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July-August 2003 |
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Time to get online
How can online ups technology ensure power availability? Gavin Banks explains the benefits and costs.
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Principle practice
Following his previous article covering the principles of ISO 9001: 2000, Chris Ottaway outlines the final four ways it can help your business.
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Gary Applebee of J Brand has won the ECA National Trophy at the Association’s third National Golf Competition
He also won the Ron Applebee Cup, which is named after his late father, for being the best player in the London Region. David Fielder of Edmundson Electrical won the sponsor’s trophy. The Eastern Region won the Chair’s Cup for the most points scored overall and the SE Region won the President’s Cup for the top four points scorers. Eighty competitors took part in the event, which was held at Hanbury Manor Golf Club.
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The Isle of Man government department of Trade & Industry has become a member of the ECA
The Isle of Man government department of Trade & Industry has become a member of the ECA and has announced that it is encouraging ECA membership to all contractors involved in government-funded projects. “Alex Downie, Isle of Man DTI minister (pictured above left with the ECA’s Tony Cooke), said: “By joining the ECA, we will have instant access to specialist technical advice, involving all aspects of the electrical and associated industries.”
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Liscarton House
Phase Electrical Contractors has completed the electrical installation for Liscarton House in central London. The energy efficient installation includes a composite panelboard, sub-distribution boards, a bus-based building management system and occupancy sensors from Hager. The building is to be let as multi-tenanted offices.
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The Pentagon Mercedes-Benz dealership
The Pentagon Mercedes-Benz dealership in Chichester has had a futuristic makeover. Lighting from Targetti, installed by Hills Electrical & Mechanical, provides a modern feel inside the showroom while 6 m-tall external columns bathe the forecourt in a cool glow. The project was worth £300 000.
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Haden Young Suite
Haden Young’s close partnership with Liverpool Community College has culminated in the opening of the Haden Young Suite at the college. The company has kitted out the suite with interactive white boards, audio-visual presentation equipment, computers and lighting to conference room standards. The college and employer have been working together on numerous ventures since the early 1990s, including setting up a four year Higher National Diploma course for building services engineers.
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Hospital care
Hospital care: Tridium’s Niagara Framework is helping to operate one of the UK’s largest Lonworks control systems. The distributed control system to be installed at the new James Cook University Hospital, Teeside will comprise 10 000 Lonmark control devices and will integrate, monitor and control m&e services on the site ranging from lighting to medical gas supplies. The Niagara framework enables this to be done cost-effectively and flexibly. Crown House Engineering is the m&e contractor on the project.
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On a roll
On a roll: Martin Architectural is responsible for one of the largest permanent outdoor lighting installations in Sweden. The firm has illuminated the Balder roller coaster in the Liseberg Amusement Park, Gothenburg – Scandinavia’s longest wooden roller coaster. The colour changing illumination has been created using 40 Martin Exterior 200 luminaires, provided through Martin Scandinavia. The lighting design was by Primetec, who also carried out the installation.
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No, minister
The Iraq conflict may be over but Tony Blair and friends have had to keep the flak jackets on, this time over his botched ministerial reshuffle. Poor old Alistair Darling, for example, already struggling with his job and a half as transport secretary, also takes the title of Scottish secretary in a confusing realignment of constitutional affairs.Darling is the not the first government high roller to have to juggle responsibilities. But the plate spinning proved too much for Brian Wilson, former minister for energy, construction and the environment, who has retired from government “to live a more normal life”. Tellingly, when paying tribute to Wilson, trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt made no mention of any construction achievements in her speech.
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Quality step by step
I am sorry that Bob Charlick could not understand my column ('Latham on report', EMC, June 2003, p5). Here is a simple interpretation for him.The Quality Mark Scheme was a nice idea in principle.
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Shock prevention
I was saddened to read of the death by electric shock of an electrician working on a control cabinet ('Electric shock death', EMC, June 2003, p7). As specialists in the manufacture and supply of electrical safety equipment we have to ask ourselves what lessons can be learned from this accident. Clive Sutton points out the problem of getting people to use protective equipment provided ('Hats off?', EMC, June 2003, p5). If the above victim had worn insulated rubber safety gloves to EN 60903, for example, and had used an approved non-contact voltage tester, there is a very strong chance he would be alive today.
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Best intentions?
How do Letters of Intent affect contractual agreements? Martin Wade looks at the pitfalls of this seemingly simple procedure.
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Association lukewarm on insurance review reports
The ECA has responded to the Government's review of the UK liability insurance market with a call for solutions rather than a mere outline of the problems.
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Confined space deaths warning
Four people have died recently in confined spaces as a result of low oxygen levels. As a consequence, the Health and Safety Executive is warning employers of the dangers of working in confined spaces and their obligations when they send operatives into them.The HSE wants to highlight ways in which operatives can come to grief in confined spaces. Other than lack of oxygen, workers can be affected by a number of hazards: by flammable substances and oxygen enrichment; toxic gases, fumes or vapours; or drowning and asphyxiation in both wet and dry substances.
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Presidential VIEW
Since it's relaunch one year ago, the Specialist Engineering Contractors' Group (SEC) has gone from strength to strength. It has successfully placed the issue of retentions abuse on the political agenda and championed integrated project teams. It has also carried out a survey via SEC member associations to determine if local authorities are committed to best practice/best value rather than lowest price. The findings will be presented in a report to the minister of local government.In addition to political lobbying, SEC is involved with a number of practical initiatives. These include practitioner representation from the specialist sector on the Strategic Forum for Construction, an upcoming series of seminars offering guidance on integrated teams and the recently launched Users' guide to adjudication.
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Light lovers rewarded
Liz Peck, Stephen Rann, Bruce Hollaway and Robert Hale have won awards from the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers.
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ECA heavily involved in CIS reforms
Representatives of the industry, including the ECA, met with the Inland Revenue on 21 May to form the Construction Industry Reform Advisory Panel (CIRAP). The panel has been formed to monitor the reforms to the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). The ECA sees its involvement as crucial. Its main focus will be to ensure that changes are made to keep both initial and running costs to a minimum and that a smooth transition for member companies be incorporated.
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Key performances
Is the industry meeting expected targets? Alison Luke reports on the latest key performance indicator results.
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New warnings on foreign imports
Cables manufacturer Pirelli is warning suppliers against selling, and contractors against purchasing, imported Indian glands because they are not CE marked.
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EEIBA fights deficit figure
At the annual general meeting of the EEIBA, president Keith Ralls announced a deficit to 31 December 2002 of £304 000. The president also provided details of a five-year plan to lift the charity out of operational deficit.
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Government reshuffle sees SMEs and construction sharing a minister
Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced the new ministerial responsibilities at the DTI. The moves link construction and small businesses under Nigel Griffiths, minister for small business and enterprise.
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Electrocution death culprits fined
Nestle UK and contractor Monotronic have both been fined for failing to ensure the safety of an electrician who was electrocuted and killed while working at Nestle’s Middlesex plant in 1999.
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PFI expands
The Government has announced that the Private Finance Initiative (pfi) is to be expanded in the coming two years. Chief secretary to the Treasury, Paul Boateng, announced that a further £9 billion worth of deals are expected to be signed in health, education and housing. Despite strong trade union opposition, Gordon Brown also plans to extend PFI into sustainable energy, urban regeneration, waste recycling and leisure facilities, while developing its use in housing.
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BSRIA Partnering Toolkit launched
The launch of the Partnering Toolkit aims to convince and commit all parties to the partnering ethos.
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Scottish and Southern Energy in MEB buyout
Indebted Midlands Electricity is to be purchased by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) from its joint owners Aquila and First Energy for £1.1 billion.
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ATEX move adds costs
New European ATEX directives that become mandatory on 1 July 2003 are adding significant costs to the products of equipment manufacturers within the hazardous areas and explosive atmospheres sector, says the Institute of Measurement & Control (IM&C).The IM&C goes on to say: “Costs are difficult to justify in the European market, which only accounts for one-third of the UK’s total output.” The new directives are seen as excessive in what manufacturers see as a well regulated market and are disproportionate to its value on a global scale.
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Hands off
The massive growth in interest in all things prefab led to a week-long conference and exhibition on the subject. Andrew Brister paid a visit.
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Back to the future
Providing clients with long-term solutions is seen as best practice, but with Earls Court, FaberMaunsell has taken this a step further, returning after 60 years to upgrade its original design.
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Rapid installation
Air conditioning systems are traditionally either fully installed or portable. But what of areas that need a different solution? EMC reports on a new market initiative.
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Controlled teeing-off at Wentworth Golf Club
As the exclusive UK distributor for Czech manufacturer CUE, Beyerdynamic GB has supplied Wentworth Golf Club
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Harrods is a cool client
Isovel has gained a seal of approval from Harrods store for its products.
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Fire stopper
Why stop a fire when you can prevent one from starting? Graham Bennett details a new system that is challenging the traditional methods of fire protection.
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Making IT pay
W G Wigginton invests in a major upgrade in its information technology systems.
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Insurance power
Constant power is essential to 24/7 working, EMC shows how one firm is meeting needs.
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NHS health check
What is Procure 21 and how will it affect you? Mike Dinnen explains the scheme from pilot to national roll-out.
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Thinking ahead
Where will the m&e sector be in 2010 and just how will it have changed? Michael Latham looks to the future.
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M&E forum for major projects
The implementation of the Major Projects M&E Agreement took a step closer to realisation with the formation of the M&E Forum, a body to determine which projects meet MPA designated status.
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Hebridean challenge
To locals the Hebridean challenge is a week long race the length of the Scottish island chain. To the project team refurbishing Iona Abbey it meant something quite different. Alison Luke travelled to Iona to see just how difficult the journey was.
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