July / August 2021 Volume 255 | No 4 www.electricalreview.co.uk
Informing the electrical industry for 140 years
Energy Efficiency Time for IoT?
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27
Talking Point
Final Say
Where there is nuclear power, there is nuclear waste. So, what are we doing with ours?
The post Covid conundrum (with a side of Brexit.)
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Conten t s Regulars
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04 • Editor’s Comment Pastures new.
06 • News Stories from the sector.
08 • Gossage Gossip The latest from our industry insider.
27 • Talking Point
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Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) discusses the global progress of nuclear waste disposal and what we in the UK plan to do with ours.
30 • Products Innovations worth watching.
34 • Final Say
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The ECA’s Rob Driscoll looks at how the winding down of the pandemic coupled with the fallout from Brexit is changing the business landscape for electrical contractors.
Features 10 • Professional Development & Training
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Harry Cadman of Schneider Electric explains why relationships and a good customer experience are key to growing a business in the electrical industry.
16 • Energy Efficiency Time for IoT? Stacey Lucas of Sontay reviews the impact of the humble sensor, exploring how this technology is paving the way for greater productivity and building management across the nation.
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20 • Legal & Compliance Benjamin Dickinson of ABB Energy Industries considers the evolution of power generation and how the implementation of new smart technologies could be bringing additional cyber risks to the fore.
24 • HVAC Terry Sharp, president of the BCIA, discusses the evolution of the BCIA 30 years after its launch and why efficient building management is more important now than ever before.
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EDITOR
Claire Fletcher clairef@electricalreview.co.uk
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Jordan O’Brien jordano@sjpbusinessmedia.com
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Alex Gold alexg@sjpbusinessmedia.com
GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Sunny Nehru +44 (0) 207 062 2539 sunnyn@sjpbusinessmedia.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Kelly Baker +44 (0)207 0622534 kellyb@electricalreview.co.uk
PUBLISHER
Editor’s Comment Well, turns out this issue is going to be my last electrical rodeo guys! After three years as editor on Electrical Review and Data Centre Review, I am moving on to pastures new to focus fully on the data centre/tech side of things. It’s been quite the ride to say the least, and I’d like to thank all of our readers both past and present for all their kind comments, feedback and support over the years, it doesn’t go unnoticed. I shall miss my cracking team here on Electrical Review and Data Centre Review massively, mostly because the people I work with on a dayto-day basis are bloody brilliant, but, my time has come. Our current contributing editor Jordan O’Brien will be taking the reins as Electrical Review editor, joined by our beloved Kayleigh Hutchins as editor on Data Centre Review. I wish them both the very best of luck pushing the titles further, I know they’ll smash it. If you’d like to know where I’ve gone or have anything data centery you’d like to get in touch with, you can find me on LinkedIn where now, due to being ‘corporate blonde’, I have no distinguishing features whatsoever, making identifying this particular Claire Fletcher a little tricker (my wacky hair colours have been useful for some things, least of all spying). But, after three (and a bit) years and a lot of graft – That’s all folks! Claire Fletcher, Editor
Wayne Darroch Printing by Buxton Paid subscription enquiries: subscriptions@sjpbusinessmedia.com SJP Business Media 2nd Floor, 123 Cannon Street London, EC4N 5AU Electrical Review is a controlled circulation monthly magazine available free to selected personnel at the publisher’s discretion. If you wish to apply for regular free copies then please visit: www.electricalreview.co.uk/register Electrical Review is published by
2nd floor,123 Cannon Street London, EC4N 5AU Any article in this journal represents the opinions of the author. This does not necessarily reflect the views of Electrical Review or its publisher – SJP Business Media ISSN 0013-4384 – All editorial contents © SJP Business Media ABC Average net circulation Jan-Dec 2019 6,231
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4 Electrical www.electricalreview.co.uk Review | July / August ???? 2021
???????? NEWS
News UK Government set to expand halogen lighting ban Inefficient lighting is finally about to get the nail in the coffin it deserves, as the UK is eyeing up a ban on the sale of halogen light bulbs. That means retailers will be unable to sell most remaining halogen bulbs, such as kitchen spotlights. According to the UK Government, the ban will cut 1.26 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year when it goes into effect in September. A similar ban is planned for appliances that have non-removable bulbs, while fluorescent lighting, which is commonly used in offices, could be banned in 2023.
myenergi redesigns product line-up in response to global chip shortage The global chip shortage continues to adversely impact the tech industry, with myenergi now redesigning its entire product line-up in response to the crisis. Manufacturers around the world have been impacted by the chip shortage, with Apple, Samsung and Tesla just a few of the big names who have had to contend with the shortage. Now myenergi has had to find a solution to the problem, with the British manufacturer deciding to complete a major product redesign project to address the shortage. Lead times for some microprocessors now exceed 52 weeks, but the updated designs operate on a new, more powerful microprocessor which is not affected by the silicon shortage. Alongside enabling the increased production of myenergi’s zappi, eddi, harvi and hub products, the more powerful microprocessor will facilitate additional features over time, giving customers greater control over their energy consumption at home.
ABB to cut carbon emissions through fleet electrification, renewable energy
ER & DCR Excellence Awards set for May 19, 2022
Given the ever-changing situation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, the Electrical Review and Data Centre Review Excellence Awards will be delayed until May 19, 2022. The event had been planned for September 30, 2021, but we’re still not confident that the situation will have changed enough to welcome the industry back together on that date. We are, however, looking forward to seeing you next year.
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ABB has announced a new commitment to reducing its carbon emissions, with the firm aiming to electrify its entire vehicle fleet by 2030, while also committing to sourcing 100% renewable electricity by the same date. The firm says that its new sustainability strategy is predicated on science-based targets, with an aim of pushing down the company’s impact on the environment until it reaches net zero in 2030. Arguably the biggest pledge of ABB’s new commitment is one which will see it electrify its entire fleet of vehicles. That means the company has committed to purchasing more than 10,000 electric vehicles by 2030.
Dungeness B nuclear power station to be defuelled ahead of schedule
UK Power Networks unveils £4.5 billion plan for net zero
EDF has made the decision to move Dungeness B nuclear power station into the defuelling stage, effectively decommissioning the plant earlier than previously planned 2028 deadline. The power station on the Kent coast has been undergoing a multi-million pound maintenance programme since 2018, which is when EDF found a range of unique, significant and ongoing technical challenges that were not present at the other six AGR power stations.
UK Power Networks, the distribution network operator covering the South East England, the East of England and London, has unveiled a £4.5 billion draft business plan that will drive the business towards net zero. The draft business plan covers RIIO-ED2, which is the next price control for distribution network operators running from 2023-28. This will be a crucial time for all DNOs, as they all work towards accelerating their commitment to the environment, while managing the extra loads that will connect to the electricity network, such as new EV chargers or electric-based heating. For UK Power Networks, it’s anticipating that it will have up to 2.7 million electric vehicles connected to its networks by 2028, up from just 150,000 today. Pair that with the estimated 700,000
additional heat pumps, and you can see why this will be an important period for all DNOs. To cope with all this demand, UK Power Networks will need to invest in the electricity network. As part of the business plan submitted to Ofgem, the DNO is committing to invest an additional 7% in the network, while simultaneously delivering a 10% reduction in its part of the energy bill. Under the business plan, UK Power Networks has included £4.5 billion of investments that it is highly confident will be needed. It has forecast an additional £1.1 billion of potential investment if the highest case scenario of people switching to electric vehicles and heat pumps, as defined by the Committee of Climate Change in its Sixth Carbon Budget, materialises.
Renewables set for 40% share of global power mix by 2030
UK sees drop in renewable generation in Q2, despite higher electricity demand The electricity market in the UK went through a rough patch during Q2 2021, according to the latest market research from EnAppSys. Demand for electricity is continuing to increase in-line with the relaxation of Covid restrictions, with day ahead prices more than 15% higher on average in Q2 than they were in Q1. In fact, day ahead pricing was as high as
£72, with imbalance or system price sitting at £74.85/MWh, the highest of any quarter since EnAppSys started recording this data in 2011. Pricing wouldn’t have been as high had cheaper renewable energy not suffered from a drop in production, mostly caused by the calm, cloudy weather. In fact, renewable generation saw a 2% drop in Q2 when compared to Q1.
The world’s electricity is going to increasingly come from renewable sources, with the latest report from GlobalData suggesting that renewables will account for 40% of the global power mix by 2030. Despite GlobalData being confident that renewables will generate 40% of the global need for electricity, the company believes that some regions will move faster than others. In fact, it suggests that Europe will see renewables generate 50% of its electricity demand by 2030, while North America will see renewables contribute just under 40% by the same period.
www.electricalreview.co.uk 7
Gossage Gossip All gas and gaiters
EDF loses the vote
Less than 10% of Britain’s buildings are currently heated by electricity. Practically all the rest rely upon natural gas. But it is clear that the days of the gas boiler – the means by which most British buildings are heated – are intended to be numbered by the Government in order to reduce carbon emissions – even though new gas condensing boilers are well over 95% efficient.
Breathlessly, the Financial Times began its article, “A remote area on England’s east coast, halfway between the seaside towns of Felixstowe and Lowestoft, is set to become the centre of debate about Britain’s future energy security. UK ministers are aiming to bring forward legislation in the autumn to support the financing of a 3.2 GW nuclear power station in Sizewell, East Suffolk.”
The problem that policy makers face is that, for several decades, building regulations have been written on the basis that gas heating is the default preferred means of heating homes. Apart from studio and one-bedroom flats, the economics of electric heating simply do not stack up. Indeed, the main pressure in favour of electric heating has come from buyto-let landlords, who did not want the hassle of having to organise an annual gas safety survey for each and every property they own. But even that ‘unique selling point’ has now vanished. Since April 2021, it has been mandatory for landlords to provide an electricity safety survey too. Back in May 2020, the Government announced that it would be issuing a new buildings and heating strategy ‘shortly’, to demonstrate how gas boilers can be eliminated. It didn’t appear then. Nor during autumn 2020. Or last winter. The strategy was still due ‘shortly’ in spring 2021. Then during this summer, at the time of going to press, the latest timing might be September 2021. But don’t hold your breath. With Government spokespersons airily promising that we will, “transition away from fossil fuel boilers to more efficient alternatives which can lower energy costs overall,” it is obviously causing sleepless nights in Whitehall, desperately trying to work out just how this particular circle can ever be squared.
That ‘support’ will essentially concede that Electricité de France will need even more ‘bungs before building’ than they are receiving for its seriously delayed Hinkley Point C power station, originally due for completion in 2017. This ‘support’ means that, between now and the power station’s earliest possible opening date of 2034, every electricity user in the country will be forced to provide billions of pounds, surcharged via their fuel bills, for the Sizewell construction costs. All that before receiving a single kilowatt’s benefit. This is not a privilege offered to any other generator of electricity, all of whom will now be discriminated against financially in such an obvious way that it should make lots and lots of legal work for m’learned friends. Electricité de France has been making much of the number of new jobs that construction will bring to this ‘remote area’ of East Suffolk. At least, local people should be supporters. If so, they and the Government might like to reflect upon a by-election held this summer for East Suffolk council, in the ward covering Sizewell. Since time immemorial, it has returned Conservative councillors as regularly as clockwork. But not on this occasion. Topping the council poll was the Green candidate, Tom Daly, who puts his success down largely to, “our opposition to new nuclear power at Sizewell.”
A triumph of hope over experience Efforts to develop innovative carbon reduction and removal technology on UK shores has received a boost, as geotechnology pioneer Storegga announced fresh investment from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC and Japanese investment giant Mitsui, alongside further backing from cornerstone investor Macquarrie. It will support the development of Storegga’s Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Hydrogen Project at St. Fergus, north-east Scotland. “The UK is emerging as a world-leader in CCS and its associated low carbon technologies. Investment by these partners strengthens our ability to build a world class CCS project and help the UK to pioneer this rapidly growing sector,” said a breathless Nick Cooper, CEO at Storegga. Could it be that, after over two decades of vast overhyping and dismal commercial failure, that CCS really could have a viable future? My heart is truly with them. Whether my head should really follow remains to be seen.
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Unqualified to judge intelligence Every schoolchild knows that Google knows everything. So when Google’s worldwide boss, Sundar Pichal, pronounces that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is “the most profound technology that humanity will ever develop and work on,” we had best take notice. He told the BBC that, “if you think about fire or electricity or the internet, it is like that. But I think even more profound.” In recognition of that profundity, the European Union is agreeing upon an Artificial Intelligence Act The European Commission has been explicit that its ultimate goal is to make the AI Act the blueprint for all the global standards for overseeing AI. For good and for bad. But rather than the EC trying to set any of these standards explicitly itself, the Act’s article 40 gives these detailed powers to the unelected European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC). Never heard of them? You are far from alone. But amongst its 37 members is the British Standards Institution (BSI), of which you may be dimly aware. CENELEC certainly has had lots of experience in setting technical electrical and other mechanical standards. It has well established, and distinctly arcane, processes that are hugely detailed to create these harmonised standards. But when it comes to setting the parameters on how AI should operate, it might just be fair to warn that this is really not at all what the BSI and its opposite numbers were set up to perform. AI is extremely political, and its regulators will have to deal with thorny politics and answer tricky ethical and philosophical problems – such as what in this context is ‘fairness.” One thing is certain; civil society has next to no access to their decision-making processes. CENELEC sessions are far from public. There is very little accountability. Certainly, the European Parliament has no veto rights. Effectively, even if all outsiders agree to lobby into existence a ‘perfect’ Artificial Intelligence Act, their work could still be undone if the harmonised CENELEC standard-makers are simply not up to the new role.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
The personal touch
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
Harry Cadman, channel marketing manager at Schneider Electric, explains why relationships and a good customer experience are key to growing a business in the electrical industry.
edge up-to-date and experience relevant. The good news? The same digital technologies disrupting the industry can also unlock game changing new opportunities. Mastering digital tools delivers benefits beyond your own productivity. It also helps professionals guide their customers down a path toward digitisation. This sets contractors up as enablers of operational efficiency, and as digital facilitators.
orking as an electrical contractor can involve a wide range of tasks. However, the challenges faced are largely the same from one contractor to another – staying up to date with new technologies, driving efficiency and maintaining a strong pipeline of work. To ensure business growth that lasts into the long-term, it is vital to overcome these challenges and meet the needs of the modern customer. The secret to success? Offer unique expertise and personal experience to every job. To grow, contractors need to move past the traditional “install and go” model. By building a long-term client relationship, projects can be monetised throughout their lifecycle, past the initial installation. Contractors can strengthen these connections by delivering value-added expertise. This will be prized by clients in an uncertain future.
The digital advantage Leveraging digital connectivity is key to improving competitiveness and versatility. IoT is the new frontier in equipment management and control, and as its scope expands, so too will the opportunities. Digitally literate electrical contractors will be well-positioned to take advantage of the growth. Those who embrace digitisation, especially new IoT-enabled applications, will stand out. Contractors that are willing to make the most of the online learning resources available will benefit greatly. Not only will they enhance their knowledge, elevate offerings, and enrich the value of their services. These contractors will also create end-toend relationships, generating long-term customer loyalty. This understanding of smart digital tools will not only allow projects to be carried out more effectively, this can also boost the productivity and profitability of the entire business. This level of customer loyalty is what will assure the long-term success of any business. From streamlining administrative tasks to simplifying and speeding up system design, the tools are out there. You just have to know where to look. The main challenge for contractors is not access to information, quite the opposite. There is an overwhelming amount of information available. The problem is sifting through these resources. Electrical professionals are seeking targeted, expert knowledge to support their businesses’ unique needs. With only so many hours in the day, streamlining workflow and efficiency gains are central to success. Using the relevant tools and educational assets to your advantage is an effective, time-efficient way of enhancing a contractor’s expertise.
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To stay competitive, electrical contractors need to be seen as more than an “installer” Recent events have taught us that change is unavoidable. Embracing change and building a mutually beneficial, trusted relationship with clients is essential. A personal approach boosts competitiveness, gains recurring revenue and achieves long-term growth. Technological advancement is changing the industry at a breakneck pace. Over the next decade, this is only set to continue. More than an installer A challenging business environment can be an incubator for new opportunities. Evolving technology and shifting market conditions have put the construction industry under pressure to adapt. This presents new opportunities, as well as formidable challenges for many in the business. To stay competitive, electrical contractors need to be seen as more than an “installer”. A more compelling and profitable offer profile can be developed in two ways. Either, by broadening your offerings or concentrating on specialised services. Contractors should also consider becoming experts in the upstream and downstream stages of the project lifecycle. New revenue streams can be secured through design and engineering, prefabrication, maintenance, service contracts, or a combination of these services. Whatever the route, contractors will need the right tools to adapt to the increasingly complex industry. New products, technologies, and services require time consuming familiarisation and even training. This makes it increasingly difficult to keep knowl-
Smart digital tools will not only allow projects to be carried out more effectively, but also boost the productivity and profitability of the entire business The expectations of electrical contractors are changing. And, in our digitally driven world, this pace of change is only accelerating. Now, the industry is faced with an opportunity for exponential growth. By embracing this new and improved role, contractors can offer value-added services with better margins and closer customer relationships – benefiting all parties.
www.electricalreview.co.uk 11
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
All change Updated in January 2020, changes to the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) will spark changes across the electrotechnical industry with implications being felt by all, so what is it and what changes are contractors likely to see? Here, Paul Collins, technical services manager at NICEIC and ELECSA, discusses the topic and offers his views on why this introduction is both necessary and welcomed. Let’s start with: What the EAS is and how it is developed? EAS, or to give it its full name, the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification, is the document that sets out the criteria contractors/businesses must be assessed against in order to be registered with a Certification or Registration Body. In other words, it is what the industry agreed standard Certification Bodies (CBs), such as NICEIC, ELECSA and other Competent Persons Schemes, adhere to when designing and conducting assessments to verify competence. The EAS is developed by a management committee that includes representatives of the Competent Person Scheme providers, trade associations, such as ECA and SELECT, the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, the Welsh Government, Electrical Safety First,
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other industry bodies, such as Awarding Organisations, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). So, what is changing, and how will it impact electrical contractors? The 2020 update brings in several enhanced criteria which will impact both contractors who are already registered with Certification Bodies and those wishing to get registered for the first time. Full details can be seen via the EAS webpage – www.niceic.com/eas – but a summary of key changes is seen below. New applicants Here, there has been a notable change. As of 1 September 2021, EAS will
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
to comply with the new standard in terms of holding a craft qualification. The reason for this is the relevant Certification/Registration body will have verified continued competence through regular and ongoing assessment protocols. However, existing registered contractors will see several changes as a result of the EAS update. Under the new requirements, a greater focus will be applied to record-keeping, with additional checks being made during assessment visits. A summary of some of the information needed is shown below: • Records of all electrical work carried out together with the specifications, drawings, certificates, reports, and other relevant documents relating to that work. These should be held for a minimum of six years. • Recorded evidence demonstrating that all employed persons are competent and/or adequately supervised to undertake electrical work, this will include subcontractors as well. • Records of relevant qualifications, ongoing training (including Continuing Professional Development – CPD) and experience levels of all employed persons.
As of 1 September 2021, EAS will no longer recognise certificates of competence or auditable evidence as qualifying forms of technical education
no longer recognise certificates of competence or auditable evidence as qualifying forms of technical education. A big step, as this will effectively end the ‘short course’ routes into the industry for those wishing to be registered with Certification Bodies such as ours. From this date forward, in addition to other requirements, new applicants must hold relevant ‘craft qualifications’. For those individuals who have operated as electrical contractors for many years, but who have perhaps not had the opportunity to update their formal education, there will continue to be options available. The Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Assessment has been designed to assess knowledge in line with the Level 3 Electrotechnical Qualification Standard. For more details on the Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Assessment and all forms of acceptable education, please download the NICIEC EAS Scheme Entry Requirements guide, which can be found at www.niceic.com/eas. Registered contractors Before we get into the details, it is essential to note that contractors who are already with a certification/registration body or those who have been a registered QS within the last two years will not be required
Also, if a registered contractor undertakes EICRs as part of their scheme registration, they must now have professional indemnity insurance cover in place for no less than £250,000. Proof of this cover must be provided during the assessment visit. If you are looking for insurance cover or if you would like to discuss the type of cover you need, NICEIC and ELECSA insurance services can help. Please visit www.niceic-and-elecsa-insurance.com. Tools and guidance Looking specifically at the requirement for ongoing training, including CPD, we are keen to point out that NICEIC and ELECSA registered contractors already have access to a wide range of tools to support them in this area. These range from the in-depth technical articles seen in our quarterly Connections Magazine through to our fortnightly technical webinar series, the WIRE, both of which are independently CPD verified. In addition, we also offer a vast range of formal training, which is open to the entire industry. Delivering a solution to suit all, we offer face-toface, virtual and blended options across a full spectrum of courses. For more information, please visit www.niceic.com/training. Driving improvement and raising standards The purpose of this update is clear; raising standards to protect consumers from non-compliant electrical work. NICEIC and ELECSA welcome these changes, and we are committed to supporting our registered contractors as they continue to deliver technical excellence across the board.
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SPONSORED FEATURE
Keeping IT healthy Increasing dependence upon IT systems to deliver healthcare services to 140,000 people means availability and uptime are mission-critical at Birmingham Women and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Schneider Electric explains how EcoStruxure IT Expert has helped the Trust take a major step forward in the assured delivery of services.
he Trust was founded in 2017 as a merger between two existing hospitals and is a specialist provider of healthcare services to women, children and families living in the Midlands. Operations are supported by an extensive IT infrastructure whose functions were combined and continue to be integrated on the campuses of both hospitals. Following the merger, most IT equipment is centralised in what Jas Purewal, IT infrastructure manager, describes as a “shiny new data centre” at the larger of the two sites, formerly the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Another older data centre is located at the site of the former Birmingham Women’s Hospital and there are also various hub rooms – distributed IT facilities – throughout both campuses which house servers running applications needed to support healthcare, switchgear and networking equipment. Some hub rooms also host physical servers running SQLbased applications, but there is an ongoing programme to virtualise the majority of the Trust’s applications on NetApp servers housed in the main data centres.
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The necessity for always-on power for IT and patient health Continuous uptime is the top priority. Any impairment to the IT systems running patient-management or clinical applications inevitably impacts the delivery of treatment to patients. To ensure continuous operation in the event of a computer system’s failure, the Trust maintains a detailed disaster-recovery (DR) plan. This sees the data centres in each of the constituent hospitals acting as failover resources to one another; in the event of a systems outage in one location, the servers in the other take up the load immediately. Of more fundamental concern is the mains electricity supply itself. To guard against any service disruption, the Trust operates nearly 100 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems which provide battery back-up power to essential systems in the event of a utility power interruption or blackout. These are designed to provide temporary ride-through power either until mains power is restored, or in extremis, until secondary backup power generation can be brought online. Many of the UPSs are installed outside the main data centres, in remote edge locations, on both campuses. A runtime challenge for the Hospital Trust Maintenance of UPS systems is a vitally important routine. Because UPS batteries have a finite operating lifetime, they must be checked and replaced at regular intervals to ensure that they are fit for purpose should they ever be required to respond to the loss of mains power. Traditionally, an inspection of the UPS battery systems has been a
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manual process conducted annually. The disadvantage of this method was that any degradation of the batteries that occurred between scheduled maintenance operations was not visible. This presented the risk that in the event of an outage or blackout, the UPS systems would be unable to power the IT infrastructure until the mains power was restored. Just such a problem occurred during a routine generator test: a UPS that was specified to provide more than 20 minutes runtime to the load failed after only a few seconds, causing the main data centre to crash. According to Purewal, “If our systems shut down gracefully, they will come back up gracefully. But in this case, because the power was cut abruptly, it took us several hours to recover all our systems. The most important ones were returned to full operational status within an hour, however, others took three to four hours to recover. We also had to replace some disks over the next few days, so it was a very busy time with all hands on deck.”
EcoStruxure IT Expert, will enable the IT department, in co-operation with estates management, to provide detailed information to senior management to drive investments that will not only maximise uptime but also help the Trust to manage its hardware assets in a more sustainable and efficient way Whilst the loss of IT services presented no risk to the health of people in the hospital’s care, the incident caused a headache for the IT department, with the realisation that an unplanned mains outage might adversely affect the hospitals’ ability to deliver critical IT services. As a result, the issue was discussed at the board level and a decision taken to improve the resilience of the Trust’s IT systems to withstand any similar instance in the future. Automating inspections; using data to make decisions about availability and uptime The Trust decided that it needed a better system for monitoring key infrastructure, such as UPS systems, and it engaged the support of Ad-
SPONSORED FEATURE
vanced Power Technology (APT), an Elite Partner to Schneider Electric and specialist provider of energy-efficient critical power and cooling systems. APT had previous experience at the site, having installed Schneider UPS systems for the Trust. APT looked at what was needed and recommended the installation of EcoStruxure IT Expert, Schneider Electric’s next-generation data centre infrastructure management (DCIM) software to remotely monitor and manage the UPS and battery systems. This cloud-based application allows connected hardware assets in data centres, as well as distributed IT and edge locations, to be monitored continuously from a central console. Status updates and alarms can be routed to any remote access device, such as a notebook, tablet or smartphone. “The main thing we like about EcoStruxure is its dashboard facility,” says Purewal. “You can very quickly see if you have a critical problem that needs immediate attention. It also has very useful features like power forecasting, which allow us to estimate how long a battery is likely to last, even if it’s not in critical condition so that we can plan for timely replacement.” Another useful function is the ability to assess the effects of increasing the load on a UPS before additional equipment is installed. “This is where EcoStruxure is very good,” says Purewal. “We can assess the impact of additional load and determine whether we need to upgrade the UPS at the same time. Using data from the application, we can decide whether to scale up or scale down the UPSs to right-size them for the IT and optimise the system for efficient operations.” Evaluating EcoStruxure IT Expert EcoStruxure IT’s capability extends beyond accurate monitoring of UPS systems and batteries, as it can also be used to monitor equipment throughout the physical and IT layers, as well as environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. The dashboard feature means that information can be easily absorbed by management who are not necessarily IT specialists. This is particularly useful in the case of the Trust where responsibility for the environmental management of the smaller IT hub rooms is shared between Purewal’s IT
department and general estate management. “The data centres are my team’s responsibility, but a lot of the networking gear is in small rooms – remote IT installations where the environment can be dusty and the ventilation poor. Overheating in these crowded facilities could easily become a problem,” he says. “With the dashboard and graphical functions available in EcoStruxure IT Expert, I can make the case to management in other departments, or higher up the chain, that some small investment in air conditioning, or perhaps moving the equipment to a more suitable room, could reduce operating costs in the long run, as well as improving availability and reducing the total cost of ownership.
We’ve got this great tool now from a leading vendor and that gives us great peace of mind, and we are trying to get the most benefit out of it APT advised the Trust on the deployment of EcoStruxure IT Expert and provide ongoing support and consultancy regarding its flexibility and potential to deliver further benefits in the future. “We’ve got this great tool now from a leading vendor and that gives us great peace of mind as we try to get the most benefit out of it. “APT’s people have extensive knowledge that we can tap into, and they have been very supportive when we have any questions.” Moving forward, the use of EcoStruxure IT Expert is being extended to monitor environmental conditions in the IT rooms including temperature and humidity. This will enable the IT department, in cooperation with estates management, to provide detailed information to senior management to drive investments that will not only guarantee maximum uptime but also help the Trust to manage its hardware assets in a more sustainable and efficient way.
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Time for IoT?
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The benefits of IoT (Internet of Things) have been well-documented, particularly as we humans would be hard-pressed to live without the phones, laptops and fellow smart devices that are constantly sending and receiving hundreds of pieces of data every minute. The same can be said for building sensors; a critical tool for facilities managers when it comes to monitoring an asset’s changing conditions and performance. Stacey Lucas of Sontay reviews the impact of the humble sensor, explaining how this technology is paving the way for greater productivity and building management across the nation. oT emerged as a concept in the early 2000s, yet in recent years its popularity has experienced a huge surge with the advent of cloud-based technologies, streaming services and the like. It is estimated that, as of 2021, there are more than 10 billion active IoT devices, an astronomical figure that clearly contextualises the significant appetite and use of these solutions. Near enough every consumer owns an Apple or Android device; our phones have become something we’d all find difficult to part with. But what of IoT’s value to businesses? According to the Albany Business Review, IoT helps organisations reduce costs by an average of 15%. How does the technology do this, you may ask? By creating an environment that reduces waste and stimulates employee productivity. These advantages are being directly experienced by our industry. One of the benefits of IoT is cloud technology. The cloud is a massive network which hosts the data that feeds IoT devices and applications. Back in the day, a controls company would ensure that various devices were connected to a controller through the use of wires. These connections would be essential in ensuring the controller could direct and respond to the devices that flagged changes to indoor conditions. An example would be a sensor, a device which continually feeds back to a controller so that an environment is kept at its optimum level.
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Increasing efficiency Now, with the presence of IoT, these connections are more efficient. Data is held in the cloud. Controllers can now talk to each other as one big system rather than being joined-up across various floors of a building. This has radically changed the way buildings are being managed and operated. For a facilities manager, as an example, they are able to access data anywhere without needing to physically attend a site. This is of huge benefit, understandably. Whether it be measuring the environmental performance or taking care of a leakage, a manager simply dials into a building management system (BMS) via a cloud-based platform to see what’s going on. Important decisions are made promptly and confidently even from the comfort of their own homes. Gone are the days when an engineer would routinely have to spend
hours commuting to a site at the opposite end of the country. From a carbon point of view and in terms of overall efficiency, this was never a good use of time, even though it was the way to do things. With remote monitoring, however, engineers can easily resolve an issue in a far quicker timeframe. It is even better to know that should a BMS report a leakage, engineers can take the right course of action without needing to travel. The utilisation of IoT is making a huge difference to the way building data is obtained, not to mention facilities managers’ productivity. In the old days, if a manager wanted information from a BMS, they would have to go to a systems integrator for a report or pay for an engineer’s visit in the event of a problem. But, with data now stored on the cloud, a facilities manager can access the data efficiently for themselves, saving time and cost in the process. Any challenges? Whilst the benefits of IoT are indeed clear to see, there are some hurdles which the industry would do well to consider. One caveat is that if you have a fully IoT building, what happens when the internet goes down? Although this would be classified as a huge problem, which solutions can be utilised to safeguard an inconvenience from becoming a disaster? Will there still be a need for wired solutions as back-ups, or can we rely on 5G networks? In order to move forward, there just needs to be some attention paid to identifying back-up measures for cloud systems. It is a hurdle, but it is something which we will be able to overcome before the technology is widespread.
As of 2021, there are more than 10 billion active IoT devices, an astronomical figure that clearly contextualises the significant appetite and use of these solutions Another area that would need questioning is data ownership. Typically, a systems integrator would make an installation which would be handed over to the end-user. Now, with cloud communication, isn’t there a forever cost in terms of accessing that data? Many of the cloud companies require organisations to pay for their service on a subscription basis. It is why some companies are creating their own clouds to access the data. But still, there remains an issue as to whether there should be a charge for data access and who is responsible. If a systems integrator makes an installation and sets-up a subscription for a facilities manager to access the data stored in the cloud, can they still be liable in any way? Should they take ownership of a job which historically they’ve signed-off and moved on from? Who owns the data? There are some hefty obstacles to be lifted before IoT becomes widespread in the industry. It is a new thing to consider and implement, and it will take time for those changes to be signposted and rolled-out. The benefits of IoT are unquestionable from a long-term efficiency and productivity point of view. But it will take some consideration to understand and iron-out its intricacies.
www.electricalreview.co.uk 17
SPONSORED FEATURE
Lighting the way Nelo Neves has moved from South Africa to take the reins as head of trade sales in the UK and Ireland for LEDVANCE. Electrical Review catches up with him to get his thoughts on the future of the lighting market.
Have you settled into your new role at LEDVANCE? I wouldn’t say I have fully settled in yet, but I’m settling in more and more every day. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity at LEDVANCE, and the fact that I knew the company well before the move has made the transition a lot easier. I already understand the internal mechanics and vision of LEDVANCE, so I’m just ensuring I’m steering everything in the right direction. What have been the biggest challenges in transitioning to a different part of LEDVANCE? The hardest part for me so far has been the change in portfolios. In South Africa, we are more of a lamps market because people prefer to retrofit a tube straight into the existing fitting rather than replace it with a panel, whereas the UK is a predominantly luminaire market. I was used to a ratio of 70% lamps and 30% luminaires, whereas here I’ve found the exact opposite. This was a big surprise for me, but a good surprise, as the luminaire makes far more purchasing sense for our customers and enables them to benefit from total consumption savings. Another challenge of
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transitioning to the UK has of course been getting used to the weather! I believe you call this summer, but in South Africa the winter temperatures are higher than this. With your experience in both countries, how does the South African lighting market differ from that of the UK? I’ve already mentioned a difference in the lamps/luminaires market, even on the B2C side of the business. Another thing I’ve noticed is that although there are many LED importers in South Africa, people prefer the old tried and tested brand names they know, whereas in the UK price is the main driving factor. I’ve come across examples here where customers will switch away from internationally-recognised brands for just a penny or two. It’s a ‘Race to the Bottom’ and something we need to address, as all it does is force certain suppliers to cut corners. A light bulb is an electrical appliance and is therefore a potential fire and safety hazard – the regulations around its design and manufacture reflect that. Also, a good LED bulb can last five years or more: a cheap bulb might not, creating extra cost in terms of buying and installing a
SPONSORED FEATURE
replacement, and extra environmental issues in terms of increased waste. I’ve seen lighting products shipped with spelling mistakes on the packaging – that doesn’t inspire confidence in the quality of the product within. In your opinion, what has been the main impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the UK lighting industry? This is very difficult for me to answer as I arrived here bang in the middle of the pandemic with limited knowledge of the situation beforehand. What I can say is that the situation has made it very difficult for me to meet our loyal clients and partners here in the UK. I would have dearly loved to do a three-month roadshow and personally meet all the people that we supply or work with here in the UK, but this has not been possible. What trends do you predict for the future? The big one is the impact of the IoT on the way in which we think about lighting. We are seeing consumers and businesses turn their attention to connected living, which includes lighting. I predict a future where our lighting systems are as smart as our phones and optimised to a person’s specific lifestyle needs, as well as being conscious of our general energy consumption. Lighting needs to find the perfect balance of performance and conservation. LEDVANCE has the most comprehensive smart portfolio in Europe, and now we are very well placed to address these needs with our Human Centric Lighting systems linked to VIVARES. With this smart lighting solution, lighting installations can be fully managed and controlled remotely. We’ve done a lot of work on simplifying installations – now all the installer needs to do is scan a QR code. What do you hope to achieve in your new role at LEDVANCE UK? When people buy into LEDVANCE, they are buying into OSRAM’s heritage of 100 years at the forefront of the lighting industry. I would like LEDVANCE to become just as much of a household name. With LEDVANCE, customers are fully protected by legislation, which we regard as a minimum rather than a maximum standard for safety, efficiency and quality. We often do more testing and more conformance work than the standards require. That also means when rules are extended or tightened, we often find that we (and hence our customers) are already compliant with the new rules. LEDVANCE is often on the standards bodies drafting the rules. How have things changed over the last five years – what are the main differences, any surprises? Something I noticed in South Africa was a monumental shift from old traditional lamps to LED technology. With Africa always being very slow to adopt new technology, I was surprised how quickly people made the change. We were helped tremendously by the South African government not being able to provide energy to all the population, forcing people to look at generators and solar power, which obviously meant they had to switch to lower consuming items such as LED lamps. Although the UK grid is currently fit for purpose, grid capacity may become an issue here too. What has been the biggest impact/change in the industry? Brexit has created a lot of complexity. With all the new legislation coming through, it has become almost impossible to plan further than three
months ahead, which is a problem in lighting where lead times are long. For example, shipping goods from our French warehouse to the UK is harder. We now need a CA mark with a UK flag alongside the CE mark on our products, but the EU does not seem to be accepting dual-labelled products. In addition, goods for the Irish market routed through the UK need the same CE mark even though they are simply in transit. These issues can be resolved given time, but the speed of the change and lack of transition has made things very difficult in the short term. What do you see happening in the next five years? I believe a consolidation of brands is on the cards. As lighting integrates more and more with smart home and office technology around us, we will see some old traditional names fall away. Already, we can see businesses changing their models to be more flexible and able to change from hardware suppliers to solution sellers.
When people buy into LEDVANCE, they are buying into OSRAM’s heritage of 100 years at the forefront of the lighting industry. I would like LEDVANCE to become just as much of a household name Increasingly, lighting will become a service rather than a piece of hardware that is fitted once and then left. The vendor will take responsibility for ensuring that the right level of light is available in the right areas at the right times, shouldering the full burden of maintaining the lights, as well as ensuring compliance with the growing body of environmental, workplace and safety regulations that are in force. This only makes sense if lighting is integrated with other building services like heating, ventilation and air quality. LEDVANCE is well ahead of the curve. For example, we have partnered with Honle UV Technology group to launch a range of air purifiers. We also have our range of UVC sterilisation items that are already being used in applications as diverse as manufacturing locations, showrooms and water purification systems. As one of the fastest growing luminaire manufacturers in the world, we are agile enough to react to market conditions and adapt immediately. www.ledvance.co.uk
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LEGAL & COMPLIANCE
Is the drive to Net Zero elevating cyber threats? Benjamin Dickinson, global product manager, cybersecurity at ABB Energy Industries, considers the evolution of power generation and how the implementation of new smart technologies could be bringing additional cyber risks to the table. The standards are there, but when applied in isolation, they simply won’t be enough to counter the real-world threats we face. ere’s a rather sobering statistic: we found that 50% of our customers in the energy and utility sectors had been the victim of a cyberattack over a two-year period. As a result, us security professionals no longer think it is a case of if you will be attacked but instead, a case of when. That is unless the right protections are in place. Indeed, within the walls of ABB, we predict that 67% of our customers globally will face an attack in one form or another, and of those that have already been attacked, 96% could have prevented the incursion with foundational cyber controls.
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This is very much a technology-driven problem, and it is up to technology – coupled with common sense and a defence-in-depth approach that goes beyond box ticking – that will be its ultimate salvation. This risk is something that the International Energy Agency (IEA) points out in its recent report ‘Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector’. The report explains, ‘Cybersecurity could pose an even greater risk to electricity security, as systems incorporate more digitalised monitoring and controls in a growing number of power plants, electricity network assets and storage facilities.’ Net zero requires much tighter monitoring of assets and genera-
LEGAL & COMPLIANCE
tion, which in turn demands smarter remote equipment and tighter integration. Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are underpinning this greater connectivity and data sharing; however, unfortunately this also offers hackers more entry points, due to the near exponential rise of smart-device endpoints. Indeed, hackers now have a virtual smorgasbord from which they can pick and choose the attack vectors they can use to exploit systems. That is, if the right protections aren’t put in place.
Us security professionals no longer think it is a case of if you will be attacked but instead, a case of when It may sound like a horror story, but happier endings are certainly well within reach. Indeed, there are a myriad of technologies, advice and opportunities available to help counter this growing threat, but simply box ticking national and international standards developed for critical infrastructure is not enough in isolation. Sure, these legislative measures provide a good starting point or foundation, but to really undertake proper cybersecurity due diligence, you have to look closely at the rationale behind each of the boxes, what technology is available to address them and what pre-emptive action you can take that will deliver more than just a mandated check mark. The underlying problem is that these regulatory standards simply don’t go into the detail necessary to prescribe fully hardened systems; often due to having to suit the needs of many organisations, being designed by committee, or by taking into account the interests of multiple parties. They will eventually contain the important points and the recommended hardware, but it’s up to the user to ensure that the security solutions are adapted, installed, programmed and maintained in a manner that matches their individual applications and security standpoint. In fact, for this very reason, this is why the USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework is so good – as a guidance document, as opposed to being a mandatory standard/requirement. As a publication based around recommendations, it can go into more descriptive and prescriptive detail, compared to the UK’s OG 86 or IEC 62443, which both contain elements of box ticking. The problem is, it’s not widely recognised that you can be compliant with both of these standards, yet fail to significantly improve your risk level. More steps must be taken. The International Energy Agency is 100% right in its evaluation of the risks; and one only has to look at the recent oil pipeline hijack in the US or the Norsk Hydro attack in 2019, both of which were based around ransomware. Or, rather spectacularly, the deviously clever Stuxnet virus, which hopped from dumb device to dumb device, ultimately reaching its target – a common automation device, made by a certain company, being used in a niche refining application, at a particular plant in a specific country. These attackers are not only finding ways onto your systems, but they are also getting more savvy,
as they start to pick on specific targets, who they know can and potentially will pay. ‘Ransomware as a Service’ is the new moniker for a recently introduced and highly unethical practice, where criminals will lease ransomware software, but only if you abide by rules, such as giving hospitals and schools a miss and target organisations that can pay the ransom. They then offer support if the victim chooses to pay. Unhelpfully implying that paying the ransom is the best/quickest/ easiest solution. These risks and their likely impact need to be addressed at a much earlier stage, when an appropriate level of security can be defined in a thorough assessment. Following this, for all the bad news, there is good news too, and this is that there is a plethora of technology, methodology and practice that can sit behind and reinforce the box ticking in the standards. The standard can form the foundation, much like an office PC – with anti-virus/malware and firewalls – but this foundation must be maintained and strengthened with comprehensive and timely patch programs, updates and back-ups, along with physical security measures, such as managed switches, segregated networks, secure LANs and firewalls. Firewalls are, in fact, a great example of where the standards are just paying lip service. They say you need a firewall – here’s where you tick the box to say you’re compliant – but in real terms that firewall is only truly effective if it is programmed, configured and maintained to ensure its 100% efficacy as part of a larger security system. This is what is missing from the standards. There simply cannot be any weak links.
Hackers now have a virtual smorgasbord from which they can pick and choose the attack vectors they can use to exploit systems. That is, if the right protections aren’t put in place Box ticking the installation of a firewall (and that’s it) is one example of where standards fall short, but with a proper security assessment, these procedural weaknesses become immediately apparent and with a thorough analysis of your risks you will achieve a better understanding of where your security journey is going to take you. And it’s better to be a pessimist to start with. Start at a 10% risk threat and use the potential outcomes to define critical objects, equipment or attack vectors. Utilities will always be classed as critical infrastructure, so cybersecurity must attract the same level of criticality. The standards help, but only as the very first blocks in what needs to be a significantly more detailed and ongoing process of assessment, implementation and maintenance. It will always be a moving target, so a static ticked box will be no match for what you could be facing from constantly adapting hackers.
www.electricalreview.co.uk 21
SPONSORED FEATURE
Power quality analysis made easy When it comes to power quality, the MPQ1000 three-phase power quality analyser from Megger, combines an exceptionally wide range of functions with automatic features that make it easy even for inexperienced users to obtain accurate and reliable results.
esigned primarily to meet the needs of electrical contractors, the MPQ1000 is a compact handheld instrument with an integral colour display that offers both oscilloscope and DMM (digital multimeter) operating modes. To ensure that it can deliver results that conform with standards such as IEC 50160 and Engineering Recommendation G5/4, the MPQ1000 provides Class A accuracy on all of the parameters it measures. These parameters include RMS voltage and current, demand data, phase angle, total harmonic distortion, total demand distortion, transients down to 1µS, unbalance, flicker and many more. Parameters can be monitored and viewed in real time, or recorded for later analysis using the instrument’s large internal memory. A key feature is that analysis of recorded data can be carried out by the instrument itself, allowing results to be examined before leaving the site. If required, the data can also be transferred to a PC for archiving or for more detailed analysis with Megger’s powerful PQ power quality analysis software.
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For maximum ease of use and to guarantee dependable results, the innovative MPQ1000 offers automatic CT recognition and automatic connection verification, which guards against failed recordings. Other important features include easy memory expansion with standard SD cards to extend recording time and capacity, and the ability to measure up to 1,000 V AC and DC without the need for additional equipment, which is particularly useful when working on renewable energy systems. The Megger MPQ1000 handheld power quality analyser has four voltage and four current inputs. It can be powered either from a 120/240 V mains supply, or from an internal NiMH battery pack that gives up to eight hours of continuous operation when fully charged. The instrument features robust construction and has an IP54 ingress protection rating. It has a CAT IV 600 V safety rating in line with IEC 61010, which makes it suitable for use on all areas of low-voltage electrical installations. Megger | 01304 502100 | uksales@megger.com @MeggerUK
@MeggerUK
HVAC
Inception Here, Terry Sharp, president of the Building Controls Industry Association, discusses the evolution of the BCIA 30 years after its launch and why efficient building management is more important now than ever before.
ast your mind back to 1991; some of the events of note from that year include the breakdown of the former Soviet Union; Bryan Adams spending 16 weeks at number one with (Everything I Do) I Do It for You from the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves film; Sir Tim Berners-Lee introduced the World Wide Web to the general public; and Steve Coogan’s alter ego Alan Partridge made his first ever appearance on Radio 4.
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One more that I must not fail to mention is the formation of the BCIA, originally launched as the Building Controls Group (BCG) by then Secretary of State for Energy John Wakeham in 1991. Before its inception many companies operating in the controls sector had felt for some time that there was no single focus for their efforts to strengthen and develop the technology. It was subsequently decided to set up a new group within the Energy Systems Trade Association (ESTA).
HVAC
The new group’s key objectives were to establish a professional Code of Conduct, advance technical standards, contract conditions and training, and market the benefits of controlling energy usage - making potential users aware of the technology available to them.
These days over three-quarters of controls installations and servicing is done by the independent sector and most controls manufacturers focus on product development and distribution There have been some interesting industry developments since the BCIA’s inception. Soon after the Association started, a second group of control system specialists was formed amongst the then installers of Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). Back then, the market was dominated by the control’s manufacturers and names like Satchwell, Honeywell, Landis & Gyr, Staefa and Tour & Andersen held the majority share. These days over three-quarters of controls installations and servicing is done by the independent sector and most controls manufacturers focus on product development and distribution. Technological advancements have also changed the marketplace and perhaps most markedly is the emergence of affordable open communications standards that allow hybrid systems and brands to coexist within a BEMS. Gone are the traditional motor control centre (MCC) panels which housed the starter gear and large data gathering outstations of the early BEMS. These days smart plants, often with individual remote controllers, share operational data over IT networks or edge-technologies directly to the cloud. Better prepared Back in 1991 it would have been impossible to predict anything close to what the last couple of years have had in store for us, but efficient building management has certainly taken on more interest, as well as importance, in a post-Covid world. If we are to be better prepared for similar instances in the future then an improved understanding of how buildings operate would be hugely beneficial for us all, particularly for those who work with buildings on a regular basis. A lot of the technology that goes into buildings is advanced and complex and requires qualified engineers to install it. However, many people whose job it is to manage and maintain buildings could really benefit from having a basic knowledge of what they are working with. The BCIA’s BCM00 course, entitled ‘Introduction to Building Controls and HVAC’, is a one-day introductory course aimed at electricians, facilities managers and other building services personnel who might not require the full technical detail of more advanced building controls courses or who are new to this area of the industry. Anyone who successfully completes the BCM00 exam is eligible to apply for the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) Building Controls Associate card, provided the applicant has also completed an
ECS Electrical Safety Unit Assessment and a current ECS Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Assessment. Challenges and opportunities The technology that goes into buildings now is more advanced than ever, and for those looking to possibly upskill and further their career there are plenty of challenges and opportunities in modernising old buildings and making them fit for purpose in the 21st century.
Back in 1991 it would have been impossible to predict anything close to what the last couple of years have had in store for us, but efficient building management has certainly taken on more interest as well as importance in a post-Covid world The BCM01 course, for example, gives an overview of the BEMS industry and the systems and technologies used in the control of heating, ventilating and air conditioning, while BCM02 offers comprehensive training on the theory of measuring and control technology and is designed for engineers and technicians who have some knowledge and field experience.
Many people whose job it is to manage and maintain buildings could really benefit from having a basic knowledge of what they are working with BCM03 involves the main water circuits and systems used within the building services controls environment. This course includes the necessary mechanical knowledge needed to understand applications and covers all aspects of valve sizing and control. Anybody who completes these three courses will be awarded a BCIA Technical Certificate and become eligible for the Building Controls Integrator ECS card provided the applicant also holds a formal BS7671 qualification in the current edition of the wiring regulations (currently BS7671: 2008, 18th Edition), as well as a current (up to date) Health & Safety Certificate or recognised ECS H&S exemption. Whether it’s new builds or retrofit projects, the controls industry has a huge number of exciting projects to offer. The next generation of engineers will be the key drivers in evolving technologies to create a more environmentally-friendly building landscape for tomorrow. I am not going to make any wild predictions for the next 30 years, but it is my hope that somebody setting out on a career in building controls today could be writing an article like this in 2051 discussing the impact their generation has had in successfully hitting our net zero 2050 target.
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TALKING POINT
Waste not want not Around one-fifth of the electricity used in UK homes and businesses today is generated by nuclear power. Nuclear technologies are also part of the national defence strategy, cancer treatments, academic research, industrial applications and even space travel. But of course, where there is nuclear power, there is nuclear waste. Here, Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) discusses the global progress of nuclear waste disposal and what we plan to do with ours. n inevitable consequence of nuclear power is an accumulated legacy of radioactive by-products that needs to be addressed, both here in the UK and overseas. For waste that is short-lived and at the lower end of the radioactivity spectrum, treatment and disposal options are already well established. These range from re-use, recycling, combustion and compaction to disposal at specialised landfill sites or, for the UK, the national Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) in Cumbria. This low-level material accounts for the overwhelming bulk of radioactive waste globally and is likely to consist of items such as redundant equipment, tools, protective clothing, concrete, steel or demolition rubble. For the smaller proportion of longer-lived, more hazardous waste, more than 20 countries with a nuclear programme are already working towards the solution endorsed by the global scientific community: geological disposal. This involves building a repository in stable rocks deep underground to ensure the waste, housed inside robust containers, remains safely beyond reach while the radioactivity reduces naturally over time.
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Much of the higher activity radioactive waste is already safely stored in secure, purpose-built surface facilities at around 20 UK locations, with the bulk at Sellafield in Cumbria International progress Every country that has settled its long-term waste strategy has opted for geological disposal. A number have already made significant progress, with some of the most advanced programmes in Finland, Sweden, France, Canada and Switzerland. Three rock types are considered suitable and all are abundant in the UK: higher-strength rock such as granite, lower-strength sedimentary rock such as clays, and evaporite such as rock salt. Each would require a bespoke engineering approach, depending on the location. In Finland, construction is under way at Olkiluoto, following a search that began in 1983 and included screening of the entire country, with early identification of more than 100 possible locations. Olkiluoto was selected in 2001 following a decade of surface-based investigations and support expressed by the local community, who also had a right of veto. Finnish
waste organisation Posiva aims to begin disposal of spent fuel in the 2020s. Sweden has identified a GDF (geological disposal facility) site at Forsmark in Östhammar, which will take spent fuel. The site selection process began in 1992, based from the outset on working with communities. Forsmark was selected in 2009 following comprehensive investigations over a period of years. A repository for shorter-lived intermediate level waste has already been operating in this locality since the 1980s, extending under the Baltic seabed to a depth of around 50 metres. France has explored 30 expressions of interest since the 1980s, narrowed down to 10. An underground rock lab was developed at Bure in Alsace during the 1990s, and the chosen final repository site is around 5 km away. Meanwhile, 22 communities entered into the Canadian process, which started in 2010 and has now been reduced to two sites. Borehole drilling to test rock samples is under way. In Switzerland, federal authorities identified six regions with potentially suitable geology and three are now being investigated in detail. The UK programme In the UK, a maximum of around 750,000 cubic metres, or some 10% of the estimated total radioactive waste volume, is destined for geological disposal. This figure is kept under review to take account of any developments, such as the extent of the new nuclear programme, packaging adjustments or other changes. Much of the higher activity radioactive waste is already safely stored in secure, purpose-built surface facilities at around 20 UK locations, with the bulk at Sellafield in Cumbria. These stores will be safe for many decades but must be continually monitored, maintained, repaired and eventually replaced. Deep geological disposal avoids passing on the burden to future generations and requiring them to carry on handling this waste for thousands of years to keep themselves safe. The need for a GDF is indisputable: Passing the buck to our children and grandchildren should no longer be an option. Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) is the UK government organisation tasked with finding a willing community and a suitable site. RWM is part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group which is responsible for dismantling and cleaning up the country’s earliest nuclear sites. RWM collaborates closely with partner organisations overseas to learn from their experience, share lessons, carry out joint research projects and promote understanding. The UK’s GDF will comprise a series of tunnels and vaults up to 1,000 metres underground, where the waste, treated and encased in robust packages
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TALKING POINT
then surrounded by protective backfill material, will remain safe and secure for many thousands of years while levels of radioactivity decay naturally. Search based on consent Here in the UK, the search for a site is based firmly on consent, with a requirement for a clear vote of public support from residents who would be directly affected. Equally, withdrawal from the process is an option but must be a collective decision agreed by the local authorities involved (district, county and/or unitary councils). A desk-based screening exercise covering the whole of England and Wales has provided information about known geological formations, concluding that many regions have potentially suitable rock formations. This is valuable early guidance but cannot provide sufficient information on the deeper rock formations where a GDF would actually be built. At depths of up to 1,000 metres, there is currently limited understanding – the Channel Tunnel is 40 metres below the seabed, the deepest underground station is 60 metres underground. More detailed investigations, including non-intrusive seismic surveys and deep borehole drilling, would be required over a period of years to confirm actual suitability. This is subject to community willingness. Long-term community benefits The west Cumbrian boroughs of Allerdale and Copeland, which hosts the Sellafield and LLWR sites, have established working groups and are already engaged in early discussions.
The offer remains open for any individual or organisation to hold discussions with RWM on an exploratory basis and without commitment, and more discussions are expected to open in other parts of the country over the course of the coming year. The UK Government’s 2018 ‘Working with Communities’ policy lays out a flexible process which includes the establishment of Community Partnerships that will see RWM, local authorities and other groups working together to engage with people, address questions, deliver community investment funding and build a long-term vision that could underpin future significant investment in the area. Benefits for a community that eventually hosts a facility are numerous. This nationally significant infrastructure project represents an investment of many billions of pounds, requiring a construction workforce of up to 2,000 during peak periods and a permanent staff of several hundred, lasting throughout a GDF’s operational life of 100-plus years. Training opportunities, upskilling, contracts for local businesses and further inward investment will follow, while improvements to infrastructure such as roads, rail lines or port facilities may be required. The surface facilities will occupy one square kilometre, perhaps the size of a small business park, while most of the repository will be deep underground. There is also short-term investment in local communities participating in the process. Once a Community Partnership is formed, one million pounds a year will be available for local projects, rising to £2.5 million a year in areas proceeding to physical site investigations. A number of years will be required for the detailed work required to satisfy RWM, and the independent safety, security and environmental regulators that a site will be suitable. That time will be used to work with communities to ensure they can take an informed decision, when ready, on whether they wish to host a GDF. Radioactive waste is a fact of life in the UK: it exists and has to be dealt with. The final part of the journey to deliver the solution is now firmly under way.
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PRODUCTS
Knightsbridge piles up lighting ideas with new brick light From the purely functional to more creative applications, the new BL5 brick light from Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading brands of wiring devices, accessories and lighting – offers a multitude of lighting solutions for outdoor walls. The IP65-rated, surface mount brick light, which is available in black or grey, offers a choice of warm white or cool white via its energy efficient LED light source. Made from weather-resistant polycarbonate, it measures a compact 100mm (h) by 235mm (w), with a depth of just 32mm. However, should a flush fitting installation be required, there is an optional kit available for converting the unit to recess mounting, making it the perfect addition to dwarf walls or low brickwork. Furthermore, different lighting effects can be achieved depending on which style of grille or louvre is chosen. From full lamp brightness to a more diffused, subtle appearance, the lighting effect can be tailored to suit the situation, from a simple passageway or steps to low level illumination of a pathway. The BL5 brick light comes with a three-year warranty, and is perfect for any outdoor application, whether it’s transforming terraces or patios, illuminating garden pathways and features, or installing outdoor security lighting.
Knightsbridge • 01582 887760 Find out more: www.mlaccessories.co.uk
Makita expands LXT range of cordless tools Makita UK has expanded its leading LXT range of cordless machines. The DTM52 Multi Tool delivers up to 20,000 oscillations per minute with 12 angle settings through 360°, providing perfect blade positioning at any working direction. The tool has been designed for user comfort and improved handling with a small diameter body. It includes variable speed control, so users can easily adjust the output depending on the task – and constant speed control ensures optimum operation at all times. The DCC500 (125mm) disc cutter is ideal for cutting masonry products with a diamond blade. This machine has a no load speed of 8,800rpm and a cutting capacity of 27-40mm depending on the angle of the bevel. It also features Makita’s Automatic Torque Drive Technology (ADT) that works to automatically change the cutting speed according to the load conditions. The DDA540 angle drill is ideal for drilling in tight, awkward spaces. It enables forward or reverse rotation so the bit can be easily removed from the work material, while delivering a maximum 70Nm of torque and a noload speed of up to 1,400rpm – with two speed options to match the output to the task at hand.
Makita • 01908 211678 Find out more: www.makitauk.com
ESP revamps Sangamo timers and heating controls range ESP has made a significant investment in recent months to develop its Sangamo range of timers and heating controls. The wraps are now off to give contractors and wholesalers a first look at the new range, which has been totally revamped and showcases brand new products, as well as enhancements and improvements to existing products. The new Sangamo line-up introduces key features that are designed to boost the products’ energy saving properties, while at the same time, the whole range has been redesigned to create a sleek appearance and a uniform, ‘family look’ across all products. The range will also benefit from new packaging designs that have been introduced across the entire collection. With energy efficiency top of the agenda for the economy, businesses and householders, a key aim of the revamp is to introduce features that will assist with efficiency and performance and that will ultimately drive down energy usage and costs. The new-look Sangamo offer can be broken down into four main product categories – timer controllers, thermostats, programmable thermostats and programmers – with a total of 15 products making up the comprehensive range.
ESP • 01527 515150 Find out more: www.espuk.com
30 Electrical Review | July / August 2021
PRODUCTS
Wieland provides the electrical connection for HMP Five Wells Wieland Electric has supplied a variety of products from the company’s gesis RST and GST ranges, along with low voltage lighting control and cabling in all cells and risers, for HMP Five Wells, which is currently under construction in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The new Category C resettlement prison is set to open in early 2022, upon completion it will house 1,680 male prisoners and create around 700 jobs in the area. The project has been overseen by main contractor Kier and is embracing a Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) concept. This will integrate digital tools to drive efficiencies in the design, construction and operation of the facility. The project is the first in a series of schemes to be undertaken as part of the Ministry of Justice’s New Prison Programme. Wieland worked with building services providers Crown House Technologies to provide its RST and GST cable assemblies for the off-site prefabricated risers which fed the power, lighting and ancillary services to the individual prison cells and communal areas. All of the cabling in the cells was fully pluggable and incorporated Wieland’s GST and GST MINI systems. Wieland also supplied an extra low voltage lighting control system for cell lighting.
Wieland Electric • 01483 53121 Find out more: www.wieland.co.uk
Unicrimp introduces new 18th edition compliant cable clips Unicrimp, part of the Scolmore Group of companies, continues to expand its cable accessories portfolio with new additions to its range of cable clips. The new fire-rated metal twin and Earth cable clips are 18th edition compliant and will sit within the growing Unicrimp Q-Fire fire-rated range. The 18th Edition wiring regulations stipulate that cable support systems must be constructed with materials that will withstand premature collapse caused by direct exposure to heat. There are no applications excluded – trunking, conduit and cabling fixed to surfaces of the building or attached to cable support systems must all have fire-resistant supports in place. These new additions provide installers with an expanded choice of fixing solutions, suitable across a range of applications and environments – helping them to satisfy the latest wiring regulations. The new fire-rated T&E cable clips are manufactured from zinc-plated carbon steel and are available in two sizes – 1-2.5mm and 4-6mm – and in a choice of uncoated or with a grey PPA LSF coating. The LSF coating provides long-term protection for metal clips, as well as added protection for the cable during and after installation.
Unicrimp • 01827 300600 Find out more: www.unicrimp.com
Metrel highlights free software updates for its tester line-up It’s not uncommon for a manufacturer to force users to buy a new model or pay for software upgrades for new features, but as Brendan Beaver, manager of Metrel UK, explains, that’s not Metrel’s approach. “At Metrel we are keen that you are working with the latest firmware. And we don’t think you should pay extra for it,” said Brendan. “For example, owners of our DELTA and GAMMA PATs, MI 3309 and MI 3311, can now download a firmware refresh that ensures they are testing to the 5th Edition of the COP directly from our website.” While the software upgrades are free, they are also incredibly simple to download. Brendan comments, “The process is so simple, go to the Metrel.co.uk site, log in, connect your instrument and go to downloads. The system will recognise whether your tester has the latest firmware and if not load it. It couldn’t be simpler. “This policy applies to all Metrel testers. Early buyers of the multifunction testers could just reload the firmware when the EVSE Autosequence was released. So very different from the competition.”
Metrel • 01924 245000 Find out more: www.metrel.co.uk
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PRODUCTS
Ellis Patents focuses on non-metallic market with launch of Solus Ellis Patents has launched Solus – a range of non-metallic single cable clamps suitable for cables from Ø25 to Ø75mm. Designed, developed and manufactured at Ellis’ North Yorkshire headquarters, Solus is made from a high strength glass-filled nylon and joins Trident – a trefoil clamp – as part of its expanding non-metallic product range. The benefits of non-metallic cable cleats are numerous, but key is the fact that they have extremely long lifespans meaning they can be used practically anywhere, including in extremely harsh environments. The reason for Solus’ extremely long lifespan is that the glass filled nylon material used is a high-grade engineering polymer. The new range is fully stackable, meaning additions to cable runs can be made without having to disturb any cables already installed. Solus also features different mounting options that enhance its installation versatility; and because the product can accommodate a wide cable range, customers can stock small numbers of units to cover a wide range of cable sizes. Key to Ellis’ ability to innovate is its ability to take products from initial ideas through to IEC61914:2015 compliant products; with its in-house Innovation Hub incorporating 3D printers, FEA analysis and a fully equipped testing laboratory.
Ellis Patents • 01944 758395 Find out more: www.ellispatents.co.uk
Ovia adds high bay DALI signal converter Ovia’s latest new product development focus sees the launch of a DALI signal converter which will transform 0-10V/PWM dimmable light fittings, such as Ovia’s Hion and Grus highbays, to DALI dimmable light fittings. The converter is ideal for a variety of lighting applications, with the high performance, highly reliable non isolated signal converter compatible with PWM dimmable drivers. One converter can control one LED driver with a strong output PWM signal, and it has a dimming range of 10%-100% (dim to off). The converter is IP67 rated, with a waterproof casing and comes with a five year product warranty.
Ovia • 01827 300640 Find out more: www.oviauk.com
Beckhoff introduces new Solution Provider programme Beckhoff Automation has announced the launch of its Solution Provider programme, a scheme that aims to couple end-users with trusted, competent partners. The programme will help to deliver best-in-class solutions by combining innovative and creative products and knowledge. As part of a worldwide initiative, the partner network covers a diverse array of industries, from robotic handling systems and process plant machinery through to smart building automation. Using Beckhoff ’s proven high-performance PC and EtherCAT-based automation platform, coupled with extensive knowledge of the system and the underlying products and technologies, Solution Providers are uniquely placed to implement pioneering application solutions. These partners also bring a deep understanding of their specialist industries, along with complementary products and technologies. As this growing network of valued partners will be closely supported by Beckhoff ’s own sales and technical personnel, ongoing training and early insights and access to emerging technologies will be freely accessible. “The trusted partners that make up the Beckhoff Solution Provider programme have the knowledge and expertise needed to design, manufacture, install, program, commission and maintain a diverse range of control solutions using Beckhoff hardware,” said Stephen Hayes, managing director of Beckhoff UK. “This reliably provides peace of mind for the end user.”
Beckhoff • 01491 410539 ind out more: www.beckhoff.com/en-gb/ F support/solution-provider-program/
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PRODUCTS
Scolmore enters the consumer unit market The result of Scolmore’s latest new product development programme completes the company’s offer in the wiring accessories category and brings to market a comprehensive Consumer Unit and Circuit Protection range – ‘Elucian by Click’. The launch follows months of extensive research and consultation with contractors to come up with a range of products that best suits their requirements and that are compliant with the latest regulations. It means that wholesalers and installers now have access to a one-stop shop for everything wiring accessories related from one of the industry’s most trusted and reliable brands, and Scolmore has made a significant investment to ensure that stock levels of the new products are high to meet the anticipated demand. Elucian is an extensive range of metal consumer units that will cover a broad range of installations and offers a number of features and benefits that will enhance the products’ convenience, flexibility and safety properties. The Elucian range comprises a total of 58 individual lines which fall under five main product groups. The Elucian circuit protection range comprises Mains Isolator Switches, RCCBs, SPDs, MCBs, RCBOs and blank modules.
Scolmore • 01827 63454 Find out more: www.scolmore.com
Can your circuit breaker test device do this? More than 1,000 customers on five continents enjoy the many benefits of Omicron’s CIBANO 500. The device allows users to efficiently perform all the important circuit breaker measurements, such as timing, static and dynamic contact resistance, travel, coil current, or motor current – on breakers of all voltage levels. Its extensive capabilities and efficient test methods for testing high voltage breakers are widely known. What’s more, with its internal voltage/current source it can also verify breaker performance during special conditions, such as overvoltage, undervoltage or low DC supply. In a special article on the Omicron website, which you can access with the link below, we show you what CIBANO 500 can do for you in testing medium or low voltage breakers that other test devices cannot. CIBANO 500 is a device that can conveniently test breakers without a close coil and verify the under-voltage release function or the overcurrent release function of your breakers.
Omicron • 01785 848100 Find out more: https://bit.ly/3rNkZc1
Mersen debuts innovative heat sinks for power modules High cooling capacity with minimal pressure drop are convincing features of the new IsoMAXX cold plates from Mersen. The cold plates meet the high demands of modern power electronics and have been specially developed for the latest SiC, GaN or IGBT power modules. Modern converters, transport systems, electric vehicles and alternative energy generators benefit from the increasingly efficient wide bandgap electronics, which are optimised for operation at higher switching frequencies and temperatures and feature a much more compact design. Conventional heat sinks cannot meet these high cooling requirements. That is why Mersen developed IsoMAXX – a revolutionary vacuum brazed cold plate with unique features. The average thermal resistance (Rth) is 6 °C/kW, and at ~600 mbar, the pressure drop is substantially lower than that of all previous models. IsoMAXX cold plates ensure an optimal temperature range for power electronics, in which all single chips and modules on the cold plate remain at the same temperature. IsoMAXX helps development engineers to design solutions with increased efficiency and a minimal footprint. No minimum clearance is required between modules, which allows versatile integration regardless of the number of modules needed for the particular application.
Mersen • +33426 292929 Find out more: ep.mersen.com
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FINAL SAY
The post-Covid conundrum With the pandemic (hopefully) winding down, and Brexit rearing its head once more, how does this change the business landscape for electrical contractors? ECA’s director of business and legal, Rob Driscoll, answers some of our questions. Construction did a great job at remaining open during the pandemic. Has the electrical industry been as effective at staying operational? Yes – it has been a tough period for the electrical sector and the experience of each contractor will depend on which markets they operate in and clients they work with. On the whole, the electrotechnical market serving both construction and FM has remained as resilient as ever and is now facing the equally tough challenges of bouncing back to more than full capacity. You have previously described the current business landscape as ‘one of the most hostile in living memory’, could you please elaborate? Traditionally the electrotechnical market sits at the back of construction, which itself sits at the back of the UK economy, in terms of time lag. Economic peaks and troughs conventionally run in seven-year cycles. This means that when the front end of the UK economy (house prices and retail) picks up, there is an inevitable 12-18 month delay until the industry experiences the same buoyancy. The current market has experienced the stagnation which followed the Brexit referendum, the initial crash caused by the first lockdown, and the
34 Electrical Review | July / August 2021
challenges and constraints caused by subsequent national and regional lockdowns. In addition, the market has had to pivot and adapt to cope with: VAT Reverse Charge from March 1; the inception of changes to the IR35 regime in April; the tapering off of Government pandemic-based support; the beginning of the requirement to repay some of the pandemic support systems put in place, and worst of all, the current global and national materials shortage crisis which is storing up an exponential inflationary issue, at a time when demand is up nearly 20% on 2019, but only for opportunities to fix contract prices now, with no control over prices during the delivery period. Is Brexit causing any importation issues? A global and national materials shortage is being brought about by Brexit, caused by: • Rising freight costs • Disrupted global transportation issues • Shortages in containers • Shortages in raw materials • The move by 2022 from CE marked products to UKCA marked products and the lack of testing facility capacity.
FINAL SAY
• The political landscape surrounding the fall-out of Brexit, and • A shortage in available hauliers and staff. This has led to drawn-out lead times for goods and materials and rapidly rising prices at a time when inflation within the wider UK economy is at a low.
and claims are key to covering cost and making profit. The more astute ECA members will have proactive conversations with clients about advanced payments, free-issue materials, exceptionally tight and inflexible specifications and excluding inflation of materials in order to cater for a longer-term business strategy.
Are there any changes to post-Covid tax rules that those in the electrical space should be aware of? Does this impact the self-employed particularly? Yes, as we touched upon earlier, on March 1, 2021, VAT Reverse Charging came into effect, meaning sub-contractors generally get paid net of VAT – which is now collected by HMRC at tier 1. Whilst VAT money didn’t belong to sub-contractors, it acted as a cyclical overdraft for the supply chain. Further, sub-contractors still pay VAT on their materials and have to seek repayment from HMRC – which should be done on a monthly, rather than quarterly basis, to optimise cash-flow. The changes have been planned for three years, but nevertheless the timing of inception of this anti-fraud initiative in a sector already stretched by the pandemic has been extremely tough. On April 1, 2021, the changes to the UK IR35 system were implemented, shifting the risk of false self-employment to clients who use labour-only self-employed sub-contractors to top up their workforce. This has caused contractors to put safeguards in place to protect themselves against the risk of falsely self-employed sub-contractors. Some will have preferred to maintain self-employed status, being happy to live with the disadvantages because of the perceived tax benefits, but where their commercial relationships and operations do not pass the relevant tests to confirm their legitimate self-employment, this may also have led to challenges in the way they operate. The longer-term advantage to both tax initiatives should be stronger, healthier businesses and increased direct employment leading to better training and skills within our sector.
How can contractors amend their contracts, so they aren’t stuck with fluctuating material prices? JCT and NEC are the two most widely used standard-form contract suites. Both have the facility to carve out the risk of inflation in materials costs. In JCT these provisions are known as fluctuations, and in NEC they are referred to as secondary option X1. They are far from commonly used, but they were originally conceived for exactly these circumstances and the market will have to find a way to insist with clients that they are factored into the contractual model.
How do contractors mitigate the materials shortage, so it keeps business disruption to a minimum? There is a combination of mechanisms: • Advanced payment/off-site vesting certificates • Fluctuations • Free-issue materials • Stockpiling • Volume supply arrangements with suppliers • S horter tender/quote acceptance periods to allow for revisiting pricing • Examination of specification to ensure they are flexible and achievable within the contract period and backdrop of materials availability. It is important to manage the risk in materials supply agreements as well as upstream with clients. What about very small independent businesses that perhaps can’t afford some of the methods mentioned above? Some of the most prudent, shrewd businesses are the smaller contractors. Whilst size might impact buying power, it also means at the smaller end businesses are able to pivot and be more agile. The short-sighted will buy work to survive, but that simply stores up problems for a later date and creates an environment where variations
The short-sighted will buy work to survive, but that simply stores up problems for a later date
Various products now need to carry a UKCA mark. With the deadline for this being January 2022, will all products be amended in time? Most construction products, including M&E, are affected by the deadline that requires products (or their packaging) to carry the UKCA mark by January 1, 2022. The difficulty is getting products tested in time to carry the UKCA mark as there is limited testing capacity to get all the products tested in time. Tight specifications that insist on products that are not available, may lead to contractors being delayed and in breach of contract. Specifications for projects being priced now will have to be carefully examined to ensure there are contingency plans in place and flexibility in the face of the materials shortage. Contractors often forget that they contract for a finished product, not a process. Their broad contractual promise is to deliver a finished installation in line with the contract documents (including design, specification and application statutory and regulatory requirements) at the point of completion. Finally, how can contractors ensure time is of the essence when ordering materials? Adjust their supply agreements to ensure this is the case. Most contractors set up an account and inadvertently agree to the supplier’s terms and conditions. Every time they place an order they calloff of that account against those pre-agreed terms and conditions. Supply only contracts generally won’t take the risk of on time delivery, but now is the time for contractors to insist. Making delivery a ‘time of the essence’ provision should allow the buyer to cancel, order elsewhere and/or recover any losses resulting from late delivery.
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