Inspection and testing of electrical installations is a legal requirement, but what areas are likely to trip you up? Mick Geeson explains where special attention is needed.

idi Lighting’s ABR-Sport range of luminaires has been installed in a new indoor cricket coaching centre at Derbyshire Cricket Club. The £4.2 million Gateway project incorporates a general-purpose sports hall and cricket academy licensed by the English Cricket Board. Built by Bowmer & Kirkland, consultant Buro Happold selected the Ridi luminaires for their performance to DIN 18032-3. Over 200 twin-lamp luminaires have been installed in six continuous suspended runs above the cricket nets. Derry Building Services of Nottingham was the m&e contractor.

The service provided by m&e maintenance firm TEMS has been revolutionised by the use of a PDA solution.

A corporate real estate firm in France has become the first building user of plastics optical fibre (POF) cabling.

The installation of an inverter-driven 415 V motor at Cockenzie power station has given such large maintenance savings that additional energy savings are seen as a bonus.

Raychem self-regulating electric heat tracing system from Tyco Thermal Controls is making winter journeys on site safer for GalxoSmithKline staff.

The system has been installed to provide frost protection on a link-bridge between two buildings on the firm’s Harlow facility. Tyco distributor partner Delta-T supplied and installed the energy efficient ramp heating under a 40-m length of uncovered walkway to prevent ice forming or snow lying.

Are you prepared for the new employee Information and Consultation Regulations? Sue Fanning explains how to meet the requirements.

The National Audit Office has passed judgement on public sector construction procurement (page 25). Improvements have been made, says the NAO, since its last report in 2001 but a massive £2.6 billion could be saved if more government departments adopted best practice.

It will be no surprise to read that integrated teams, collaborative working, partnering – call it what you will – is the panacea put forward by the NAO in its report. File it alongside Rethinking constructing, Accelerating change and Achieving excellence in construction.

The letter from Alan Crisp (‘Regulation hell?’ EMC, Feb) reminds me that I have been silent for too long. He highlights the cry from all of us old sparks: why us? We had harmonisation of cable colours thrust upon us last year, and are now hearing frightening reports of explosions and damage caused as a direct result.

The next joke is Part P. One wonders exactly what the P stands for – pathetic maybe? We read highly non-technical reports of the MP’s daughter who died as a result of an electric shock, and whose death probably prompted the Government to authorise Part P – P in this case standing for panic. Interesting to read that the cables were not buried 50 mm, as recommended, into the plaster – 50 mm? Also, they had used “uninsulated” cables: what the hell are they? The salient point is the installation was carried out by “builders”.

Government consultation paper sets out to tackle payment issues but should have gone further.

The Construction Products Association (CPA) reports a buoyant start to 2005, with steady progress expected during the second quarter of the year.

Despite many initiatives to attract more women into the construction industry, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) says that members of the opposite sex still face huge barriers to entering male-dominated professions.

The ECA announces a price cut in BRE Certification’s Part P scheme, NAPIT has introduced a new offer called just8 and NIC Certification has reapplied to run NAPIT’s assessment scheme.

Ministers announced a £40 million scheme to subsidise on-the-job study in the Government’s latest White Paper on skills. The move is designed to promote technical skills and equip more working people with higher level qualifications.

The NICEIC has put forward an application to the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) to become a scheme provider for Certifiers of Construction (Electrical Installations to BS 7671).

Constructing Excellence and Be (Collaborating for the Built Environment) have merged to form Constructing Excellence in the Built Environment.

Hydro Contracting has competed a turnkey contract to install a 650 kW wind turbine on the Aberdeenshire dairy farm where Mackie’s of Scotland luxury ice cream is made. Mackie’s electricity bill is currently £120 000 per annum: it hopes to recover the £750 000 investment in the turbine over the next five years. Hydro Contracting’s work involved all designs for the 44 m-high turbine, installation of 11 kV switchgear and the reconfiguration of the existing electrical distribution system.

Major contractor to take shareholders to court after claiming it was misled into paying double the real value for Eastern Contracting Holdings.

M&E – The Building Services Event is a new show devoted to innovation in the building services sector.

“We have to skill our people. Not only because it helps productivity and efficiency, but because socially and morally it is the right thing to do,” stressed Sir Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Chancellor Brown’s 2005 Budget promises much but industry figures say real test will be delivery.

A National Audit Office (NAO) report has revealed that £2.6 billion of taxpayers’ money is being wasted each year because of poor management of public sector construction projects. The report states that although some government bodies have improved, others are ignoring best practice guidance provided by the Office of Government Commerce.

As of April, the taxation of company vans that are also used by employees for private journeys changed. Employees who have been charged with a benefit in kind of up to £500 will no longer have to pay that charge if they have the van mainly for business travel, and any private use other than journeys to and from work is insignificant.

ECA president Tony Morgan will soon be handing over the reins to Bill Wright. Here he looks back at his year and the challenges ahead.

The public sector could save up to £2.6 billion in construction costs annually by adopting best practice, claims a report from the National Audit Office. Andrew Brister looks at the figures.

Often criticised for not moving with the times, the Joint Industry Board is evolving its role to fully address the changing business environment and counteract the criticism, reports Ron Allender.

New regulations will limit workers’ exposure to vibration from tools. Some m&e contractors and clients are already ahead of the game, as Richard Simmonds discovers.

Contracts are often riddled with clauses that can trip up the unwary. Martin Wade gives some advice on what to watch out for.

How can IT help the industry’s move towards collaborative working and integrated teams? Mervyn Richards reports on the Avanti project.

With London’s planners calling for sustainable developments, the number of renewable energy schemes in the capital is set to increase. Alison Luke finds out how the CIPD hq meets the grade.

Whatever happened to the Egan Report and its calls for lean construction? David Hill says now is the time for standard solutions.

A new research facility at Lancaster University is helping the north-west lead the way with information technology.

The new Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 April. Designed to consolidate previous legislation, they implement the European Council Directive 2001/45/EC and will apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause injury.