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New changes proposed to the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations
The Institute of Engineering and Technology and the British Standards Institution has announced some important changes that could be made to the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations.
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Dubbed Amendment 2 2022, the changes to BS 7671 will have a wide-ranging impact on the way the electrical industry works. This is the second time the 18th Edition has been amended, following updates to the electric vehicle charging requirements which were implemented this year.
One of the largest proposed changes in Amendment 2 is a new Part 8 – Functional Requirements. Part 8 includes Chapter 82: Prosumer’s Low-Voltage Electrical Installations, which sets out the requirements for Prosumer Electrical Installations (PEIs), including considerations for interaction with the smart grid, safety requirements (including earthing arrangements), proper functioning and implementation.
Electrical installers will have a large part to play in the selection of the most appropriate equipment and a comprehensive knowledge of this area will be key as prosumer technologies develop.
Important changes to fire safety requirements are also proposed in Chapter 4, covering the design of electrical installations in industrial, commercial and multiple-occupancy homes, as well as new information for ‘protected escape routes’.
For further detail and updates, please visit the Electrical Review website.
EDF to assist UK public sector with EV transition
The UK Government is eager to lead by example in the transition to electric vehicles. Now the Crown Commercial Service is leaning on EDF to make the switch a reality. While EDF’s name is on the contract with the Crown Commercial Service, it’s likely that Pod Point, the electric charger manufacturer that EDF acquired last year, will do most of the heavy lifting. That’s because the Crown Commercial Service requires the creation of a nationwide charging infrastructure.
Vincent De Rul, director of EV Solutions at EDF noted, “This appointment further underlines EDF’s role in helping Britain achieve net zero. The installation of effective electric vehicle charging infrastructure is vital to enable progress towards this goal. We are looking forward to continuing to work with government and public sector customers to help deliver the infrastructure that the UK needs.”
UK COULD RISK ITS NET ZERO GOAL DUE TO LACK OF LOW CARBON EXPERTS
While the 2050 deadline may seem like a distant problem, it is imperative that the industry begins laying the foundations for the UK’s net zero future as soon as possible. In order to do that, it’s important that the necessary workers are available to install the technologies that will be needed.
Unfortunately, according to the latest findings from the Skills for Climate consultation, 70% of UK engineering services businesses lack the necessary number of workers to undertake low to no carbon work. That could seriously hamper the UK’s hopes of a ‘green recovery’ to the economy.
The UK electrical industry is lacking the necessary expertise in a number of low carbon technologies, but firms argue that it’s particularly notable in terms of solar PV, heat pumps, energy storage systems and smart building technology.
Labour has joined calls to bring forward the ban on new diesel and petrol vehicles to 2030, following similar state
SELECT launches Conditional Membership due to
Covid-19 restrictions
Companies will now be able to join SELECT pleted updated training in BS 7671:2018 and enjoy the full benefits of membership Requirements for Electrical Installations without undergoing in-person assessments, 18th Edition. as part of the new Conditional Membership These technical assessments necessary for enrolment option. membership will be carried out remotely in
In the absence of in-person assessments, two stages. If successful, the applicant firm is new criteria to ensure a high standard of made a Conditional Member with full access members have been introduced. To be conto all member services, subject to conditions. sidered for membership, applicants must At the earliest opportunity, and when physinow satisfy two additional criteria – the cal distancing conditions allow, an in-person nominated Qualified Supervisor must have technical assessment will be carried out to a current SJIB (ECS) Grade Card and comconfirm full membership.
ments from the ECA and BP.
Matthew Pennycook MP, Labour’s shadow minister for climate change, noted that 2030 was an “ambitious but achievable date” that would bring “life to the UK car industry, whilst combating climate breakdown and cleaning up the air that dangerously pollutes so many of our towns and cities”.
National Grid increasingly turns to batteries for grid balancing, up 149% The National Grid Electricity System Operator er, there have been even greater increases for gas (ESO) is increasingly opting to use battery enreciprocating engines, which are up 338%, and ergy storage to balance the UK’s energy system, aggregated units, which saw an increase of 518% according to Cornwall Insight. year-on-year.
The latest report from Cornwall Insight shows Accepted volumes from wind have also that there has been a 149% increase in the acincreased by 125%, with coal the only technolcepted volumes in the Balancing Mechanism for ogy to see a decline in activity for these three batteries between June and August 2020. Howevmonths.
ENGINEERING SERVICES SECTOR REMAINS OPTIMISTIC
DESPITE COVID-19
During the second quarter of 2020, 60% of businesses in the engineering services sector saw a drop in their revenue versus what they had in the first quarter of the year. However, that drop was not as large as many businesses had predicted in the last survey that was taken in April.
That’s led many businesses to be a lot more positive about the outlook of the economy going forward. While some businesses are bracing for an even further drop, some 67% of respondents believe that their turnover will increase or remain the same in the third quarter of 2020 – that’s if we aren’t hit with a second lockdown.
