Ireland’s Electrical Awards 2015. The award-winning design also addresses the safety concerns of installing thermal insulation over downlight fittings that are currently available. When installers fit downlights, the thermal insulation is often cut away around the fitting to prevent overheating that could cause a fire or reduce the life of the lamp. Removal of thermal insulation solves the overheating problem, but this action reduces the energy

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efficiency of the building, as heat is either lost or gained through the uninsulated areas of the ceiling. Part L of the current building regulations requires continuity of insulation to be maintained in order to increase the energy efficiency of the building. SpotClip is, therefore, the ideal cost-effective solution, as allows the fitting to be covered with insulation. It works by fixing the supply cable to the cable clip where it’s then fitted by squeezing the mounting legs together and inserting into the pre-cut hole in the ceiling. SpotClip then secures on the ceiling and locks into the ceiling material with small spikes. The downlight fitting can be installed in the knowledge that SpotClip is safely supporting the thermal insulation above, keeping combustible material away, offering airflow

for heat dissipation from the lamp and maintaining the integrity of the thermal insulation. Alan Stanfield, Branch Manager at HellermannTyton Belfast, said, “We are really proud of our achievements in the creation of the SpotClip. Lighting manufacturers, re-sellers and installers are receiving a cost-effective solution to mounting downlights, while concerns of fire risks and compliance with energy efficiency requirements can be put to rest.” For more information, see the online stepby-step installation guide. W: www.hellermanntyton.co.uk or http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYM-odlmcYE

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LIGHTING

MARIE PARRY, GROUP MARKETING MANAGER AT SCOLMORE GROUP LOOKS AT THE TREND FOR SMARTER HOMES AND SOME OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE…

Home advantage

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orth around £65million in 2011, the UK home automation market is estimated to be worth £156 million by 2016. This growth is being driven by the rapid advance in technology which is bringing intelligent automation systems to a growing number of homes and work places, allowing control of everything from lighting to communications and entertainment. Home automation technology has been available for many years but demand for systems in the UK has until recently been largely limited to luxury homes and specialist projects. However, with declining costs and complexity, plus greater awareness of system benefits, industry experts predict that home automation is set to become one of the fastest growing markets in the UK. No longer the preserve of the rich and famous, the smart home is becoming accessible to us all, and a raft of new products, specifically designed to enhance our lifestyles and save energy, is now available. Wholesalers and contractors are in a prime position to take a share of this growth by understanding the products and systems available. Whether the project involves updating an existing wiring system, or is the start of a brand new domestic or commercial building project, there is a home automation system

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that will deliver the right solution, while meeting the required budget. From RF wireless control of lighting through to the allsinging, all-dancing, interactive multimedia systems, smart technology is here to stay.

INTELLIGENT ENERGY SAVING By intelligent controlling of the lighting throughout a home it is possible to make significant cost and energy savings, and this is the case with wired and wireless automation. Lighting systems can be controlled so that the right light output is delivered when and where it is needed. To enjoy the benefits of home automation in an existing dwelling, but with minimum cost and disruption, a wireless system is the answer. Complete control of the lighting, shutters, blinds, gates, garage doors and appliances is achievable without the need for additional cabling or cutting into walls. Receivers are simply fitted behind the light fittings or into suitable installation boxes. The transmitters are powered by battery, so require no additional power supply. Once a decision has been made on which features are to be controlled, the system can be installed and up and running in a very short space of time. Switching, dimming, control of shutters, window and door opening can all be quickly and

easily set and adjusted. Daily and weekly switching programmes can be set, and it is also possible to simulate occupancy when a house is empty - setting the lights to come on and curtains to close in the evenings, for example - giving total peace of mind.

CLICK INELS RF WIRELESS SYSTEM The Click iNELS Radio Frequency Wireless Control System from Scolmore is suitable for both refurbishment and new build projects, and can be used to update an existing wiring system. Simple and flexible installation, significant energy savings and easy programming are the key attributes of the new system, and the unique one-touch centralised control panel means that everything can be easily set and adjusted from this one single control panel. Because of its flexibility it can be easily installed into any property - with a whole house installation taking on average no more than three days. This makes it a very attractive proposition for electrical installers who can offer it to their customers as an entry level smart home solution. T: (NI) David Rankin on 07785 621117 E: david.rankin@scolmore.com or (RoI): Click Litehouse on 01 2811 122 E: sales@clicklitehouse.ie W: www.scolmore.com, www.clicklitehouse.ie

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company profile - edmundson electrical, portadown

The new look trade counter area at Edmundson Electrical, Portadown.

Leading electrical wholesaler marks 40th anniversary with a new name and a revamped trade counter…

Edmundson Electrical Portadown the new name for Walsall

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allsall Electrical Distributors in Portadown has marked the branch’s 40th anniversary with a new name and a new look. The branch has been completely rebranded and is now known as Edmundson Electrical Portadown – a reflection of its parent company. In addition, significant investment has been put into the branch, with a revamped trade counter and office area adding to the brand new signage at the popular Mahon Industrial Estate facilities. “This investment is about building on the success of the company over the last four decades,” explained Chris McConville, Branch Manager. “We are very respectful of the past but the majority of our customers know that we are part of Edmundson Electrical, so the name change will be a smooth transition.

“However, our main focus, as always is about maintaining and improving our customer service and the changes we have made will enhance this. We worked for four weeks to revamp the branch and remained open throughout this time, so I’d like to place on record my thanks to our staff and, in particular, our customers for their patience during this time. As they will see, the effort has been worthwhile.” This isn’t the first name change for the company. Originally known as NIEI (Northern Ireland Electrical Industries), the company then changed its name to GEC, then to Walsall Conduits (part of GEC) before becoming Walsall Electrical Distributors. The Walsall name was retained following the takeover in 1994 by Edmundson Electrical – one of the biggest electrical wholesalers in the UK and Ireland.

The modern revamp has brought a fresh feel to the popular trade counter area, with the counter itself relocated to provide more display space for the leading brands available from the company. New LED lighting has also been incorporated throughout the trade counter and general office while the branch manager’s office is now directly behind the trade counter. “We have an unrivalled product range, so we are now able to showcase this a lot better,” added Chris. “We are the leading distributor for a number of leading brands and our entire range is focused on reliability. “Price is always important, but it means little without reliability. We work to find the right balance between both, meaning that our varied customer base know they can trust the products we sell.”

Edmundson Electrical, Portadown, Mahon Industrial Estate, Mahon Road, Portadown, BT62 3EH T: (NI) 028 3833 5316 or (RoI) 048 3833 5316 – E: portadown.372@eel.co.uk www.edmundson-electrical.co.uk

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company profile - edmundson electrical, portadown

Long-serving staff combined with unrivalled expertise makes for a winning combination…

Experienced team is the key to success Chris McConville Branch Manager Dedicated to quality and service, Chris joined Walsall, Portadown in May 2014 as a sales representative before becoming Branch Manager in January 2015. A time-served electrician, he has previously worked with CEF and Aurora, so has extensive experience within the industry.

Richard Clydesdale External Sales Representative A time-served electrician, Richard joined from Little Electrical but has also worked with both Denny’s and Moy Park. This expertise makes a significant difference when Richard is out on the road meeting customers.

Andy Newell Assistant Manager

David McCullough Internal Sales

Well-known and respected within the industry, Andy has worked with the company for over 32 years. Starting in the stores, he steadily worked his way through the ranks, first as Assistant Manager and then as Manager. His experience makes him a vital part of the team.

Having worked in the industry for over 36 years, David is the most experienced member of the team at Edmundson Electrical, Portadown. He started as a van driver and has also worked in the stores and at the trade counter. He is dedicated to service and ensuring customers are well looked after.

Tom Skates external sales representative

Cecil Kerr Internal Sales

Well known for his previous role with Fire:NI, Tom brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Edmundson Electrical, Portadown in his role as the company’s fire and security specialist

Alongside David McCullough, Cecil forms a formidable internal sales team for Edmundson Electrical, Portadown. With three decades of experience in the industry, his attention to detail and customer knowledge are second to none.

Edmundson Electrical, Portadown, Mahon Industrial Estate, Mahon Road, Portadown, BT62 3EH T: (NI) 028 3833 5316 or (RoI) 048 3833 5316 – E: portadown.372@eel.co.uk www.edmundson-electrical.co.uk

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company profile - edmundson electrical, portadown

Chris McConville, Branch Manager, (left) congratulates JR Brothwell on winning £1,000 in credit at the Edmundson Electrical, Portadown, open day.

Des Duignan, Aurora, (left) congratulates Chris McConville, Branch Manager, on the new-look Edmundson Electrical, Portadown, branch.

Open day officially launches new name and new look while also marking the company’s 40th anniversary…

Des Duignan, Aurora, in the company’s interactive demo van.

Celebrating four decades of success

Taking a look at some of the new displays at Edmundson Electrical, Portadown.

E

Duncan Orr of Aico at the open day.

dmundson Electrical, Portadown, officially marked the company’s 40th anniversary with an open day at the Mahon Industrial Estate branch on November 12. A marquee was erected in the car-park to showcase 15 leading suppliers. Customers also had the chance to win a series of prizes as part of an anniversary draw, with the top prize of £1,000 credit on your account. Suppliers attending the event included Aico, Ansell, Aurora, Click Scolmore, Hager, Horstmann, BEG, Bell Lighting, Eaton, Lewden, Glen Dimplex, Osram, Timeguard, Kosnic, and Fire:NI.

Customers had the chance to speak to the experts.

A range of exhibitors took part in the Edmundson Electrical, Portadown, open day, with a marquee erected in the branch car-park for the occasion.

Edmundson Electrical, Portadown, Mahon Industrial Estate, Mahon Road, Portadown, BT62 3EH T: (NI) 028 3833 5316 or (RoI) 048 3833 5316 – E: portadown.372@eel.co.uk www.edmundson-electrical.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 43



FIRE & SECURITY

HIGH STANDARDS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT RECOGNISED THROUGH SAFECONTRACTOR ACCREDITATION…

Beacon raises a cup to securing top safety accreditation

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isburn company, Beacon Fire & Security, has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety. Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors. The news comes during the company’s continuing work with Costa Coffee. The well-known coffee shop chain is continuing to expand, with new stores opening across Northern Ireland. As part of a rolling contract, Beacon Fire & Security is contracted to install the complete fire and security systems in each of the new stores. This is one example of the services Beacon provides to companies across the province and beyond, giving bespoke solutions for customers and contractors alike, and the company’s application for Safecontractor

“The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.”

accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business. Greg Smylie commented, “We have found Safecontractor a great medium for complying all our health and safety documentation without the need for duplication. Safecontractor accreditation will enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.” John Kinge, Technical Director of Safecontractor, added, “Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place. “More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Beacon Fire & Security has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector. Safecontractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.” Under the Safecontractor scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process

which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website. Client-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These clients agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation. Over 210 major, nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.

Beacon Fire & Security, 15 The Crescent Business Park, Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, BT28 2GN T: (NI) 028 9267 6622 or (RoI) 048 9267 6622 - E: info@beacon-ni.co.uk W: www.beacon-ni.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 45


PEOPLE PROFILE

meets

ELECTRICAL

Jim Rice

Jim Rice, Managing Director at Schneider Electric Ireland, talks about why it’s good to give back and what it’s like to be honoured by the French Ambassador…

Crème de la Crème

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t’s not every day you’re honoured by a French Ambassador but that’s what happened to Jim Rice, Managing Director of Schneider Electric Ireland, a few weeks ago. At a ceremony in the French Residence on Ailesbury Road in Dublin, the French Ambassador H.E. Jean-Pierre Thebault bestowed the honour of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite on Jim. The award was given in recognition for his distinguished career in Schneider Electric and also for his role as President of the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce (FICC). “It was a little bit like being at your own funeral! It was something I never would have anticipated and was an extremely profound experience. I was delighted with the honour. The recognition is not only a huge honour for me and my family, but

46 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

also for the team at Schneider Electric. It’s testament to the incredible work that we’ve achieved in Ireland,” said Jim. Now in his 31st year at the firm, Jim’s career began as an apprentice electrician. He went on to hone his trade in the switchgear business and also spent a couple of years working for a consulting engineer. “Taking up an apprenticeship seemed like a good idea at the time and I really enjoyed it. I ended up going to college at night to study engineering before eventually going on to do an MBA at night. Throughout my career, I’ve been building on the apprentice training I received. It turned out to be quite a long journey but one I wouldn’t change.” Jim’s role at Schneider is to effectively manage an extremely complex landscape in an industry that’s only starting to recover. “In previous recessions, we didn’t have the extreme highs we experienced with the

most recent downturn. A lot of us fell into this idea that things were on the up and up and they’d never change and I think the industry as a whole somehow forgot about the previous recessions. I think this downturn is certainly the worst we’ve ever experienced because of those highs we had.” The much touted recovery in the construction industry may not be happening yet, but we’re on the right track. “We’re doing well and we’re seeing very positive economic indicators coming from the Government in terms of GDP. But, at the end of the day, the construction sector is still lagging in a very serious way. It hasn’t moved back to any level of normality in the sense that developers are still thin on the ground and projects are still slow to take off.” Jim believes we’re on the cusp of a strong

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PEOPLE PROFILE

recovery by virtue of money coming back into the sector and construction beginning to take off again. “A simple example of that would be the housing crisis and the requirements for Dublin alone. I don’t believe the residential sector has recovered in any way.” The effects of globalisation are, according to Jim, being felt right across the industry. “The companies that are investing in Ireland are global players and we’re seeing that having an impact on the amount of FDI which is of course a very positive thing, especially in terms of employment.” Globalisation has also meant advances in technology which present challenges in terms of skills. “Everything is now web-enabled, everything is connected and must talk to each other. In the past, you might have had someone who was very good on electrical switchgear or power products but they may not have had much to do with the communications side of things. That’s all being merged now and while I think that’s a positive thing, there’s no doubt it presents its own challenges.” Jim has enjoyed an extremely varied career at Schneider Electric. Throughout

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his career he’s had the opportunity to travel extensively and has benefitted from exposure to other nationalities and businesses. “These things make you more open-minded which is a great asset to have, both at work and personally.” Operating since 1836, Schneider has moved progressively from an engineering company in the iron and steel industry to more recently being involved in energy management systems, power control and automation. “When you look at the breadth and depth of technology that we work with now, it’s exciting to be part of a market-leading company in the space that we’re in. We’re a very reputable company and we have a very strong ethos, both in terms of quality standards and also in terms of CSR. That’s one of the things I would say that makes us very attractive.” The idea of life-learning is something Jim is passionate about. “As I mentioned, I started as an apprentice electrician, then went to college four nights a week for four years to study engineering. Then I went back to do an MBA. I’ve never put my books away and have continued

the process of upskilling myself to remain current for my role.” Travel, both privately and professionally, is also key to keeping an open mind and having the ability to think outside the box. “I think it’s also important to take your job seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t think you’re anything too special and remain grounded.” When he’s not working, Jim likes to play indoor football once a week. He also enjoys a spot of gardening - “all the things that keep me mobile and sane!” he explained. Throughout his career, Jim has been very involved with industry trade bodies and organisations, an association he believes to be extremely beneficial. “I think it’s important to be a little bit giving in some ways with your time. Ever since I’ve been with Schneider, I’ve been involved with industry bodies, electrical standardisation and electrical safety. People perhaps don’t appreciate that giving something back to the industry is an excellent thing to do. Everyone can very comfortably sit in their office and look after their own affairs but when you give something back to the industry, it’s appreciated.”

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 47


• Wide range of items in stock • Pay via card or account • Same day delivery (see website for details) • Click and collect orders from 7.30am • Technical datasheets attached to a large number of products

New eCommerce Website www.dungannonelectrical.co.uk Dungannon Electrical Wholesale 199 Killyman Road, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone BT71 6RR.

T: +44 (028) 8772 9787 Opening Hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 5.30pm Sat: 8am- 1.00pm


GOLF DAY

Liam Cregan, George Fitzpatrick, Jackie Thomas and Philip Smyth, guests from P&L Electrics, get ready to tee off.

Irwin Electrical guests line up before their match: Mark Stevenson, Mark Taylor, Neal Dodds, Keith Stewart and Richard McGarity.

CARTON HOUSE PROVIDES PERFECT VENUE FOR ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF OUTING IN AID OF THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES CHARITY…

Gordon Bingham and Mark Neely, guests from Schneider Electric get ready for the day’s play.

Gavin McCausland and Chris Adams, guests of Irwin Electrical, pose for the camera.

Everyone’s a winner at the Electrical Industries Charity Golf Day

T Craig Talbot and Philip McBirney, guests of Mercers, Portadown.

Jackie Thomas is awarded the winner’s trophy by Gareth Howes.

Best gross was won by Matthew Doran, pictured here receiving his prize from event organiser, Gareth Howes.

Liam Cregan is congratulated by Gareth Howes on taking second place in the competition.

Craig Talbot, placed third overall in the competition, receives his prize for Gareth Howes.

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he annual Electrical Industries Charity Golf Day went with a swing as usual, providing an exciting event for those taking part, and raising some valuable funds for this worthy charity, which is dedicated to helping those working in the electrical industry. Carton House at Maynooth, near Dublin is proving to be a popular venue, with participants able to take advantage of the opportunity to play two challenging courses which have previously hosted the Irish Open and the Irish Senior Open – the O’Meara course and the Montgomerie course. The golfers also enjoyed an evening meal in the clubhouse and overnight accommodation in the four-star Carlton House

Keith Stewart, winner of the Best Back 9, receives his prize from Gareth Howes.

Hotel. Winner on the day was Jackie Thomas; followed by Liam Cregan in second place; and Craig Talbot, third overall. Best gross went to Matthew Doran; with Keith Stewart picking up the prize for Best Back 9 and Mark Neely, Best Front 9. Event organiser, Gareth Howes, said, “The quality of the venue is a big draw but, in addition, the facilities and hospitality are also second to none and everyone enjoyed a fantastic weekend, whether they ended up in the prizes or not. I would like to thank all those who supported the event and helped us to raise some much needed funds for our industry’s charity.” W: www.electricalcharity.org

Mark Neely receives his prize for Best Front 9 from Gareth Howes, Schneider Electric.

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wsm

WALTEr S. MErcEr BELFAST and

Providing total cable management solutions to Irwins Electrical

wsm

WALTEr S. MErcEr BELFAST

Premier Distributor FoR UNITRUNK Unit 11-12 Duncrue Industrial Estate, Belfast BT3 9BW. Tel: 028 9037 1888 - Fax: 028 9037 1471 Email: belfast.386@eel.co.uk


company profile - Irwin electrical

Overview

The director team (from left) Chris Adams, Contracts Director; Richard Megarity, Operations Director; Keith Stewart, Managing Director; Mark Whaley, Commercial Director; and John Irwin, Chairman and company founder.

It is a long way from the company founder’s bedroom, but Irwin Electrical is proudly celebrating 20 years in business...

Irwin Electrical celebrates 20 years of success

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ack in 1995, John Irwin did more than just dream about owning his own business; instead he used the bedroom of his Armagh home as a base for a fledging commercial electrical contractor. Two decades on from those humble beginnings and the company continues to go from strength to strength, successfully working across the UK and Ireland delivering new installation alongside maintenance and electrical testing services. The company has also delved into the growing energy market,

helping customers to become more energy efficient and cost effective by using the latest technological advances. Company founder, John Irwin, is now Chairman of Irwin Electrical, with Keith Stewart as Managing Director and a management team consisting of Richard Megarity, Operations Director; Mark Whaley, Commercial Director; and Chris Adams, Contracts Director. However, as Keith explains, it is the combined efforts of the entire team

that have ensured the company remains successful. “We have a lot of experience right through the company and that consistency has allowed us to develop strong relationships with customers,” he said. “We are competitive on price and we provide high quality services, but I feel it is that personal touch that sets us apart. “We go the extra mile and think long-term and this has all helped to ensure we are in a prime position to look ahead confidently.”

Irwin Electrical, Head Office: Unit 4 Diviny Drive, Carn Industrial Estate, Portadown, County Armagh, BT63 5WE. T: (NI) 028 3839 7990 or (RoI) 048 3839 7990 www.irwinelectrical.com

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facebook.com/ kewelectrical

twitter.com/ edsandeds

The UK and Northern Ireland’s Wholesaler of the Year

Breakfast Morning EVERY wednesday and thursday Looking forward to building on our successful business partnership with Irwin Electrical! 3 Ultra modern trade counter & lighting showroom 3 Next day delivery to anywhere in Northern Ireland 3 Same day delivery service 3 Call and collect service 3 Branches also in Mainland UK 3 Supplying the trade for over 100 years

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL SERVICE! Open 7.30am - 5pm Monday - Friday SATURDAY 9.00am - 12noon

KEW ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTORS LTD. T/A Eds & Eds Ltd, 385 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2LS T: +44 (0)28 9047 1727 • F: +44 (0)28 9047 1153 E: belfast@kewelectrical.co.uk

www.kewelectrical.co.uk Belfast: +44 (0)28 9047 1727


company profile - Irwin electrical

Installation

from planning and procurement to supply and installation, irwin electrical has it covered...

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t is a case of coming full circle on the installation front for Irwin Electrical. The company’s big break came when it took over the business of F.Gordon and Company in 1997 from the retiring directors and this deal included an education contract for, which the company retained until 2010. This ability to deliver high standards for Public Sector contracts still continues and Irwin Electrical has now secured a contract with the Western Area of the Education Authority (which replaced the old education boards).

In the Public Sector, the company has a number of term service contracts including local authorities and several health trusts. However, Irwin Electrical continues to deliver wide-ranging private contracts as well. This success is down to the all-round approach delivered by Irwin Electrical. From design and procurement through to supply, installation and commissioning, the company offers a tailored approach. The company’s Building Services division delivers true ‘end to end’ solutions.

Installation services... • Low voltage (LV) mains and sub mains power distribution. • General power distribution. • Instrumentation and control cabling. • Fire and intruder alarms. • General and emergency lighting. • Date cabling and profibus installations. • Galvanised, GRP and stainless steel cable support systems. • Motor control centres, local control stations. • PLC and SCADA installations. • Inspection and testing.

Irwin Electrical, Head Office: Unit 4 Diviny Drive, Carn Industrial Estate, Portadown, County Armagh, BT63 5WE. T: (NI) 028 3839 7990 or (RoI) 048 3839 7990 www.irwinelectrical.com

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company profile - Irwin electrical

Building Services The £30million Angel Lane Student Accommodation in London.

recent Projects offer proof of continuing high standards delivered in the uk and ireland...

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he proof of a good company is found in each project and, whether it is installation, maintenance or electrical inspection and testing, Irwin Electrical can point to a long list of recognisable clients across both the public and private sectors. More recent projects have continued a tradition of delivering work to the highest standards, with the awardwinning work at the new 5G Innovation Centre at the University of Surrey and Angel Lane student accommodation in London prime examples of this. Irwin Electrical was the M&E contractor at the 5G Innovation Centre, the world’s first research centre dedicated to mobile technology. The company’s work included automatic lighting control systems, energy-efficient lighting, and window master controls for natural and mechanical comfort cooling – all of which contributed to the building’s

‘BREEAM Excellent’ rating. The company has just completed all the electrical works at the £30million Angel Lane Student Accommodation that incorporates state-of-the-art technology across the 759 single student bedrooms together with 903sqm of commercial floor space at ground floor and ancillary storage rooms, communal areas, open space and plant areas ranging from 8 to 14 storeys high. Irwin Electrical is always trying to improve and remain ahead. This is reflected with the company’s expanding energy services, which include energy monitoring and energy audits as well as installation of technology such as solar PV systems and LED/energy-efficient lighting systems. With more companies looking to cut their energy bills, this is a growing section of the business.

More than just work... Irwin Electrical takes its corporate responsibilities very seriously and works hard to plays its part in the local community while, at the same time, giving staff something more to focus on than just their work. One of the most successful aspects of this is the introduction of a bi-annual blood donation session in conjunction with the NI Blood Transfusion Service. The company hosts the blood donation bus, with staff volunteering to donate blood and Irwin Electrical also encouraging customers and other local businesses to come along and support the initiative. Irwin Electrical also regularly supports charity events, both practically and financially, while staff take part in a number of social and sporting events.

Irwin Electrical, Head Office: Unit 4 Diviny Drive, Carn Industrial Estate, Portadown, County Armagh, BT63 5WE. T: (NI) 028 3839 7990 or (RoI) 048 3839 7990 www.irwinelectrical.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 55


irwin electrical associates

• ar Ye

Fire & Sec ur it

y NORTHERN IRELAND’S

• ar Ye

y

WINNER

actor of ntr th Co e

actor of ntr th Co e

feel protected with

Fire & Sec ur it

Providing Professional, Cost Effective, Independent Solution to any Fire & Security Project Unit 1-2 Glenbank, 720 Crumlin Road, Belfast, BT14 8AD T: 028 9039 1000 F: 028 9039 1227

here ervice atters

Also incorporating

www.atlafs.co.uk

Mahon Road, Portadown, BT62 3EH T: 028 3833 5215 F: 028 3833 4310 E: portadown.388@eel.co.uk

newtwork solutions ltd The Management and Staff of G4S would like to congratulate Irwin Electrical on 20 years in business

Securing Your World To find out more about our Fire and Security Systems please contact our team on 01452 203171

Fire Systems: We design, install, commission and provide full maintenance on all types of fire systems including fire suppression, voice alarm and disabled refuge systems. This is supported by a 24/7, nationwide call-out service. Our best in class products include VESDA by Xtralis aspiration detections and Gent by Honeywell fire alarm systems. Security Systems: Our security services are supported by the most advanced technology and equipment on the market, including CCTV, intruder alarms, detection systems, and access controls. Our first class products include Symmetry access control and Honeywell Galaxy intruder alarms. Monitoring: All of our alarms are monitored 24/7 at our state-of-the-art Alarm Monitoring Centre. Our professionally trained staff investigate every received alarm and respond appropriately.

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SPECIALISTS IN DATA & VOICE INSTALLATIONS Passive Networks ie: IT Structured Cabling Active Networks ie: Switches, UPS ALL INSTALLATIONS ARE COVERED BY A MANUFACTURER’S 25 YEAR WARRANTY 13 MAIN STREET, CRUMLIN, BT29 4UP T: 028 9422 8730

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company profile - Irwin electrical

Maintenance

tailored maintenance service proves that Prevention is better than cure...

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orking across the public and private sector, Irwin Electrical’s expert maintenance service boasts a team of competent and fully qualified maintenance electricians, available 24-hours-a-day, seven-daysa-week to provide contract specific programmes. Whether it is a requirement for constant electrical support or a simple annual inspection, Irwin Electrical will provide a detailed assessment to create a bespoke maintenance programme tailored to your needs. These tailored programmes include cost-effective electrical preventative maintenance that ensures minimal downtime and intrusion. The company can also react quickly to deal with electrical breakdowns or power

interruptions within your electrical system or data network to get you back operating as soon as possible. The maintenance division is also supported by ‘Irwin24’ – the company’s dedicated 24-7 call out service for premium customers – giving customers added peace of mind. This helpdesk is manned by an expert team who can provide fast and efficient reaction to your maintenance requirements. After having worked closely with H&J Martin on public sector contracts a number of years ago, Irwin Electrical learned the lessons from this process to take the company’s maintenance division to a whole new level, introducing new software and integrated systems to further improve reaction times and efficiencies.

Maintenance services... • Preventative maintenance. • Reactive maintenance. • Call-out facility. • Electrical equipment breakdown repair. • Electrical fault finding in machine breakdowns. • ‘Irwin24’ - Dedicated 24-7 call-out service for premium customers.

Irwin Electrical, Head Office: Unit 4 Diviny Drive, Carn Industrial Estate, Portadown, County Armagh, BT63 5WE. T: (NI) 028 3839 7990 or (RoI) 048 3839 7990 www.irwinelectrical.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 57


irwin electrical associates

LEADING THE WAY IN Progressive Network SOLUTIONS

We offer a full design, installation and support service for:• • • • •

Structured data & network cabling Fibre Optic systems Voice systems Wifi solutions AV systems

Unit 80, Cido Business Complex. Carn Drive, Portadown, BT63 5WH T: 028 3833 3753 E: enquiries@intouchns.com

• Data Centre Design & Build Capability • Network Infrastructure and Architecture • Blown Fibre Services, FTTD/FTTO • Dense Crowd & Public WI-FI applications • DAS Architecture • High and Low pressure FIRE Suppression systems

Congratulations to Irwin Electrical on their 20th Anniversary (NI) Unit 1c, 4 Westbank Drive, Belfast, BT3 9LA T: 0845 2772200 - E: info@crownind.co.uk www.crownind.co.uk

FIRE & SECURITY DIVISION H&J Martin’s Fire and Security department provide a compliance driven integrated service for all Fire Safety, Life Safety, Asset Protection and Electronic Security Solutions. Our NACOSS accredited team operates to BS:5839 across a broad range of systems and manufacturers in commercial, industrial, domestic, retail, healthcare and government facilities. Our in-house team of engineers and managers ensure we deliver a service which encompasses all aspects of the client’s fire & security needs in a holistic manner, considering all external and internal influencing factors and risks. These services include intruder and fire detection and monitoring, life signs monitoring, CCTV, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers. Working in partnership with our clients and end users, we provide design, installation/ commissioning, planned and reactive maintenance services 24/7-365 which fully supports operational and business needs whilst ensuring statutory compliance and application of industry best practice to protect people, property and environment. H&J Martin Limited, 163 Ormeau Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT7 1SP. T: +44 (0)28 9023 2622 www.lagnaconstructiongroup.com

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company profile - Irwin electrical

Testing and Inspection

pass the inspection test by working with the expert team at irwin electrical...

A

natural extension to the company’s maintenance division, the electrical inspection and testing services offered by Irwin Electrical works within the commercial, industrial, public and domestic sectors across the UK and Ireland. Irwin Electrical is NICEIC and RECI accredited, using the latest technology and software. The company’s focus is ensuring clients are fully compliant with the latest wiring regulations. The service is delivered with minimal disruption, with customers receiving

full, accredited reports. In line with Irwin Electrical’s approach, this service is tailored to meet the needs of each individual client, ranging from major multi-national corporations and Government departments to SMEs. The electrical inspection and testing division incorporates the unique TEGG Service, which is a guaranteed service programme that uses energised testing techniques to assess the integrity of electrical systems. Irwin Electrical is the only company in Ireland licensed to offer this service.

Electrical inspection and testing services... Irwin Electrical’s inspection and testing engineers are qualified to issue industryapproved certificates for: • BS 7671 fixed wire test an inspection. • Emergency lighting test and inspection. • TEGG Service - Thermal imaging and ultrasonic electrical surveys. • Hazardous areas – gases, potentially explosive materials fuel stations etc. • Power and quality harmonic surveys. • Portable Appliance Testing (PAT). • Fixed appliance testing. • Visual safety electrical survey reports.

Irwin Electrical, Head Office: Unit 4 Diviny Drive, Carn Industrial Estate, Portadown, County Armagh, BT63 5WE. T: (NI) 028 3839 7990 or (RoI) 048 3839 7990 www.irwinelectrical.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 59


irwin electrical associates

Lighting problems solved in record breaking times. Dextra Group plc. are at the cutting edge of luminaire development and with seven subsidiary companies, all facets of the lighting industry are covered from rail to retail and everything along the way. With industry leading service levels, we not only offer bespoke and standard energy efficient lighting products, we offer them in record breaking times.

AJ Hurst as Dextra Group’s main local distributor can provide a full lighting design, supply and commissioning service.

+44 (0)28 9077 0037 | www.ajhurst.com |

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HAND DRYERS

At a glance…

Omak Agencies Ltd, sole Fumagalli distributors for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, highlight effective hand dryers for hospitals and schools throughout the UK and Europe…

Dual action dries hands whilst killing germs and bacteria

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he only hand dryers of their kind on the market, the Fumagalli 9000 and Airmaster UVC Eco high-speed hand dryers are fitted with an internal anti-bacterial device which kills 99.99% of bacteria. This includes killing Streptococcus e-coli, which is of paramount importance to medical sectors and food preparation areas, such as doctors’ surgeries, dental surgeries, hospitals clinics and canteens, veterinary practices and sensitive areas. The UV lamp fitted by Fumagalli hand dryers remains active inside the machine 24/7 and is guaranteed for 5,000 continuous hours. The tests and the relevant microbiological reports, which have been carried out by an independent laboratory, are available on request. So what is UVC? Short-wave ultraviolet radiation, in the ‘C’ band (200-280 nanometers) has been used for over 100 years. UV-C (UVC) is also referred to as UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation). UVC penetrates the outer structure of the cell and alters the DNA molecule, preventing replication, and causing cell death. Fumagalli Quick Dri 9000 UVC Hand Dryer has an LEM System (Long-Life East Maintenance). This allows fast replacement of the motor and fan assembly and the hand dryer is equipped

with an automatic thermal protection. The Fumagalli LEM device is the innovative combined system of the new KIT ‘one block component motor and fan assembly’. Designed for reducing the need of maintenance, it increases dryer life by 60% for each single KIT. Standard maintenance with LEM takes less than 6 minutes without the need of removing the dryer from the wall. The Fumagalli Quick Dri 9000 UVC High Speed Hand Dryer is designed for extreme high usage areas where it will be used 24/7. It has an automatic operation for greater none contact hygiene and a rotating nozzle for face and hand drying. The UV lamp always remains active within the machine, constantly destroying germs and bacteria for the user’s protection and using 1kwh every 10 days. In addition, the UV lamp is shielded from view for eye safety. The Fumagalli Airmaster UVC Eco High Speed Hand Dryer is suitable for high usage areas. It’s low profile from the wall is ideal where gangway width is an issue and it has automatic operation for greater none contact hygiene. The UV lamp always remains active within the machine, constantly destroying germs and bacteria for the user’s protection. The UV lamp is shielded from view for eye safety.

Fumagalli Quick Dri 9000 UVC High Speed Hand Dryer • Size: 292 x 270 x 210mm (W x H x D) • Weight: 8kg • Drying Time: 14 seconds • Power Usage: 2.25kw • Protection Level: Ingress IP21 Revolving nozzle, IP23 fixed nozzle, Electrical Class • Absorption UV Lamp: 1kwh every 10 days (always on) • Finish: White, Bright or Brushed Stainless Steel. Other colours available

Fumagalli Airmaster UVC Eco High Speed Hand Dryer • Size: 262 x 310 x 167mm (W x H x D) • Weight: 5kg • Drying time: 7 to 8 seconds • Power Usage: 1.64Kw • Protection Level: Ingress IP21 Electrical Class II • Absorption UV Lamp: 1kwh every 10 days (always on) • Finish: White, Bright or Brushed Stainless Steel. Other colours available

Omak Agencies Ltd, 3 Ballygowan Road, Belfast BT5 7LH T: (NI) 028 9055 0202 (RoI) 048 9055 0202 - E: omak@btconnect.com www.omakagencies.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 61


COMPANY PROFILE – EDMUNDSON ELECTRICAL, COLERAINE

The new-look Edmundson Electrical, Coleraine.

Branch Manager, Gary Doyle.

Change of name for Walsall, Coleraine, but focus on service and products remains…

New name, same high standards at Edmundson Electrical, Coleraine

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alsall Coleraine may have a new name, but the electrical wholesaler is keen to stress that customers can expect the same high standards of service. The branch at Ballyrashane Road is now named after parent company Edmundson Electrical and will now be known as Edmundson Electrical, Coleraine. New signage has been erected at the branch, with new livery added to the delivery vans.

However, Branch Manager, Gary Doyle, wants customers to know that this cosmetic change will not affect the high standards they have come to expect from staff at the branch. “Along with Walsall in Portadown, we have changed our name to Edmundson Electrical to highlight that we are part of one of the biggest electrical wholesalers in the UK and Ireland,” said Gary. “The vast majority of people are aware that we are part of

Edmundson’s anyway, so this solidifies this further. “The new signage has brightened up the branch and I feel that the motto, ‘Great service, products and flexibility’ that is now at our trade counter sums up what we provide perfectly.” The branch has been part of Edmundson Electrical since 1994 and enjoys a longstanding reputation for quality in the North West of the province.

“I now have a strong and settled team with the perfect balance of experience and enthusiasm and that is backed by excellent stock levels.” 62 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

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COMPANY PROFILE – EDMUNDSON ELECTRICAL, COLERAINE

Gary Doyle, Branch Manager at Edmundson Electrical, Coleraine, (centre) pictured with his team.

Gary, who has worked for Edmundson’s Electrical for over 14 years, was appointed the Coleraine Branch Manager in July and has overseen a number of positive changes since then. Having previously worked at the Ballymena branch of Walter S. Mercer, he is typical of the promote-from-within approach adopted by Edmundson Electrical. “My first job with the company was as a van driver and then I quickly moved into telesales before becoming the branch’s Account Manager for the last four years,” explained Gary. “I was delighted to get the promotion as Branch Manager and while it has been a whirlwind few months, I am enjoying the challenge. “I think it one of the real strengths of the company that staff can work their way up the ranks. It not only gives everyone something to aim for and rewards ambition, but it means that the values of

great service are instilled in you from the start.” Like the rest of the Edmundson Electrical branches, Coleraine is run autonomously; providing Gary with the local focus of an independent with the strength and resources of a multi-national. “This has been essential in helping us to adapt to customer needs,” said Gary. “We have had a number of staff changes and that can be unsettling for customers. But I now have a strong and settled team with the perfect balance of experience and enthusiasm and that is backed by excellent stock levels.” The latter is an area that Gary has focused hard on since he became branch manager and central to this process has been communicating directly with customers. “We are listening to customers and reacting accordingly,” he said. “The days of contractors keeping large stocks in their

own stores just in case they need them are behind us. Many of our customers are only putting in orders of what exactly what require, so they don’t want to walk out with only half an order. “We don’t want them to have to shop around, so we have focused on getting the balance of our stock right to be able to meet their demands first time, every time. “With a strong team of people and great stocks, we are in a great position to build on the long-term success of this branch.”

Open day Edmundson Electrical, Coleraine, will officially launch its rebranding with an open day on December 1 where the company will have a wide range of manufacturers represented.

Edmundson Electrical, Coleraine, Unit 1, 24 Ballyrashane Road, Coleraine, BT52 2NL T: (NI) 028 7035 6266 or (RoI) 048 7035 6266 – E: Coleraine.379@eel.co.uk www.edmundson-electrical.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 63



pensions

Award-winning UK pension provider makes auto-enrolment simple and effective…

Reach for the BlueSky for pension provision

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lueSky Pensions UK, the award winning innovators, is a leading provider of highly governed workplace pensions and is at the forefront of pension provision in the UK. The BlueSky Pension Scheme, a nonprofit arrangement, is one of the largest multi-employer Mastertrusts in the UK and has been in operation for nearly 30 years. It offers free access to any employer with additional competitively priced support available. The BlueSky Pension Scheme received the Pension Scheme Innovation Award early in 2015 in recognition of adding value and originality to the pensions industry and for displaying excellence and a true commitment to the needs of its members. Employers can meet their auto-enrolment needs and give their employees a high quality employment benefit by nominating the award winning BlueSky Pension Scheme as their workplace pension scheme. All employers in the UK must comply with Auto Enrolment legislation and have been assigned a ‘Staging Date’. Further

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information on ‘Staging Dates’ can be found in the Auto Enrolment section of the BlueSky website. What employers need to do • Nominate a contact • Know your staging date • Prepare a plan • Review pension arrangements • Check process and software • Know your workforce • Communicate with staff • Declaration of Compliance with the Pensions Regulator The secret to successful compliance is preparation and keeping the process simple. • Assess payroll processes • Assess existing pension arrangements • Commence investigations 6 months before your staging date Auto Enrolment Solution In addition, BlueSky offers the RealTime Auto Enrolment Data and Communications package, for employers to assess their workforce and satisfy Auto

Enrolment responsibilities effectively. BlueSky recently launched the Crystal Trust, the UK’s first trust-based managed flexible drawdown plan and is open to any employer, pension scheme or individual. At retirement, a transfer of pension rights into the Crystal Trust, will enable individuals to receive a tax free lump sum and pension income. In the new world of flexible savings which includes pension changes, there is more control and freedom of choice available through Crystal, where historically, individuals had to make a single irreversible decision and buy an annuity. There are no set up fees or minimum terms when joining Crystal, with investment and drawdown options starting at just 0.75% per annum.

Further details can be found by visiting www.crystaldrawdown.uk. For further information on how BlueSky can help your business, visit www.blueskypensions.uk or contact info@blueskypensions.uk.

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 65


project profile

Overview TANNAGHMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL, co. armagh

LURGAN PRIMARY SCHOOL GETS HIGH SPEC UPGRADE WITH COMPLETION OF PHASE ONE ON NEW SCHOOL BUILDING…

Top marks for Mac Electrics on school build project at Tannaghmore

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he first phase of a new £6million building for Tannaghmore Primary School is bringing huge benefits to both staff and pupils in Lurgan. The County Armagh school is getting a complete upgrade, and the completion of the first phase marking the beginning of an exciting new era, with 21 new classrooms, accompanied by state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. Armagh-based Mac Electrics was appointed the electrical contractor on the project and with everything running smoothly, the first phase was completed in late September, slightly ahead of schedule. “The staff were able to start to unpack

resources and prepare the classrooms for the pupils, before the official handover at the start of October, which they found very beneficial,” explained Mac Electrics Contracts Manager, Philip McBirney. The completed first phase of the new build scheme provided the school with a two-storey classroom block and part of a new assembly hall. A substantial part of the building is now in place, with the remaining sections to be constructed in the next phase, which in now currently underway. “The project threw up a few challenges for the builder who had to demolish around a quarter of the old school to make way for the new build, which was on two levels,” said Philip.

“By the time we got on board, however, the job was a lot more straightforward and there were very few problems. Everyone worked together really well.” He continued, “Because there was a very good budget allocated to the project, the equipment specified was to an extremely high standard and it was a pleasure to work with and install state-of-the-art systems such as the own range of Imex interactive whiteboards and LED multi-touch screens. “The teachers were delighted to get all the latest mod cons, and the high spec package extended to the whole build - we also installed advanced security, fire alarm, CCTV systems, and a building management system

“We are now currently working on the second phase of the project, which is due to finish in May.” 66 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

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project profile

Specialist service U Based in Armagh, Mac Electrics is

which included underfloor heating, lighting and data networks. We also installed stage lighting and a PA and sound system to two large assembly halls. “We are now currently working on the second phase of the project, which is due to finish in May. It includes adding on a reception, school meals kitchen, dining hall and principal’s office. The car park is being made safer too, being relocated away from the main road. “Throughout the work, everyone has had to take special care with regard to the safety of the staff and children, keeping them well segregated from the building work, while also keeping the services going, and enabling

controlled access - something that took effort and careful planning.” Cutting the first sod at the site of the new Tannaghmore Primary School back in June 2014, Education Minister, John O’Dowd commented, “The start of construction work represents an investment of £6million by my department in the future of this area and its community. The new facilities will deliver a modern, progressive learning environment for the school’s 600-plus children. “The provision of this new accommodation will also ensure Tannaghmore Primary School is well equipped to deliver the curriculum to the existing pupils and future generations.”

one of the province’s leading electrical contractors, and has also expanded its business into the Republic of Ireland. The company is known for its specialist services, particularly in the educational and healthcare sectors, where the team’s ability to work closely with the main contractor, combined with attention to detail is a key part of its success in continuing to win prestigious contracts. This is particularly important when working on a live school or hospital project, where a flexible approach is needed to meet the needs of the individual client. Mac Electrics works extensively on new build and retrofit projects, including other specialist areas of leisure and heritage. With over 30 years’ experience, the company boasts a workforce with an established pedigree when it comes to skills and professionalism – seven site foremen each have over 20 years’ industry experience and many of the other members of staff are long serving employees. “That level of experience is vital, and a large part of our ongoing success,” said Managing Director, Maurice McBirney. “We work across a wide range of projects which throw up various challenges, so having people who have a high level of experience makes a real difference.”

Mac Electrics, Unit 42 Armagh Business Centre, Loughgall Road, Armagh, Co Armagh, BT61 7NH T: (NI) 028 3752 4007 or (RoI) 048 3752 4007 - E: stores@mac-electrics.com www.mac-electrics.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 67


project profile

Interactive Touchscreens TANNAGHMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL, co. armagh

Latest in teaching technology included in all 21 classrooms within new school building…

Touch of quality from Imex

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upils and staff at Tannaghmore Primary School have literally got their hands on the latest in learning technology thanks to Imex Systems Limited. The audio-visual and interactive AV specialists supplied and installed the school with 21 multi-touch Imex LED touchscreens – the modern equivalent of the blackboard that effectively works like a giant iPAD on the wall. Providing full control of a Windows desktop with the simple flick of a finger, teachers can display photos and videos via gesture control as well as display documents, write on the board and zoom. With 10 touch-points a teacher and pupils can use with the board at one time, further enhancing the interactive teaching experience. To aid this further, a number of the Touchscreens have been installed on a motorised stand, meaning they can be raised and lowered as required. With HD quality visuals and compatible with a wide range of teaching software, the Imex LED touchscreens prove a valuable teaching tool.

Given the connectivity of the Imex LED Touchscreens, the company had to work closely with electrical contractor, MAC Electrics, to ensures the necessary services were in place to connect directly to the new screens. The Imex team carried out the full installation of the screens – complete with upgraded sound bars – while also providing full training and after-sales support to staff. Peter Niblock, Imex Director, commented, “The co-ordination of the various services to the screens was the main aspect of this project and thanks to our strong partnership approach with MAC Electrics this all ran smoothly. “The Imex LED Touchscreens give Tannaghmore PS access to the latest teaching technology and the feedback we have already received has been very positive.” Tannaghmore PS is the latest in a long line of education projects that Imex has installed touchscreens to, but this product range has also proved popular within the commercial sector for use in training rooms and

boardrooms. The touchscreens have proved particularly popular with accountancy firms. This level of technology is a long way from the electronic test and measurement solutions the company first focused on when it was founded in 1970. Test and measurement remains an important part of the company’s offering alongside the supply and implementation of educational technical training products. The company branched out into audio-visual and interactive training solutions in 1998, which has allowed the company to grow and specialise in the design, provision and implementation of this technology. However, despite the change in direction, the company has retained its solution-based approach across all the specialisms it offers. Peter added, “We have highly trained and experienced staff who work to understand a client’s needs before offering a tailored solution. Strong relationships create win-win situations for everyone and we are committed to delivering the highest standards and an impressive level of added value.

NI: IMEX Systems Ltd, 34 Old Kilmore Road, Moira, County Armagh, BT67 0LZ T: 028 9261 9233 - E: sales@imex.co.uk - RoI: IMEX Instruments Ltd, Castlecourt, Castlebellingham, County Louth T: 042 9372300 or FreePhone: 1 800 420465 - E: sales@imex.ie - www.imex.co.uk

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project profile

Lighting TANNAGHMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL, co. armagh

Success on previous school project leads to more work for the lighting specialists…

Concord flies high with continued education success

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oncord’s success at Tannaghmore Primary School is positive proof that one good job can lead to another. The lighting specialists recently worked with Mac Electrics on a project at Belfast Royal Academy and the electrical contractor was so impressed that they again turned to Concord to meet the lighting requirements at Tannaghmore. “We have built up a great relationship with Mac Electrics and we are delighted to be able to follow up the BRA project with another school job,” explained Chris Stevenson, Regional Business Manager (Ireland) for Concord. “We are always confident in our products and service and, given the opportunity, we will highlight the high standards we can deliver. This has proved to be the case with Mac Electrics and we are looking forward to building on that relationship further.” Concord had a wide brief for the Tannaghmore Primary School project, providing lighting right across the interior of the new building, including the corridors,

all 21 new classrooms, as well as staff and office areas. Concord adapted the lighting design to meet the specific requirements of each area and make the installation process as straightforward as possible for Mac Electrics. “This proves the versatility of our product range,” added Chris. “We worked closely with the school to create a lighting system that meets the specific needs of each area. We don’t subscribe to the one-size-fitsall theory; instead we have a vast array of products that can be utilised to create effective lighting. “As with a lot of projects, Tannaghmore PS also focused on providing energy efficiencies and high performance and we were able to incorporate that into the design while taking into consideration the school’s budget. “We have enjoyed growing success in the education sector and I think it is a combination of all these factors – quality products and service, a bespoke design and a focus on energy efficiency – that have

been key to this.” The Concord brand is part of the Havells Sylvania Group and the company’s innovative portfolio is one of the most comprehensive on the market, encompassing track and spot, downlights, ambient lighting, recessed and linear solutions for a variety of application segments. Concord also provides segment specific lighting application advice; and the entire product range is underpinned by in-house technical expertise, from optical system design through to photometric measurement and testing. The company is planning to enhance this product range further, with a number of product launches in the next 12 months – including new LEDs and high output versions of current fittings. With a strong manufacturing base in the UK, the company is renowned for its strong design ethos, high technical performance and aesthetic form – all of which will be evident in the new product launches.

Concord, Avis Way, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 OED T: Chris Stevenson – (NI) 07970 831940 or (RoI) 0044 7970 831940 W: www.havells-sylvania.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 69


project profile

Cable Management TANNAGHMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL, co. armagh

A Grade A performance thanks to the new Marshall-Tufflex Elegance 170mm aluminium trunking range…

Core passes the test!

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ore Electrical (NI) Ltd is top of the class when it comes to supplying the perfect trunking for education projects – as the company yet again proved at Tannaghmore Primary School. Working closely with the electrical contractor, Mac Electrics, Core Electrical specified the new Marshall-Tufflex Elegance 170mm aluminium range for this new build project. Adrian McGarrity, Director, Core Electrical (NI) Ltd, explained, “We have a superb reputation within the education sector. This new Marshall-Tufflex Elegance range works perfectly in terms of providing a streamlined look matched with easy installation. The range is also CAT 7 and Part M compliant, making it perfect for the Public Sector. It’s a win-win for both the contractor and the end-user.” The sleek new 170mm aluminium profile is continuing to tick all the right boxes for Core Electrical, with the company having completed or currently working on a number of education projects for both primary and secondary schools with this range. This included the first-ever school installation of the Elegance range at Bunscoil Bheann

Mhadagain in Belfast. A look at its credentials makes it clear why this is product continues to deliver a Grade A performance. Elegance 170 Aluminium (170x55mm) is hard-wearing, aesthetically pleasing and lightweight, making it perfect for office and educational projects where a robust yet stylish cable management solution with extra mechanical strength and a higher cable capacity is required. The CAT 6, 6a and 7/Part M compliant dado/skirting profile has rounded corners and is also available with gusseted external corners/bends to meet CAT 7 compliance. Elegance 170 can be used as a single, double or triple compartment and utilises a single cover. It is finished with a high quality powder-coat for a modern, blemish resistant surface. Pre-punched metal dividers deliver quick installation. The new profile builds on the success established by Elegance 110 Aluminium (110x55mm), a small dado trunking system with a single cover. It is particularly useful for workshop or laboratory minstallations, or in commercial environments where extra

mechanical strength is necessary. The Elegance range is supported by fabricated fittings and is compatible with Marshall-Tufflex’s flush power and data accessories and standard UK wiring power/ accessories. Elegance 170 can also be used with Conduit and Mini trunking systems. Standard colours are silver grey RAL 9006 and white, both of which are held in stock by Core Electrical. RAL 9016 is available to order but subject to a lead time. Elegance 170 is just one of a wide range of market-leading solutions for the modern commercial office electrical environment that is supplied by Core Electrical. This includes high-quality cable containment, modular wiring solutions, underfloor power distribution, floor box solutions and desk power systems – all of which are available via the company’s extensive stocks in Belfast. The company also offers lighting and lighting design services. Adrian added, “Our success is based on the partnership approach we develop for each project and our ability to work closely with electrical consultants and contractors to create a bespoke solution.”

Core Electrical Distributors (NI) Limited, Unit 3 Duncrue Industrial Park, Duncrue, Belfast, BT3 9BP Northern Ireland. Tel: +44 (0)28 900 200 66 - Fax: +44 (0)28 900 213 08 Email: info@coreelectrical.com - www.coreelectrical.com

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project profile

Stage Lighting and PA TANNAGHMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL, co. armagh

Absolute Technologies takes centre stage!

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chool assembly and events at Tannaghmore Primary School will be easier to see and hear thanks to the tailored solution delivered by Absolute Technologies. The specialist AV and lighting controls contractor designed and supplied the stage lighting and PA system in the new assembly hall, providing an effective yet easy to control system. Matthew Cordner, Director at Absolute Technologies, explained, “We worked closely with the M&E consultant on the design of the system to ensure it met the needs of the enduser and met requirements for pupils who are hard of hearing. “Due to the unusual shape of the hall and to simplify the cabling for the installation process, we also had to customise some of

the lighting bars. We have a lot of experience in the education sector, so none of the challenges on this project caused too many issues for us.” Established in 2004, Absolute Technologies has forged a strong reputation for delivering high standards on projects right across the UK and Ireland. This includes a wide range of local government work within the Public Sector, including right across the education sector; not to mention work in the commercial and industrial sectors, with particular expertise in theatres and houses of worship. With CTS-D qualified designers able to create bespoke solutions coupled with quality installation and strong aftersales service, it is little wonder Absolute Technologies has such a strong reputation.

Absolute Technologies, 29 Ballymena Business Centre, Fenaghy Road, Ballymena, BT42 1FL T: (NI) 028 2563 2222 or (RoI) 048 2563 2222 – E: info@absolutetechnologies.co.uk www.absolutetechnologies.co.uk

Electrical Supplier TANNAGHMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL, co. armagh

Quality service matters at Walter S. Mercer, Portadown

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egardless of how skilled an electrical contractor is, they still require a reliable supply chain and that is where leading electrical wholesaler, Walter S. Mercer, Portadown, can play a significant role – as proved with the company’s involvement at Tannaghmore Primary School. Walter S. Mercer supplied the Concord light fittings as well as the Marshall-Tufflex aluminium trunking for the project, and for a wholesaler that lives up to its ‘Where Service Matters’ motto, delivery on time, direct to site, was a straightforward process.

“Good communication and co-ordination are key to good service and that is what we aim to deliver to all our customers,” explained John Boyd, Branch Manager at Walter S. Mercer, Portadown. “Whether it is buying small items at the trade counter or a bulk order direct to site for larger projects such as this, we aim to provide the same high standards of service. Our customers need the tools to do their job and in the current climate when lead times are crucial, it is imperative that they can get what they need quickly. Our stock levels are second-to-none and that is what makes the difference.”

Walter S. Mercer, Mahon Industrial Estate, Mahon Road, Portadown T: (NI) 028 3833 5215 or (RoI) 048 3833 5215 - E: portadown.388@eel.co.uk www.edmundson-electrical.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 71


ONE OF NORTHERN IRELAND’S LEADING SUPPLIERS TO THE ELECTRICAL TRADE NOW LOCATED AT:

BELFAST BRANCH 207 City Business Park, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 9HY Tel: 028 9061 8666 Fax: 028 9060 6788 (Sales) Fax: 028 9060 6785 (Admin) Email: belfastsales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri: 7.30am - 5.00pm

COOKSTOWN BRANCH Sandholes Road, Kilcronagh Business Park,  Cookstown BT80 9HG Tel: 028 8676 2626 Fax: 028 8676 2425 Email: cookstownsales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 7.30am - 5.00pm Sat 9.00am - 12.00pm

BELFAST EAST BRANCH Unit B1 Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1HE Tel: 028 9045 1056 Fax: 028 9046 0662 Email: belfasteast@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm

ENNISKILLEN BRANCH Killyhevlin Industrial Estate, Enniskillen, BT74 4EJ Tel: 028 6632 6555 Fax: 028 6632 8585 Email: enniskillensales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm

BELFAST NORTH BRANCH

NEW BRANCH

Unit 3, Coastal Warehouse 83 Dargan Road Belfast BT3 9JU Tel: 028 9077 1950 Fax: 028 9077 0845 Email: bns@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am – 5:00pm

NEWRY BRANCH Unit 4, Campbells Yard, Belfast Road, Newry BT34 1QH Tel: 028 3083 4050 Fax: 028 3083 3295 Email: newrysales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm Sat 9.00am - 12.00pm

UK Branches DERBY BRANCH

LIVERPOOL BRANCH

Unit 4, Raynesway Industrial Estate, Derby, DE21 7BH

Unit 3 Britonwood Trading Estate, Abercrombie Road, Knowsley Industrial Park, Liverpool L33 7YN

Tel: 01332 758666 Fax: 01332 758613 Email: derbysales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 7.30am - 5.00pm

Tel: 0151 546 1239 Fax: 0151 546 3167 Email: liverpoolsales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm

WOLVERHAMPTON BRANCH Unit 3, Culwell Industrial Park, Kennedy Road, Wolverhampton WV10 0LL Tel: 01902 457628 Fax: 01902 453401 E-mail: wolverhamptonsales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Thurs 7.30am - 5.30pm Fri 7.30am - 5.00pm

QUALITY PRODUCTS | COMPETITIVE PRICES | EXCELLENT DELIVERY SERVICE


CEW – Belfast North

New branch at Dargan Road adds to branches at Newtownards Road and Dunmurry in the city…

Hat-trick of Belfast branches for CEW

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entury Electrical Wholesale (CEW) has made it even easier for customers working in the city with the opening of a third branch in Belfast. The new Belfast North branch is located at 83 Dargan Road at Duncrue Industrial Estate. As the former premises of lighting company Pluslite NI, it will already be well known to many in the electrical industry. This latest opening follows swiftly on from last year’s launch of the Belfast East branch at Portview Trade Centre just off the Newtownards Road and further complements the service provided by CEW’s original Belfast trade counter at City Business Park, Dunmurry. Steven Mallon, new Branch Manager of CEW Belfast North, is a long-term employee of the company and was previously the company’s Belfast sales representative, so he knows the customer base well. “Without really publicising ourselves too much, the reaction since opening has been superb,” said Steven. “It

is a well-known location for anyone working in the greater Belfast area and is easily accessible off the M2 motorway, meaning customers don’t have to trek back across the city to our branches in East Belfast and Dunmurry. “At all times, our focus is always on providing the best possible service to customers and this opening is an extension of that. I know our customers really well and this move will help them immensely.” The premises, which have been completely upgraded and rebranded in the CEW style, have been fully kitted out with an extensive range of stock. This will include access to the extensive range of products that CEW is renowned for, with the company’s comprehensive warehouse making it easier for staff to complete those orders quickly and efficiently. The product offering covers everything from electrical installation materials, cables (including SWA), wiring accessories, heating appliances and security products to commercial, display and outdoor lighting.

“At all times, our focus is always on providing the best possible service to customers and this opening is an extension of that.”

Deliveries across the city and surrounding areas, will take place on a daily basis, with the Belfast North branch also able to link into the wider CEW branch network in Northern Ireland, England and the Republic of Ireland to organise deliveries or collection outside the Greater Belfast area. Also helping to meet customer needs are the solid relationships that CEW enjoys with major manufacturing companies operating in all sectors of the electrical industry. These ensure that the wholesaler’s reputation for customer service is matched with an impressive product portfolio. The opening of the Belfast North and Belfast East branches further extends the company’s coverage across Northern Ireland, adding to branches in Cookstown, Enniskillen and Newry. CEW also has three branches in England at Derby, Liverpool and Wolverhampton, while the company’s parent company, National Electrical Wholesalers, also has five branches in the Republic of Ireland.

CEW Belfast North, Unit 3, Coastal Warehouse, 83 Dargan Road, Belfast, BT3 9JU T: 028 9077 1950 - E: bns@centuryelectrical.co.uk www.centuryelectrical.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 73


TOOLS

The Speed Punch System reduces the operation time when punching a hole in mild steel, plastic and aluminium sheets up to 3.5mm thick...

Speed Punch - a fast solution for panel builders

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sers of sheet metal hole punching systems on the market today will be well aware of the neat finish, exact size, minimal (if any) deburring and clean working benefits. The process of drawing a punch and die together on a threaded draw stud have been used for many years to produce professional results. The new Speed Punch system brings innovation to the cutting edge. The longest process of using hole punching tools is threading the punch onto and off the draw stud. Speed Punch eliminates this threading by using a threadless draw stud and clever robust ‘Speed Lock’ clamp. Assembly and disassembly becomes convincingly simple and is up to three times faster than conventional punching systems. Speed Punch is available for ISO sizes 16-63

and is compatible with all existing pulling tools. The punch and die have been sized to eliminate the need for spacers, requiring fewer parts and without threads, less to go wrong. When combined with a battery hydraulic punch driver, eg LS50L-flex, this provides the fastest punching system on the market today, allowing you to perform more holes in less time than ever before. For square and rectangular holes, the same benefit can be achieved with Speed Nut. This only requires a new draw stud and Speed Nut which works with your existing punches, bringing you the same benefits in installation time. Demonstrated recently at the City West Trade Show in Dublin, members of the electrical contracting and panel builders industry tested the new punches for

The YouTube video can be seen at http:// youtu.be/bcLl1 _o9hcc

themselves. A competition to see who could make 2 x 20mm holes the fastest in an enclosure drew quite a crowd and demonstrated firsthand how much time could be saved. Download the data sheet at http://www.klauke.com/fileadmin/user_ upload/pdf/download/speed_punch_hole_ making_tool.pdf T: (NI) 01986 891 519 or (RoI) 0044 1986 891 519 E: sales@Klauke.textron.com

AVAILABLE AT

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UPS

Electrical upgrade at London hospital meets demanding schedule…

Critical power! B

ender recently undertook vital work to upgrade facilities and electrical safety and resilience at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, operated by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. Working with Barrow-based electrical installation specialists, STS Electrical Ltd, Bender UK met a demanding installation schedule and maintained high levels of availability for medical facilities throughout the project. The team often worked outside normal operating hours so the hospital could avoid disruption to facilities. The meticulous project planning and execution was so effective that staff and patients were almost wholly unaware that the work was being carried out. The project involved upgrading the electrical supply to create safe Isolated Power Systems and install Uninterruptible Power Systems with auto-changeover resilience, which form the backbone of modern critical power systems. The work was needed to improve the resilience and overall performance of the power infrastructure serving seven operating theatres and recovery areas, a 20-bed Intensive Care Unit, 8-bed Critical Care Unit and Cath Lab. Bender UK also installed new Steris XLED surgical lights in one of the operating theatres and secured a three-year maintenance contract for the IPS and UPS systems at the hospital. The contract includes access to a Bender engineer 24/7

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365 days a year, annual inspection of the IPS and twice-yearly inspection of the UPS installations. A key requirement of the Bender UK contract was that all of the facilities should continue to operate throughout the work and there should be minimum disruption, which meant the work had to be carefully scheduled so that any changeover in the systems was carried out during normal breaks in use of the facilities. The project included running a new mains supply cable from a sub-station and under the ‘Blue Light’ ambulance access road to the hospital facility. Access was achieved using existing ducting but it still proved an arduous task for the STS Electrical team because of the large size of cable and the distances involved whilst working in confined spaces. Bender UK’s Operations Manager Gareth Brunton said, “Queen Elizabeth Hospital opened in 2000, shortly before the regulations on isolated power supplies were introduced as the benchmark for critical medical systems – hence the need for the upgrade. Our team installed

new systems from power source to socket trunking and bed head trunking with blue sockets. “We also isolated existing cables and delivered a seamless changeover from the old to the new systems. With our extensive experience installing and maintaining IPS and UPS systems, we have an intimate knowledge of the medical sector and understand the patient and staff safety and welfare priorities which are always paramount.” The new critical power systems are protected by Bender’s ATICS high integrity changeover systems for added resilience. It removes the single-point-of-failure threat to power resilience inherent in the traditional single supply cable by enabling supply from two different sources. The primary supply maintains normal operation but in the event of failure, ATICs transfers over to the secondary supply within 0.5 seconds to comply with HTM06-01. ATICS is the only changeover solution purpose-designed for medical applications with the unique distinction of achieving independent (TUV) accreditation to the Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Level 2 standard and compliance with BS7671 2008 (2001). Central to the ATICS design is the incorporation of permanent self-testing across all critical components, bringing increased peace of mind over other products that are susceptible to failure without prior warning. T: (NI) 01229 480123 or (RoI) 0044 1229 480123 W: www.bender-uk.com

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 77


UPS

Open protocol system that provides proactive solution to equipment and data management is set to revolutionise the critical power industry…

Metartec launches SCADA software

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etartec has launched an open protocol software system that is set to revolutionise the critical power industry. The company hosted a series of live demonstrations at the company’s Belfast headquarters showing the full capabilities of Metartec’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software that provides a more proactive solution to equipment and data management. While other remote monitoring devices are available on the market, Metartec’s approach is unique, offering open protocol SCADA software which connects and communicates with any brand or device, offering an all-encompassing solution to the market. “Our SCADA software is completely different to anything currently available,” explained Johnny Moore, Field Engineer, Metartec. “Not only is it open protocol but it also all encompassing, with the software capable of working with any technology that incorporates a Modbus device. This includes solar PV panels, UPS systems, alarm systems, power factor correction devices and many more. It is not restricted to the electrical sector, either, as it will also work with mechanical systems such as gas and water meters.” Metartec SCADA has the capability to measure and report on energy consumption and usage, enabling businesses to understand and reduce utility expenditure, allowing for genuine savings. The SCADA software, provides the user with fully customisable software packages that are capable of communicating with and monitoring all critical devices and building management equipment 24/7,

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Henry Monahan from Northern Enterprises (second left) pictured at the live demo of the Metartec SCADA software with (from left) Johnny Moore, Tracey Sarikaya and Christine Armstrong, all from Metartec.

anywhere in the world. Developed in-house by one of Metartec’s software engineers, Metartec SCADA and SCADA Deluxe both focus on making real time control and remote monitoring facilities more efficient and cost effective to the user. Metartec offers tiered packages that give each user the freedom of remotely monitoring their equipment themselves, or, alternatively, by Metartec’s in-house SCADA team. However, if you opt to monitor the system yourself, you can still benefit from the back-up services provided by Metartec. “The system is aimed to be proactive as well as reactive,” added Johnny. “You receive alerts against set parameters, for example if a room temperature exceeds a pre-set level or an alarm is set off. These alerts can be sent via text or e-mail, meaning you can react quickly and effectively. “However, you can also use the system to plan ahead and project future costs. By using data already stored in the system, we can predict future bills, allowing you to plan effectively. The software also works perfectly as part of energy saving plans, not only allowing building owners to break down all their costs but they can even use

the reports to gain ISO accreditation. “The reports are designed to be easy to read and interpret, ensuring you are better placed to react to the information in front of you.” T: (NI) 0845 5040 444 or (RoI) 1890 818 189 W: www.metartec.com

Features and benefits • Open protocol software – reduces overall cost of ownership by not limiting connectivity to any electrical equipment • Real time display and control of devices – improves response speed and operational efficiency saving time and money • Easy expansion and scalability – connects with an unlimited amount of devices, anywhere in the world via RS485, Ethernet or 3G connections • Report generation – highlights power trends minimising unforeseen expenditure • Power usage effectiveness – helping to improve energy usage and system efficiency FOLLOW US ON:

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UPS

SOCOMEC’S MARKET-LEADING UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY (UPS) TECHNOLOGY GUARANTEES PQ IN THE MOST CHALLENGING CRITICAL APPLICATIONS…

Socomec surge protection for critical loads

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he widespread use and increasing dependence upon electronic equipment and IT systems have completely transformed the nature of electrical loads. Mission-critical facilities must operate continuously, and the increased sensitivity of processes to Power Quality (PQ) problems means that the availability of high quality power is vital across all sectors. Modern data centres are designed with inherent redundancy in order to minimise downtime, but just as important as the mission-critical applications themselves, is the quality of power supplied. Socomec’s market-leading

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“The range maintains its benchmark position both in terms of its reduced footprint and energy savings.”

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) technology guarantees PQ in the most challenging critical applications. A result of extensive engineering and in-depth analysis of customer needs, Socomec’s Modulys Green Power (GP) is a completely modular and fully redundant solution in the 25-600 kW power range. Modulys GP integrates all the technological advances of Socomec’s Green Power 2.0 range, including the optimum VFI output and unitary power factor that offers the highest power density currently on the market. The range maintains its benchmark position both in terms of its reduced footprint and energy savings. With no single point of failure, the Modulys delivers the ultimate availability, scalability and extended lifetime to critical applications such as computer rooms, data centres, banks, healthcare facilities and insurance and telecoms providers. Designed around a system of

redundant dual-conversion modules, Modulys can meet evolving demands on energy performance and ensures business continuity, optimising costs over the product lifecycle. Modulys provides margin for unforeseen evolutions in infrastructure and can be upgraded at any point of its operational lifecycle. W: www.socomec.co.uk

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Harpers Have it...

Overall Achievement Award

Osmor...

Produces cable covers and electrical switchboard matting.

Minitran...

One of the UKs leading distributors of structured cabling systems, networking, audio visual and security products. Copper, fibre and wireless networks.

Hylec...

Connectors and terminal blocks. Weatherproof connectors, cable glands, enclosures and control components.

Calex...

Cable Specialists...

Decorative and period light bulbs, LED, GU10, MR16, G9 lamps.

Cable Specialists YY, SY, LIYCY, H03, H05 flexibles, H07 single and multicore rubbers, silicone and FEP high temperature cables, CAT5E, CAT6, CAT6A and fibre optic cables.

Unit 1, Montgomery Business Park, 34 Montgomery Road, Belfast T: 028 9079 2155 - F: 028 9079 9031 www.cablespecialists.co.uk


cables

High quality cable with consistent colours and short lead times – all manufactured in the UK…

Reliability is key for Clynder Cables

C

lynder Cables is a manufacturer that understands that reliability is everything when sourcing cable. The company has over 30 years of experience in the supply of UK manufactured industrial electrical cables to the UK, European and International markets and specialises in single core cables, such as the famous Tri-rated cable. With all the company’s cable manufactured in the UK, Clynder can ensure high quality products with consistent colours and short lead times. This is a key area when providing that all-important reliability. Another aspect of this is reflected in the company’s drive to maintain the highest standards, which independently verified by the UL and CSA accreditations held by Clynder Cables.

Founded in Huyton, Merseyside in 1983, Clynder Cables quickly established itself as the leading brand for British-made, high quality tri-rated panel and switchgear wiring. In 2002 the company relocated to Manchester, where it strengthened the distribution side of the business, expanded the product range and promoted the Clynder Cables brand. The company’s cable is supplied mainly to the control panel industry through most of the well-known electrical wholesalers and

distributors in the UK and Ireland. In recent years, Clynder has broadened its product range with the ‘Superflex’ range of highly flexible tri-rated panel wiring, cables with remarkable properties of flexibility and bending radius. Other products include 2491X and 2491B equipment wires, solar cable and Def. Stan equipment wires and multicores. T: (NI) 0161 629 9333 or (RoI) 0044 161 629 9333 E: sales@clyndercables.co.uk W: www.clyndercables.co.uk

Call: +44 (0) 161 629 9333 • Fax +44 (0) 161 629 9444 Email: sales@clyndercables.co.uk • www.clyndercables.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 83


project profile

Overview Galgorm resort & Spa, Ballymena

COMPLETION OF NEW MULTI-MILLION POUND EXTENSION AND IRELAND’S FIRST OUTDOOR THERMAL SPA VILLAGE DIDN’T FAZE THIS EXPERT M&E TEAM…

Relax... JBE Mechanical Electrical is in control at Galgorm Resort & Spa

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eading M&E contractors, JBE Mechanical Electrical, have helped create a stress-free environment for guests at Galgorm Resort and Spa as part of the latest multi-million pound expansion. Working on what is the first outdoor thermal spa village in Ireland, JBE Mechanical Electrical not only faced a tight schedule but also had the additional challenge of ensuring the company’s work didn’t affect the guests.

One of the main concerns of the project was the overall logistics involved in keeping the hotel fully operational during the work. However, the experienced electrical team from JBE, headed up by Contracts Manager, Ken Ginnett were well up to the challenge, and the electrical works and all associated services were completed in a professional manner and to the high standards expected. “It was quite a complex job,” said Ken,

with many different strands to it for the various different areas. We upgraded an NIE transformer to 1,000KVA and installed a new mains switch board to facilitate the additional electrical loading for the 48-bedroom extension, and new spa village and laundry facilities, all interfaced with standby/back-up power generator sets. “The work also involved the installation of new sub mains cabling from the new switch room to the north wing extension block, and

Head Office: Lamont House, Braid River Business Park, 105 Railway Street, Ballymena T: (NI) 028 2565 8522 or (RoI) 048 2565 8522 www.jbeme.com

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project profile

“We installed new mains cabling and mechanical services alongside CCTV, fire alarm, data, telephone, intruder, PA and installation systems throughout the new extension and spa garden. This was in addition to general and emergency LED lighting, both internally and externally.” the installation of new mains subs to risers, bedrooms, plant rooms and associated areas. “Further to this, we installed new mains cabling and mechanical services alongside CCTV, fire alarm, data, telephone, intruder, PA and installation systems throughout the new extension and spa garden. This was in addition to general and emergency LED lighting, both internally and externally.” Overall, the project involved the construction of a four-storey extension to the hotel, along with a new indoor swimming pool, associated spa facilities and outdoor thermal spa village. This major project was completed while the hotel remained fully operational, with minimal disturbance to the guests and staff.

The extension has created an additional 48 bedrooms which included family rooms, corner suites and also the breathtaking Signature Suite that boasts 1,300sqft of pure luxury and a furnished terrace complete with private hot tub. Also included is a 20m indoor leisure pool surrounded by a polished pebble floor; the Relax Orangery; a Snow Cabin complete with powder snow and ice crystals, which is maintained at a chilly -7 to -15°C; a Sanarium; and the Elements Spa Café. Meanwhile, the new outdoor thermal spa village incorporates a wood-fired eco-friendly riverside tub; yoga studio on raised stilts; sauna; steam room; relax area; cabins and showers. This work was in addition to areas such as changing rooms, reception, kitchen, plant and store

rooms, as well as three main corridors and a lift. JBE has also recently completed the new laundry building and electrical switch room. John Blair, Managing Director of JBE Mechanical Electrical, was delighted with the company’s success on this project. He said, “The level of expertise was clearly demonstrated to ensure that this project was completed on time, defect-free and within budget through extremely high levels of organisation, communication and engineering skills that were delivered by both our staff in-house and site personnel.” JBE Mechanical Electrical will continue work at Galgorm Resort and Spa and laundry , with the company also signing a three-year maintenance contract for both new and existing services on site.

Scotland Office: Unit 10a Grangemouth Business Centre, 3 Roseland Hall, Grangemouth T: (NI) 01324 471138 or (RoI) 0044 1324 471138 www.jbeme.com

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 85


project profile

Lighting Galgorm resort & Spa, Ballymena

AJ HURST PROVIDES QUALITY LIGHTING SOLUTIONS TO NEW HOTEL EXTENSION…

AJ Hurst helps create the right mood at Galgorm

I

n keeping with the five-star standards of the Galgorm Resort and Spa, creating the right mood lighting was an important consideration. Leading UK electrical and lighting supplier, AJ Hurst, supplied a high quality dimming system plus architrave lighting and spot lighting from Lutron. Meeting a comprehensive range of lighting control needs, Lutron offers multiple designs and control openings to compliment any décor and provide functionality for ambiance, convenience, and security. AJ Hurst also supplied a range of quality LED lighting from Collingwood. “Over the years we have supplied most of the lighting systems at the Galgorm,” said Graham Kitchen, Technical Service Manager, at AJ Hurst. “We must have installed around

AJ Hurst can offer bespoke lighting solutions designed to draw maximum energy savings from individual circumstances.

14 panels on that site over the past 15 years and this latest job was centred around the new spa, pool, and reception area, along with the new Orangery. “Lighting systems from Lutron are what we have always used at the Galgorm and the great thing about this company and its products is that we were able to use the same system for the recent work, as it is capable of adapting to changing light fittings and different load types and settings. “Lutron provides many other benefits too, both for the installer and the end user. It can work from one dimmer up to multiple dimmers, and it’s easy to install and commission. It also provides a smooth action and once installed, it’s very easy to configure to change the scene setting.” Graham also added value to the project by commissioning some bespoke spotlight fittings to ensure best results on the lighting system. AJ Hurst is distributor of an extensive range of lighting and lighting controls. Its products have been specified and

installed on all types of projects, including educational, industrial, hotels, social housing, residential housing, hospitals, retail and commercial outlets, industrial and manufacturing. Its main product ranges include Dextra Lighting, Dexeco, Lutron, High Technology, Disano and Collingwood. AJ Hurst can offer bespoke lighting solutions designed to draw maximum energy savings from individual circumstances. The company has access to versatile product ranges and the latest LED technology, to create suitable solutions for any environment. Service includes a detailed site survey, lighting design, supply, install and commissioning, as well as data logging and metering. The organisation has grown significantly since establishment in 1936. Beginning in Belfast, as Alfred J.Hurst Ltd and with just two managing directors, today it operates from a 10,000sqft premises employing over 20 full-time staff, as well as an office in Birmingham and several sales engineers throughout the UK.

AJ Hurst, Unit 10 Graham Industrial Park, Dargan Crescent, Belfast, BT3 9LP T: (NI) 028 9077 0037 or (RoI) 048 9077 0037 – E: online-sales@ajhurst.com www.ajhurst.com - Twitter: @AJHurstElectric

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project profile

Data Network and Telephone Systems Galgorm resort & Spa, Ballymena

The right connections by D&V Network Solutions

D

&V Network Solutions Ltd once again teamed up with JBE Mechanical Electrical to install new data networking and telephone systems, this time within the extension at Galgorm Resort and Spa. The IT structured cabling was installed throughout the new 48 bedroom extension and then connected into the existing system at the luxurious hotel. Gavin Graham, Director, explained, “We have worked extensively with JBE and have a really good relationship with the company, which makes a real difference. At Galgorm, planning the job was key, and our experience helped us put an effective

13 Main Street, Crumlin, BT29 4UP T: 028 9422 8730

plan in place, which meant that everything ran smoothly on site.” The completion of the Galgorm project came ahead of the fifth anniversary of D&V Network Solutions. Established in 2010 by three partners - Gavin Graham, Eamon Wright and Kevin Parry – the company has formed a strong reputation for its ability to supply and install all aspects of data and voice networks, including passive networks (IT structured cabling) and active networks (switches, UPS etc). The Galgorm is one in a long line of notable projects the company has completed across the education, health, commercial and industrial sectors.

newtwork solutions ltd

Lighting Products Galgorm resort & Spa, Ballymena

YESSS Electrical offers a positive solution

W

ith an extensive range of lighting products, and a branch close by in Ballymena, YESSS Electrical was easily able to supply a wide range of specialist lighting products for the Galgorm Resort and Spa expansion. With JBE Mechanical Electrical also based in the town, the Ballymena branch of YESSS Electrical has been the supplier of choice on many jobs with the leading M&E contractor over the past few years. “For the Galgorm contract we supplied specialist LED profiles for all the furniture in the new bedrooms and bathrooms,” said Lighting Showroom Manager, Kirsty Mercer, who was responsible for putting together the lighting products package, some of it bespoke.”

“We also supplied downlighting for the bedrooms and a wide range of LED lamps for bedrooms, bathrooms and halls, along with specialist downlighting,” she added. Being able to draw upon the extensive range of lighting products available from YESSS Electrical, Kirsty had no problem sourcing the necessary products to help ensure that the work at Galgorm was kept on track. YESSS can provide access to over 700,000 electrical products and over 10,000 for both same and next day delivery, with over 400 branches throughout Europe. Top quality leading brands are in stock for same day collection and all branches have thousands of essential products in stock.

YESSS Electrical, Ballymena Branch, Unit 1, Pennybridge Business Park, Pennybridge Industrial Estate, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT42 3HB. T: (NI) 028 2563 6758 or (RoI) 048 2563 6758 – E: ballymena@yesss.co.uk www.yesss.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 87


BETTER TRAINING BETTER APPRENTICES BETTER ELECTRICIANS

TRAINING WORKS

50% off

C&G 2394 or C&G 2395 only £212.50 if booked and paid online in December.* *T&Cs apply

NOW DELIVERING AT ETT ARMAGH City & Guilds

HEALTH & SAFETY

ELECTRICAL

2395 Level 3 Award in Periodic Inspection and Certification of Electrical Installations 15th, 16th & 17th December, 2015 PRICE: £425 ONLINE PRICE: 403.75

CSR - General Construction Operative 7th December 2015 PRICE: £90 ONLINE PRICE: £85.50

Emergency Lighting & Fire Alarms 8th December, 2015 PRICE: £125 ONLINE PRICE: £118.75

2377-22 In-Service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment (PAT) 7th December, 2015 New location! PRICE: £225 ETT Armagh ONLINE PRICE: £213.75

Working at Heights 16th February, 2016 PRICE: £150 ONLINE PRICE: £142.50

Inspection & Testing Practical Workshop 28th January, 2016 PRICE: £125 ONLINE PRICE: £118.75

NEW

2396 Level 4 Award in the Design and Verification of Electrical Installations 28th April 2016 PRICE: £649 ONLINE PRICE: £616

New location! ETT Armagh

CSR - General Construction Operative 11th January 2016 PRICE: £90 ONLINE PRICE: £85.50

Introduction to Estimating 17th February, 2016 PRICE: £225 ONLINE PRICE: £213.75

Ballymena: Units 57-59, Ballymena Business Centre, 62 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena Armagh: Armagh Business Centre, 2 Loughgall Road, Armagh T: 028 2565 0750 – F: 028 2563 0725 – E: enquiries@ett-ni.org APPROVED CENTRE

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TRAINING WORKS

Apprentices steered in the right direction by PSNI and LRA

D

uring October 2015, each of the 110 first year apprentices who commenced training with ETT this September completed the final day of induction. This time round the focus was on the role of the apprentice in the workplace. Elis Murray, Labour Relations Agency (LRA), hosted a workshop on employee responsibilities, helping the newly appointed apprentices understand the importance of timekeeping, punctuality and productivity in the workplace. PSNI Traffic Branch Constable, Sydney Henry, joined the apprentice induction day to drive home the vital road user safety message to this year’s intake of young apprentices. Harrowing images of avoidable road traffic accidents were put to sobering effect in an effort to warn and inform the 2015 cohort.

PSNI Traffic Branch Constable, Sydney Henry, with first year apprentices during their final day of induction.

Ready thready go!

ABOVE: Aaron McDonald, ETT Instructor, tests two of the Armagh apprentices on ETT’s latest mobile practical rigs. The lads are keen to learn how use the Megger instruments. Polarity, continuity and fault finding are all on today’s lesson plan.

ABOVE: Kevin Murphy, McMurdie Electrical, runs his eye over a piece of 20mm galvanised conduit during the practical session at the ETT Armagh Training Centre. The workshop sessions are aimed at improving productivity through accuracy and good practice. RIGHT: Ready thready go! Accurately cutting, bending and threading 20mm galvanised steel conduit is still a basic requirement of the modern industry. These two first year Armagh apprentices are clearly focussed on the task in hand.

Ballymena: Units 57-59, Ballymena Business Centre, 62 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena Armagh: Armagh Business Centre, 2 Loughgall Road, Armagh T: 028 2565 0750 – F: 028 2563 0725 – E: enquiries@ett-ni.org

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 89


TRAINING WORKS

Employers explain why they continue to support apprentices by working with ETT…

Local employers supporting ETT apprenticeship

BDI Director, Stephen Joyce, joins one of the company’s latest recruits, electrical apprentice Philip Dorian, at the NRC Campus Newtownabbey. Also included are Bob Stokes, Lecturer, and Ian Thomson, ETT.

Kevin Murray (second left), an apprentice at Paul Watters Electrical Services, with (from left) Chris Walker, ETT, Paul Watters, Paul Watters Electrical Services and Peter Moore, ETT.

BDI Security and Electrical

Paul Watters Electrical Services

Celebrating 10 years of successful trading, Newtownabbey-based BDI Security and Electrical is one of the most highly regarded security and electrical contractors for commercial and domestic projects. Commenting on apprenticeships, Stephen Joyce, Director, said, “Part of our business’ future clearly lies with the recruitment and training of young people. As a local business we want to play our part in providing employment and training opportunities in the community.” www.bdi-security.com

Successful contracting business, Paul Watters Electrical Services, aims high when it comes to ‘outstanding customer service’. Company Director, Paul Watters, is clearly working hard to enhance the reputation and future of the Newry-based electrical contracting business - “The right attitude is part of our criteria when it comes to recruiting new apprentices. We are also delighted to be working with the right industry training provider for our business needs.” www.paulwatterselectrical.com

Electrical apprentice, Jake Richardson, (far right) with Peter Moore, ETT, and Mark McMurdie, McMcMurdie Electrical Ltd.

Apprentice Michael Haughey (right) who has joined his father Eddie (pictured second from left) in the family-firm, James Haughey & Co. Also included are Bob Stokes, NRC Lecturer and Ian Thomson, ETT.

McMurdie Electrical Ltd

James Haughey & Company

Quality clearly counts at Portadown-based McMurdie Electrical Ltd where Managing Director Mark McMurdie leads a team committed to high standards built around an impressive suite of accreditations that include ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001. Mark said, “We firmly believe that our customers deserve the best in up-to-date skills and accredited technical knowledge. That’s why we are committed to high quality electrical apprenticeship and staff training with ETT.” www.mcmudieelectrical.co.uk

Electrical contracting is clearly in the genes as Michael Haughey, an NRC/ETT Newtownabbey apprentice, has joined his father Eddie to become the third generation of the family in the business. Eddie said “Efficiency, customer service and value for money are top of the team’s weekly agenda. Replenishing the business with new apprentices and upskilling the existing workforce has helped to keep us in good shape during the industry’s recent difficulties.” www.jhaughey.co.uk

Ballymena: Units 57-59, Ballymena Business Centre, 62 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena Armagh: Armagh Business Centre, 2 Loughgall Road, Armagh T: 028 2565 0750 – F: 028 2563 0725 – E: enquiries@ett-ni.org

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TRAINING WORKS

Training success A snapshot of some of the recent course attendees…

Estimating takes off at ETT Six discerning contractors took part in ETT’s Autumn Expert Estimator course. Keen to improve on their existing commercial skills the men measured and counted their way through a busy day of top tips with sharpened pencils. The big idea of the course is to improve technique, accuracy and management of electrical estimating and tendering procedures. Christopher Lunn successfully completed the 17th Edition course.

Michael Thompson from JBE who got 100% in the 2394 online exam.

Candidates in the Introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers course pictured with lecturer, Bill Neill.

Ciara Rooney successfully completed the PAT Testing course.

Greame Creswell who successfully completed the 2395 PAT Testing course.

Ballymena: Units 57-59, Ballymena Business Centre, 62 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena Armagh: Armagh Business Centre, 2 Loughgall Road, Armagh T: 028 2565 0750 – F: 028 2563 0725 – E: enquiries@ett-ni.org

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 91


electrotechnical certification

ECS CARDHOLDERS CAN NOW BENEFIT FROM A NEW ONLINE SYSTEM TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR CARD…

MyECS – manage your ECS card online!

M

yECS is the brand new facility that allows you to view the details that the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme holds on you relating to your ECS card and qualifications. Via MyECS you can: • Check the progress of a new or renewed card application • View and amend the personal contact details held on file for you • Look at which ECS card/s you currently hold • See which qualifications are registered against your card • Check your Health and Safety assessment expiry. If you’ve moved in the last three years, there’s a risk that your card renewal reminder may not reach you in time. Using MyECS to keep your postal address, email and telephone number up-to-date means you will never miss any paperwork relating

92 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

to your card renewal. MyECS has been launched as part of a completely new website design for the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme. On the site visitors can find out more about the ECS Health and Safety Assessment, FAQs relating to your card application, and the additional benefits you can receive as an ECS cardholder. You can also use the site to track your card application or renew your card online, which is much faster and easier than postal renewal. Registering for MyECS is straightforward and takes little time. You’ll just need your personal email address, National Insurance number, date of birth and then just your surname, ECS card number or H&S Assessment number. T: (NI) 03333 218 230 W: www.ecscard.org.uk/myecs

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product news

Fused G clamps from Martindale set new safety standards n Now available from Martindale Electric is the new range of insulated Drummond G clamps, designed to provide safe and easy connection to bus bars for voltage measurement. The new range of moulded G clamps, which eliminate the need to drill the bus bar, provides installers with a safe and reliable connection, via a standard 4mm socket. T: (NI) 01923 441 717 or (RoI) 0044 1923 441 717 W: www.martindale-electric.co.uk

The saw that Title roars! n CK Tools has extended its range of handsaws with the CK Sabretooth Trade Saw, which in independent testing has proven to outperform other leading brands in terms of cutting speed. The reasonably priced CK Sabretooth Trade Saw offers an impressive combination of speed, durability and comfort, and features razor -sharp, triple ground ‘turbo cut’ teeth. T: (NI) 01758 704 704 or (RoI) 0044 1758 704 704 W: www.ck-tools.com

Money-saving kit from Fluke n Fluke UK is offering a money-saving kit which includes the recently introduced Fluke PRV240 voltage proving unit together with a Fluke T150 voltage and continuity tester. The battery-powered electronic PRV240 sources both AC and DC voltages for test tool verification, including both high and low impedance digital multimeters, clamp meters and two pole testers. W: www.fluke.co.uk

Take the heatTitle off next summer n Prepare your panels now and be ready for next summer - that’s the message from leading international panel manufacturer and climate solutions specialist, Rittal. By getting expert advice, and planning and putting in solutions now, managers can get ahead of the game and safeguard their production processes. The new Blue e+ cooling unit range from Rittal, with capacities up to 6kW, can operate in ambient temperatures up to 60°C, yet also provide free cooling when the external air is cooler, due to the innovative use of hybrid technology. T: (NI) 01709 704 000 or (RoI) 0044 1709 704 000 W: www.rittal.co.uk

Safe isolation solutions from martindale

New Seaward Apollo 400 for direct and simple PAT testing n Seaward has expanded its Apollo generation of portable appliance testers (PATs) with the introduction of a new 400 model. The new Seaward Apollo 400 has been introduced as a value-for-money, midvolume PAT, where speed is of the essence and memory storage of test records is required. T: (NI) 0191 587 8741 or (RoI) 0044 191 587 8741 W: www.seaward.co.uk

n Martindale Electric has supplied Worcester, Bosch Group with VIPD138 safe isolation kits which contain the industry-leading VI-13800 voltage indicator and the PD440 proving unit. The VI-13800 allows Worcester, Bosch Group engineers to prove that the installations they are working on in the field are dead, and avoid potentially hazardous live voltages. T: (NI) 01923 441 717 or (RoI) 0044 1923 441 717 W: www.martindale-electric.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 93


Spot the difference

not all vans need to be white

165 Dromore Road, Hillsborough, bt26 6ja. E: bridgecommercials@hotmail.com www.bridgecommercials.co.uk


vans

VAN INSURANCE DEAL FROM AXA OFFERS VALUE AND FREE BREAKDOWN ASSISTANCE…

Business costs rising?

W

ith business costs continuing to rise, van drivers need insurance which will give them the right cover and keep them on the road. That’s why AXA Insurance is offering free breakdown assistance, including home start, to all new customers. This means that if you break down out on the road, or have problems before leaving home in the morning, your cover from AXA can help make sure you keep your business running smoothly. As well as this great offer, AXA has also created a dedicated commercial vehicles team, who understand van drivers and is able to help you get the right cover.

Kerry Graham, AXA Insurance Commercial Manager, said, “We talk with van drivers every day, from across Northern Ireland. They all work in different industries and have different priorities, but all agree that getting the right insurance is important to help keep them on the road. “Our phone lines are open from 9am5pm Monday to Friday and 9am-2pm on Saturday, and our team is always happy to talk through how you can get the right cover.” AXA has 15 branches across Northern Ireland, so wherever you are, you’re never far from one of its local branches. “There are times when you need to talk

to someone face to face,” said Kerry. “Discussing things by phone or using e-mail isn’t always quite enough, especially if you want documents on the spot, pay by cash or have forms you want to go through. That’s why we have 15 branches across the cities, towns and suburbs of Northern Ireland, with opening hours to suit our customers. “It’s all about people you know and trust, who will give you great cover at the right price. We see things from our customers’ point of view, from their part of the country.” For more information, telephone 028 9002 0419 or visit the website at www.axani.co.uk

FREE BREAKDOWN ASSISTANCE

with AXA Van Insurance AXA Insurance limited is authorised by Central Bank of Ireland, and authorised and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority. Details about the extent of our authorisation and regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority are available from us on request.

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DIRECTORY

directory

The UK and Northern Ireland’s Wholesaler of the Year Due to continued expansion we have a vacancy for

Internal Sales Representative Candidates should be a good communicator, self motivated and have experience in the Electrical Trade. Benefits include a competitive salary and entrance into our profit sharing scheme and company pension. Please email David Adgey at belfast@kewelectrical.co.uk for a job description and application form, please include your up to date CV. Applications should be received before Friday 18th December

F E E L Our business PROTECTED is to protect WITH

T:+44 (0)28 9047 1727

YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDANT ELECTRICAL W H OL E S A L E R

WE’VE GOT IT COVERED PROVINCEWIDE STOCKISTS OF: • CABLES - Power, data, alarm, CCTV, fire rated • CABLE MANAGEMENT - PVC, steel, Dado, Basket • SWITCHGEAR - 250V and 500V Switchgear • EXTERIOR LIGHTING - Amenity, floodlighting • LIGHTING - Domestic, Commercial, Exterior • Lamps, LED, low energy, emergency lighting • Fire Alarms, Disabled Alarms and Refuge alarms • Security, CCTV, Door entry and Intruder Alarms • Wiring accessories, timers and controls • Ventilation, Space Heating & Water Heating • Power Tools, Hand Tools and Test Equipment • Work Wear and Protective Clothing • Crimping tools for sale and Hire

Providing professional, cost effective, independent solutions to any fire and security project... Glenbank, 720 Crumlin Road, Belfast, BT14 8AD T: 028 9039 1000 F: 028 9039 1227 E: info@atlasfs.co.uk

HEAD OFFICE Ballycastle Road Industrial Estate - Ballycastle Road - Coleraine. T: +44 (0)28 7032 0888 - F: +44 (0)28 7032 0770

Springfarm Industrial Estate, Ballymena Road, Antrim, Northern Ireland BT41 4NZ Tel: 028 9446 4231 Fax: 028 9446 7109 energysolutions@blackbourne.co.uk

96 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

T/A Eds & Eds Ltd, 385 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2LS T: +44 (0)28 9047 1727 F: +44 (0)28 9047 1153 E: belfast@kewelectrical.co.uk www.kewelectrical.co.uk

BM ELECTRICAL WHOLESALE

your interests

www.atlasfs.co.uk

KEW ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTORS LTD.

www.blackbourne.co.uk

branches Pennybridge Industrial Estate - Ballymena. T: +44 (0)28 2565 4000 - F: +44 (0)28 2565 5000 Unit B2 Balliniska Business Park, Balliniska Road, Derry. T: +44 (0)28 7136 8822 - F: +44 (0)28 7136 8833

sales@bmelectricalwholesale.co.uk

www.bmelectricalwholesale.co.uk

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DIRECTORY

directory

CABLE & ACCESSORIES (NI) LTD ELECTRICAL WHOLESALER

SUPPLIERS OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING MATERIALS TO ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES, FACTORIES ETC DISTRIBUTORS OF: •  Thorn Lighting • MEM Switchgear • MK Accessories • Gewiss • Click • Avo • Trench Trunking System • Sensotec Fire Alarms & Emergency Lighting • GE Lamps & Tubes • Appleby • Crabtree • Pirelli Cables • Creda • Dimplex, Redring etc n Buncrana Unit 4A Milltown Business Park, Buncrana

Providing Cable Management, Medical Bedhead and Pendants, MV Heat Recovery, Plugable Power and Underfloor to Desk Power Solutions to the industry since 1981 Belfast Branch: Unit 3, Duncrue Industrial Park Duncrue Road, Belfast, BT3 9BP Tel: 028 9002 0066 F: 020 9002 1308 Email: amcgarrity@coreelectrical.com - www.coreelectrical.com Dublin Branch: 17b Goldenbridge Industrial Estate, Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore. Dublin 8. Ireland. Tel:+353(0)1 4537033 Fax:+353 (0)1 4538911 Email: sales@coreelectrical.ie - Web: www.coreelectrical.ie

Tel: +353 (0)74 9322569 - Fax: +353 (0)74 9321771

n OMAGH 53 Derry Road, Omagh

Tel: +44 (0)28 8225 2642 - Fax: +44 (0)28 8225 2645

n LIMAVADY 16 Connell Street, Limavady

Tel: +44 (0)28 7186 0834 - Fax: +44 (0)28 7186 0834

Tel: +353 (0)749126788 - Fax: +353 (0)749126539

HEAD OFFICE... Balliniska Business Park, Springtown Industrial Estate, Londonderry. T: +44 (0)28 7136 0110 - F: +44 (0)28 7126 3796

Email: info@cableandaccessories.co.uk www.cableandaccessories.co.uk

Unit 4, Campbells Yard, Belfast Road, Newry BT34 1QH T: +44 (0)28 3083 4050 F: +44 (0)28 3083 3295 E: newrysales@centuryelectrical.co.uk

BELFAST DUNMURRY

n LETTERKENNY Fiesta Port Road, Letterkenny

NEWRY

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm Sat 9.00am - 12.00pm

Tel: +44 (0)28 7772 2188 - Fax: +44 (0)28 7776 8991

n DERRY Maydown Works, Derry

ONE OF NORTHERN IRELAND’S LEADING SUPPLIERS TO THE ELECTRICAL TRADE NOW LOCATED AT:

• Dublin Branch +353 (0)1 404 7700

• Tyrone Branch +44 (0)28 8772 5033

• Cork Branch +353 (0)21 435 5440

• Belfast Branch +44 (0)28 9075 6808

• Luton Branch: +44 (0)1582 848402

www.demesne.ie

207 City Business Park, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 9HY T: +44 (0)28 9061 8666 F: +44 (0)28 9060 6788 (Sales) F: +44 (0)28 9060 6785 (Admin) E: belfastsales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 7.30am - 5.00pm

BELFAST EAST

city electrical factors

MALLUSK BRANCH

Unit 5, Antrim Line Business Park, Sentry Lane, Mallusk, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim BT36 4XX Tel: +44 (0)28 9083 0303 - Fax: +44 (0)28 9083 0306 Email: info@eweni.co.uk

MAGHERAFELT BRANCH

Unit 1b, Loves Hill, Castledawson Road, Magherafelt BT45 8DP Tel: +44 (0)28 7946 9600 - Fax: +44 (0)28 9746 9699 Email: sales@eweni.co.uk Sligo Letterkenny Castlebar Finglas Mullingar Naas Red cow Dundalk Cork Waterford Limerick Tralee

Unit 9&10 Duncans Island, Finisklin, Co Sligo. T: (071) 9151820 Unit 2, Kiltoy, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. T: (074) 9106100 Unit 10 Castlebar Business Park, Breaffy Road, Castlebar, Co Mayo. T: (094) 9027196 Unit 25 Northpark, North Road, Dublin 11. T: (01) 8239000 Unit 12A Clonmore, Mullingar Buisness Park, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. T: (044) 9385515 Unit F3, N7 Business Park Naas, Co Kildare. T: (045) 4898099 Unit B1, JFK Trading Centre, John F Kennedy Rd, Dublin 12. T: (014) 242042 Unit 3, Butterly Business Park, Coes Rd, Dundalk, Co Louth. T: (042) 9327305 Units 8&9 Lehenaghbeg, Forge Hill Cross, Togher, Cork. T: (021) 4321820 Unit 10E, Six Crossroads Business Park, Waterford. T: (051) 372825 Unit K1, East Way Business Park, Ballysimon, Limerick. T: (061) 423310 Units 5,6 Westside, Monavally Industrial Estate, Tralee, Co Kerry. T: (066) 7103955

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SUPPLIERS OF:

Century Electrical Wholesale Ltd, Unit B1 Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1HE T:+44 (0)28 9045 1056 F: +44 (0)028 9046 0662 E: belfasteast@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm

COOKSTOWN Sandholes Road, Kilcronagh Business Park,  Cookstown BT80 9HG T: +44 (0)28 8676 2626 F: +44 (0)28 8676 2425 E: cookstownsales@centuryelectrical.co.uk Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8.00am - 5.00pm Sat 9.00am - 12.00pm

ENNISKILLEN Killyhevlin Industrial Estate, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh BT74 4EJ. T: +44 (0)28 6632 6555 F: +44 (0)28 6632 8585 E: enniskillensales@centuryelectrical.co.uk

WINNER

NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTRICAL AWARDS 2013 BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE WHOLESALER OF THE YEAR

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00am to 5:00pm

Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 7.30am - 5.30pm Fri 7.30am - 4.30pm - Sat 9.00am - 12 noon

QU A L I T Y PR OD U C T S COM PE T I T I V E PR I C E S E X CE L L E N T D E L I V E R Y S E RVI C E

www.electricalwholesaleexpress.co.uk

www.centuryelectrical.co.uk

ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 97


directory

DIRECTORY

EEW

Ltd.

Mullingar Branch

Electrical Wholesalers and distributors EEW Head Office Enniscorthy - T:+353 (0)53 9233494

Northern Ireland’s Leading independent electrical Wholesaler

Carlow - T:+353 (0)59-9142044 Tipperary - T:+353 (0)52-29819 Portlaoise - T:+353 (0)57-8672542 New Ross, Wexford - T:+353 (0)51-421916 Wicklow - T:+353 (0)402-29939 Wexford - T:+353 (0)53-9184656

www.eew.ie

Dungannon Electrical Wholesale

New eCommerce Website www.dungannonelectrical.co.uk

• Wide range of items in stock • Pay via card or account • Same day delivery (see website for details) • Click and collect orders from 7.30am • Technical datasheets attached to a large number of products

30 Clonmore Business Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath T:+353 44 9343040 - F:+353 44 9343517 Email: sales@mullingarelectrical.com

Longford Electrical Wholesale 3 Cartronageeragh Business Park, Athlone Road, Co. Longford T: +353 43 334 6380 - F: +353 43 3346 381 Email: longford@mullingarelectrical.com

“Competitive Prices, First Class Service, Products and Staff” • Ultra modern trade counter & lighting showroom • Next day delivery to anywhere in Northern Ireland • Same day delivery service • Call and collect service • Open Saturdays 9.00am – 12.30pm • Branches also in Mainland UK • Supplying the trade for over 100 years

Midland Electrical Wholesale

5 Sragh Business Park, Tullamore, Co. Offaly T:+353 57 9351561 - F:+353 57 9323748 Email: tullamore@mullingarelectrical.com

North East Electrical Wholesale 11 North Link Business Park, Inner Relief Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth T:+353 42 9328472 - F:+353 42 9328784

Also Visit

THE

facebook.com/ kewelectrical

twitter.com/ edsandeds

KEW ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTORS LTD. T/A Eds & Eds Ltd, 385 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2LS T: +44 (0)28 9047 1727 • F: +44 (0)28 9047 1153 E: belfast@kewelectrical.co.uk

www.kewelectrical.co.uk

T:+44 (0)28 9047 1727

LIGHTING

SHOWROOM

1 Clonmore Business Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland T:+353 44 9343299 / 9341781 - F:+353 44 9341805 E: lighting@mullingareletrical.com

www.mullingarelectrical.com Your local electrical wholesaler

FaIRley & SMyth E lectrical W holesalers L td

Suppliers of:Cables, Heating, Lighting, Fans, Switchgear, Showers, Decorative Wiring Accessories etc

Tel: +44 (0)28 9077 5888 Fax: +44 (0)28 9077 2100 Unit 7, Duncrue Crescent, Duncrue Ind Est, Belfast BT3 9BW Email: sales@fairleysmyth.co.uk

For a friendly & reliable service

Suppliers of: PHILIPS • MK • CED • DIMPLEX • GE • HKC • UTC Fire & Security • ABB • ACT • DRAKA HEAD OFFICE Unit 46 Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 11 T: +353 (0)1-2541900 - F: +353 (0)1-2541925 new@new.ie Bray Branch Unit 48 Beechwood Close, Boghall Road, Bray Co Wicklow T: +353 (0)1 2453970 - F: +353 (0)1 2116200 Cork Branch Unit 16/17, Northlink Bus Park, Old Mallow Road, Cork, T: +353 (0)21-2432990 - F: +353 (0)21-4396966

Serving the Electrical Industry

Dungannon Electrical Wholesale 199 Killyman Road, Dungannon, BT71 6RR Telephone: +44 (0)28 87729787 Fax: +44 (0)28 87752166

Naas Branch Unit B4 M7 Business Park, Newhall, Naas, Co. Kildare T: +353 (0)45-895896 - F: +353 (0)45-895898 Ballymount Branch Unit 3B Sunbury Ind. Est. Ballymount Road, Lower Walkinstown, Dublin 12 T: +353 (0)1-4567100 - F: +353 (0)1-4566366

www.new.ie

www.dungannonelectrical.co.uk

98 | ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE

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Beacon F ire & S ecurity ( N i ) L imited

Total solutions

MANUFACTURER OF LED LIGHTING

GREENER, BRIGHTER... BETTER! Units 11 & 12 Duncrue Industrial Estate Duncrue Road, Belfast BT3 9BW Tel: +44 (0)28 9037 1888 Fax: +44 (0)28 9037 1471

86-88 Dargan Crescent, Belfast

always putting electrical contractors first l CCTV l INTRUDER ALARMS l INTERCOM l FIRE DETECTION l NURSE CALL SYSTEMS l ACCESS CONTROL l DOOR ENTRY l SMOKE CLOAK l MONITORING SERVICE l WARDEN CALL l FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Beacon

T: 028 9039 6945 - F: 0191 4999626 E: info@polarisled.com

BEACON FIRE & SECURITY (NI) LIMITED 15 The Crescent Business Park, Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, County Antrim, BT28 2GN

www.polarisled.com

296e North Circular Road, Phibsboro, Dublin 7. T: +353 (0)1 868 2033 F: +353 (0)1 838 8529 E: info@pewl.ie

T: NI - 028 9267 6622 RoI: 048 9267 6622 E: info:beacon-ni.co.uk www.beacon-ni.co.uk

Your ‘other’ Warehouse Specialist Distributor of Lamps and Control Gear to the Electrical Wholesale Trade

PLUS 2 TO 6 CELL EMERGENCY BATTERY STICKS AND PACKS

Unit 13, Duncrue Industrial Park, Belfast, BT3 9BP T: +44 (0)28 9077 1506 E: belfast@stearn.co.uk www.stearn.co.uk

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ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE | 99

directory

DIRECTORY


y t i l bi i x le f d n a ts c u d ro p , e c i v r great se 1

Edmundson Electrical Unit 1 24 Ballyrashane Road Coleraine BT52 2NL T: 44 (0)28 7035 6226 E: coleraine.379@eel.co.uk

1

2

Edmundson Electrical Mahon Industrial Estate Mahon Road Portadown BT62 3EH T: 44 (0)28 3833 5316 E: portadown.372@eel.co.uk

3

5

3

WALTER S MERCER Unit 17b Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena BT42 3HB T: 44 (0)28 2564 1511 E: ballymena.387@eel.co.uk

6

2

4

4

WALTER S MERCER Mahon Industrial Estate Mahon Road Portadown BT62 3EH T: 44 (0)28 3833 5215 E: portadown.388@eel.co.uk

5

6

WALTER S MERCER Unit 11-12 Duncrue Industrial Estate Belfast BT3 9BW T: 44 (0)28 9037 1888 E: belfast.386@eel.co.uk ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT GREENTECH 58 Boucher Place Belfast BT12 6HT T: 44 (0)28 9066 1177 E: belfast.244@eel.co.uk

IN NORTHERN IRELAND OVER 200 YEARS OF HISTORY AN UNBEATABLE AND UNRIVALLED SERVICE

wsm

Walter S. Mercer

Providing a dedicated SERVICE to trade and industry A wide range of quality electrical PRODUCTS and services Total management FLEXIBILITY from all our branches

www.edmundson-electrical.co.uk


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