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May 2003 |
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Lessons in levels
Comfort and energy efficiency levels improve at the rebuilt Fleetwood High School PFI project.
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Light shopping in Tayside
Light shopping in Tayside: Sainsbury’s store in Clay Potts, Dundee has a new, low maintenance and energy efficient lighting installation. Electrical contractor Halsall Electrical installed 255 Prismalume fittings from Holophane Lighting that incorporate 250 W, high output Pulse Start UV Shield protected lamps from Venture Lighting. Suspended at 3.5 m above ground level, the fittings provide a diffused light with a mix of direct and indirect lighting. The project manager was Eclipse Design and Management; the main contractor on the scheme was Miller Construction UK.
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Mobile theatres
Operating theatres are safely on the move in Coventry and Romford.
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BBC expands its cable channels
With BBC’s new building in White City, West London, comes major investment in new channels – for the cabling at least. Metstrut, the cable management division of Metsec, has won an £80 000 contract to supply cable ladder and channel sections for the building.The firm is supplying electrical distributor RMS with a system of 125 mm-deep cable ladder in a range of widths, plus cut-to-length channel sections and all the bracketry needed for prefabrication into risers. These will carry heavy-duty armoured cabling around the building. Deliveries will be phased over eight months to suit the construction programme.
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Caribbean flavour
Caribbean flavour: Visitors the Dominican Republic this year can enjoy a new night-time scene thanks to Martin Architectural. The Higuey Basilica is one of the most important architectural works in the Republic. Concepts for a lighting scheme to highlight the structure were developed by Centrolux, Martin’s exclusive distributor in the Dominican Republic, in consultation with the church leaders.
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Cable chemistry
Maintaining the correct conditions is critical to research and development buildings – how can cable management help? EMC outlines a solution.
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Spider feat
EMC looks at the Spider that weaves a simple underfloor cabling solution.
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Compatibility questions
New technologies mean new frequency ranges in cables. Joe McCool asks: are you ready to cope with rf and emc issues?
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Farewell inflexible working
New family-friendly legislations came into force from April – what effect will these have on you? John Davies outlines the employee's and employer's rights.
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To pay or not to pay?
Can parties set off monies due under a contract following an adjudicator's decision? David Rintoul explains the reasoning behind recent case decisions.
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The valuation process
When is a price not a cost? Martin Wade clarifies the differences between the terms and what they mean in construction projects.
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Blow for campaign to abolish use of retentions
The Government has snubbed a Select Committee report that blasted the use of retentions and has refused to endorse their phasing-out on public sector contracts.
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WEEE Directive spells trouble
The ECA is concerned that the incorporation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive into UK legislation could involve extra work and costs for its members.
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Presidential VIEW
The announcement issued by the minister Christopher Leslie just before Easter concerning the Building Regulations’ proposals for electrical safety is most welcome.
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Buckle to leave ECA
Phil Buckle, the ECA’s head of technical services, is to leave the Association. He takes up the role of business
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New working time law
New guidelines came into force on 6 April 2003 governing the amount of time that operatives under the age of 18 are allowed to work each week. The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2002 have been introduced as part of the Young Workers' Directive.Under the new regulations young operatives should not work more than 40 hours per week or eight hours each day unless the following circumstances apply: - the employer requires that the operative undertakes work that is necessary either to maintain continuity of service or production, or to respond to a surge in demand for a service or product;
- no adult worker is available to perform the work;
- performing the work would not adversely affect the young worker's education or training.
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HSE warns on using inferior dust masks
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has advised people who work in the presence of harmful dusts not to wear a nuisance dust mask. This unlikely missive comes as the HSE is looking for the voluntary withdrawal of nuisance dust masks from sale. It is urging the use of approved CE-marked, disposable respirators instead.
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Quality work
Can householders ensure they get good tradespeople in a domestic emergency? Michael Latham looks at the industry options available to achieve client satisfaction.
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Lean times on the horizon
Industry analyst Plimsoll Publishing reports zero growth, sliding profits and escalating debts for many firms in the UK electrical contracting industry.
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Call to build a greener future
Construction minister Brian Wilson has urged all sectors of the building industry to work together to meet the 21st Century challenge of building a greener Britain.
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Electronic directory goes online
A new electronic directory of electrical products and services has been developed by electrical contractor Paktron. The site, www.go-ohm.co.uk is aimed at specifiers, engineers, architects and anyone else who needs to source information on products and related business services.
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The name's Bond
The name's Bond: It's almost time for the Building Services Awards 2003 and this year the event will have a James Bond theme. Meet Odd Job and Jaws over dinner with the industry's best. The awards will be presented at a grand ceremony in Le Meridien Grosvenor House Hotel, London on 23 June. Make sure that you don't miss out by booking your seats now. See the advert in this issue for details.
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SWALEC returns to contracting
Energy supplier SWALEC is returning to the electrical contracting industry after an absence of almost five years.
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Upward installation
Upward installation: Kopex products are helping to service the Lehman Brothers' new offices at Canary Wharf. Balfour Kilpatrick is installing 5000 m of the firm's KEBL system in the 32-storey office block the financial services firm is set to occupy. The contractor specified the 20 and 25 mm-diameter conduit for its ease of installation compared to rigid conduits. It is also using significant quantities of the IP65 connectors and ancillary fittings from the KEBL range. To date, 3000 m of conduit has been supplied through Edmundsons of Camberwell.
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Construction insurance
The DTI has appointed an insurance expert to help improve cover for construction firms.The aim is to: - assess how the industry currently manages insurance risk;
- develop best practice guidance to help firms secure affordable cover;
- discuss how to reward good health and safety practice.
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Budget no help to industry
While some measures in the 2003 Budget have been welcomed, the ECA has proclaimed it a missed opportunity for government to address industry issues.
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Hazardous working scheme from NICEIC
The NICEIC has officially launched a hazardous areas competence scheme that will enable approved contractors to extend the scope of their work to include a range of hazardous area works.
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Cash for industry research
Electronic tagging to improve building maintenance and using the earth to heat and store water top a list of research projects announced by construction minister Brian Wilson.
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Lighting up
Lighting up: ABB has won a £223 million 25-year private finance contract with Staffordshire County Council to improve the lighting on the region’s streets. ABB will be responsible for the long-term management of street lighting and illuminated traffic signs. This will include assessing equipment and its replacement where needed.
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Intelligent tests
Time is money for the electrical contractor, so can innovation in electrical safety testing help to boost productivity? Rod Taylor looks at the possibilities.
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Russian revolution
A vodka bar craze has been gradually sweeping the UK. Alison Luke reports on one of the latest.
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River views
How has Thameside life changed through time? Alison Luke finds out at London's newest museum.
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Full BEAMA ahead
BEAMA Installation is the new body representing manufacturers in the electrical installation equipment sector.
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Part P self-certification doubts
The Government has announced that progress should soon be possible on the proposed addition of electrical safety to the Building Regulations. But doubts remain over self-certification.
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