Starling Enterprises Announces Launch Of Their Brand New Website
Starling manufactures bespoke electrical equipment for construction, plant hire and industry. Starling Enterprises Ltd are electrical manufacturers based in Ellesmere Port and serving the North West, North Wales and beyond. Specialising in distribution equipment for construction, plant hire, events and more, Starling are very proud and very excited to announce the launch of their brand new website. Developed with their customers and clients in mind, starlinguk.net is a refined, responsive and mobile friendly site. With around 100 products (and more to come) on the website covering a wide array of areas including distribution, lighting and BS4343 plugs and couplers, the site covers a huge amount of common electrical essentials. Not only that, some products can be customized by the user to suit their own specific needs. If a user can’t modify a product how they’d like or aren’t sure about certain products, the site has an enquiry system in place so the friendly and helpful staff at Starling can assist users and help them find the right solution for them. With over 30 years of knowledge and experience in their industry, Starling are experts at helping their customers in finding the perfect electrical solutions to meet their needs, fit their environment and keep their costs low. Quality and safety are of utmost importance to Starling. Everything produced goes through a strict set of procedures and testing to ensure that anything manufactured is to the highest standard. In-house PAT testing ensures everything made works as it’s supposed to. Mains distribution panels are a specialty of Starling’s. Starling manufactures these boards for a wide variety of clients in a wider variety of environments and industries, including tunnelling, construction sites and factory environments. Everything Starling produces is designed to meet the requirements of the customer, no matter what. On Starling’s website and Google page, you can see some of the incredibly bespoke solutions manufactured by Starling. As portability is a concern for many when it comes to distribution equipment, like in the events industry, Starling produce bespoke rubber distribution boxes to meet this need. Their rubber boxes are rugged and lightweight, making them ideal for on-the-go. Starling make a whole variety of sizes and types, including those with 415V and 240V outlets and LED indicators. Extension leads are an essential for many sites and electricians. Starling produces extension leads in-house and to specifications, from SY to HO7. Starling can make extension leads in a wide variety of cable types, sizes and lengths. Whether you need a small whip lead for testing or larger 415V extension leads, Starling can make any extension lead you need. For more information regarding Starling Enterprises Ltd’s products and services, visit their brand new website at www.starlinguk.net, call them on 0151 355 3252 or email sales@starlinguk.net.
Bringing solar power to reservoir monitoring
~ The technology behind simple and cost-effective remote monitoring ~ Remote monitoring has brought about many benefits for utility mangers, but how can telemetry devices be used to monitor sites that have no power infrastructure? Here Ian Loudon, international marketing and sales manager for remote monitoring system manufacturers Omniflex, discusses how solar powered wireless telemetry systems are a cost-effective, secure and reliable solution for remote reservoir monitoring. Whether it’s a single water tank or a large water dam, powering a monitoring system on a remote site, several kilometres away, with limited access to grid infrastructure is challenging. Often, these sites go unattended for long periods of time and vulnerable to overfilling. Because these systems are critical to ensuring continuity of supply and the preventing overfill and waste, water utility mangers often must fund costly infrastructure projects to support installation. Because manual inspections cannot be feasibly carried out regularly on a remote reservoir, utility managers will feel caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to balancing cost, security and efficiency. So, what is a suitable solution? Simply solar It’s a misconception that all solar powered devices require an infrastructure. Yes, it was once the case that solar panels, battery chargers, back-up power supplies and telemetry devices were fitted separately in costly and complex installation projects. However, with a growing reliance on automation and the need for monitoring devices to protect assets, new solar powered telemetry systems have been developed that are cost-effective and easy to install. Device manufacturers are now making programmable RTUs with integrated solar charge regulators in small footprints. These RTUs have terminals that directly plug in to the batteries, so all the system requires is for the device to be connected to a solar panel and a backup battery. Water utility managers can save considerable costs in upgrading the existing infrastructure by using devices such as Omniflex’s Teleterm S3 Series, weighing just 350 grams. Being solar powered, the device does not dissipate as much heat as mains powered electronics. This, coupled with its compactness, allows it to sit comfortably in a secure, weather-proof IP 67-rated enclosure with its backup battery. Considering the concerns It’s understandable that reservoir managers will have concerns over the efficacy and reliability of solar powered devices. Power budgeting for batteries is a particular design constraint and battery selection is made considering worst case scenarios. For example, on days where there is less sunlight, panels can’t produce charge at maximum capacity and the batteries must take up the slack for repeated charge and discharge cycles. However, modern batteries have advanced quickly and now have greater tolerance for deep discharge cycling. This allows more technology to be deployed in these power constrained applications. Battery life concerns have been considered by device manufacturers. For example, the S3’s power consumption is low, at just 35 milliamps at 12 Vdc. To save power, the devices are programmed to store data locally and only transmit intermittently on a cyclic basis. On a reservoir you might want to know the usage profile over a 24-hour period. The S3 series can be programmed to take a reading every hour, but report back every once every24 hours, saving power. All data is backed up and secured on a SD memory card, and power is used sparingly making the Teleterm S3 the ideal deployment for reservoir monitoring. To avoid uncertainty when power is low, an internal backup battery is provided for the processor, to power the real-time clock and keep synchronisation. If the external main batteries were to fail, the backups allow the device to shut down gracefully without corrupting any stored data. When communication comes back on, this data can then be securely transmitted back to the control room either via a cloud-based Data2Desktop network or license-free band radio. Solar powered devices will continue to push the boundaries of what remote monitoring systems can offer. For remote locations where power is limited, safety is critical and cost-effectiveness is desired, water utility managers can be rest assured that their system remains reliable and secure in any eventuality. For more information on water and environmental monitoring for dams and reservoirs, head over to the website or contact Omniflex on +27 (31) 207 7466.
Two In Three UK Tradespeople Are Going Greener in 2022
To mark this year’s Earth Day on 22nd April, Rated People reveals how UK tradespeople are going greener in 2022, which are the UK’s greenest trades, and how homeowner demand for eco home improvements is skyrocketing New research from the find-a-tradesperson platform, Rated People reveals how UK tradespeople are adapting their businesses this year to be more environmentally friendly as homeowner demand for ‘eco home improvements’ like roof insulation, electric car charging points, and heat pumps goes through the roof. Rated People analysed its own data of over 800,000 home improvement jobs posted on its platform and spoke to more than 600 UK tradespeople to conduct the study 63% of tradespeople are making eco changes in 2022 and nearly half (43%) of homeowners say they’d be more likely to choose a tradesperson if they were environmentally friendly One in four tradespeople (25%) plan to provide quotes remotely in 2022 to reduce pollution Demand for roof insulation has gone up by 419% in just one year, electric car chargers increased by +404%, followed by cavity wall insulation (+352%) and heat pumps (+312%) Almost half (45%) of UK homeowners say they want to make their homes more environmentally friendly in 2022, up from 35% in 2021 Uniquely placed with its own marketplace data, Rated People analysed more than 800,000 home improvement jobs posted by UK homeowners on its platform, and spoke to over 600 tradespeople and 2,000 homeowners to conduct the study. It shows that almost two in three tradespeople (63%) will be making eco changes to their businesses and work in 2022, and 70% are planning to extend their skillset this year to take on more eco jobs. Four in five (81%) tradespeople think eco home improvements will be even more popular this year for homeowners and 43% of UK homeowners also said they would now be more likely to choose a tradesperson if they were environmentally friendly. So, there’s a big opportunity for tradespeople if they increase their green credentials this year. The findings are taken from the 2022 Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report which also shows that UK tradespeople are reducing travel by taking more local jobs, giving quotes remotely and using British parts where possible in 2022. They’re also planning to recycle more, use greener materials and drive electric vehicles in 2022 to make their businesses more eco-friendly. The top eight eco changes tradespeople are making in 2022: Improve recycling – 41% (of tradespeople will do this in 2022) Reduce waste – 34% Use environmentally friendly materials/ products – 27% Take jobs locally/ don’t travel too far for jobs – 27% Give more quotes remotely to cut down on driving – 25% Get an electric vehicle – 20% Use British parts where possible/ support other local businesses – 18% Use second hand parts where possible – 14% The Greenest Trades When looking at which trades are planning to make eco changes this year, more than four in five (85%) bathroom fitters are intending to be more environmentally friendly in 2022 – the most of any trade. And at least 55% of all the other trades in the top 10 are also looking to upgrade their practices to be more environmentally friendly this year. The top 10 trades making eco changes the most in 2022: Bathroom fitters – 85% (are going greener this year) Roofers – 75% Gardeners/ landscape gardeners – 68% Builders – 68% Electricians – 65% Carpenters/ joiners – 64% Painters and decorators – 62% Plumbers – 60% Plasterers/renderers – 59% Tilers – 55% Almost two in three tradespeople (63%) say their main motivation for making eco changes this year is because they care about the planet. An awareness of changing consumer preferences is also having an impact, with one in three (36%) of those who are making eco changes in 2022, saying they’re making changes because homeowners want businesses to be more environmentally friendly. Just 13% say they are doing it because their competitors are, so they feel they also need to. Rising Homeowner Demand and Increasing Cost of Living The research also reveals homeowner demand for eco home improvements has accelerated at an incredible pace as the cost of living soars. Almost half of UK homeowners (45%) want to make eco improvements to their homes this year to reduce their impact on the planet, which is up from 35% last year, and alongside living more sustainably, many homeowners also say cost savings are a big motivating factor for getting the work done. More than half of UK homeowners (52%) say they want to make eco upgrades this year to save money on bills, and one in three (36%) say they want to make eco upgrades to their home to make long-term financial savings. When looking at the volume of jobs posted by homeowners looking for tradespeople on Rated People, homeowner demand for roof insulation increased by an impressive 419% in 2021 when compared to the year before. At-home electric car charging points saw demand increase by 404%, and considering last year saw the biggest annual increase in the number of electric car registrations in the UK*, it’s easy to see why. Requests for tradespeople to work on cavity wall insulation jobs went up by 352% and heat pumps saw demand rise by 312%. The top 10 eco jobs with the biggest increases in demand from homeowners: Roof insulation – 419% (increase in the number of jobs posted to Rated People) At-home electric charging point – 404% Cavity wall insulation – 352% Heat pump (air/ground source) – 312% Underfloor insulation – 265% Smart meters – 49% Living roofs – 48% Thermal insulation – 46% Triple glazing – 35% Electric underfloor heating – 33% Eco Upgrade Opportunities for Tradespeople in 2022 When looking at the top 10 most popular eco adaptions for this year, the research shows UK homeowners are keen to invest in eco home technology. One in five are planning to have a smart meter installed, and given energy prices are increasing
New Range of Lighting Distribution Units
Introducing our new range of Lighting Distribution Units which we have designed and manufactured at our Head Office and manufacturing facility in Stanmore, London. With a Zintec steel construction and powder coated white RAL9010, these units are available in 4, 6 & 8 ways as standard and fitted with 3/4 pin 6A sockets. Designed to be mounted in several positions to provide flexibility for the installer. We can also offer custom options such as increasing the number of sockets, having different unit colours or dimensions. UK Manufactured The concept of the Lighting Distribution Unit is to provide the customer with a quick and easy installation. Olson can also make custom units whether it is the number of sockets, colour or dimensions. This will provide a unique product for each individual installation. Installation Designed with the installer in mind, this range ensures a quick, easy and safe installation. Light fittings can be added or removed for maintenance, without switching off the load to the lighting distribution unit. This Provides ease of maintenance and future alterations. Available as standard in 4, 6 and 8 ways. The earth pin would be the first contact hence eliminating any strong current leaps between the live and neutral. The mechanism of the plug and socket attachment is also a safety measure for the installer and a simple push / slide would provide simultaneous electrical connection. Lighting Distribution Unit Application Compatible with 3 and 4 pin plugs or pre-wired leads. The 4 pin option offers a permanent connection for emergency lighting. The LDU is supplied with 1x mounting bracket for ceiling mounting applications using M8 rod and T Nuts. The unit has tapped holes on both sides and on the rear to secure the mounting bracket (screws supplied) offering multiple mounting positions. Please note, the bracket can be removed if not required. As well as this, direct wall mounting can be achieved by utilising the 4x 8mm fixing holes in the base of the unit. Mounting to cable trunking can be achieved using the 2x 8mm fixing holes on the side of the unit or 1x fixing hole and 1x conduit entry knockout. Custom Made With complete control over our entire manufacturing process, we can offer our popular custom-made solutions for our new range of Lighting Distribution Units. What does this mean for you? We can custom make our standard 4, 6 & 8 way units to your specifications. This could be a custom RAL colour to match the interior style within an installation; a bespoke size or shape unit to accommodate space restrictions within an installation; or it could be as simple as a different configuration of sockets. The standard products within this range are available from stock to ensure a quick delivery time. For more information on our LDU Range or our custom made options, please contact our sales team with your enquiry: sales@olson.co.uk or 020 8905 7273 or visit: https://olsondirect.co.uk/lighting-distribution-units/
Updated range of CO alarms compliant with latest EN standards
A leading manufacturer of fire and life safety products, Kidde Safety Europe has launched a redesigned range of battery powered carbon monoxide (CO) alarms certified to the latest EN product standards. Kidde’s entire range of battery powered CO alarms is Kitemark approved by the British Standards Institution and complies with EN 50291-1:2018, which replaces the 2010 revision. Kidde is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. “The launch of an updated range of CO alarms that are compliant with the latest EN standards ensures the highest level of safety while making it easier for customers to find a high-quality CO alarm,” said Marco van Hooren, General Manager, Carrier Residential Fire Europe and Kidde Safety Europe. “Protection from CO has never been more of a focus. The update to our range of CO alarms comes at an important time when there are also legislative changes being made to increase the safety of homes through mandatory alarms, a change that is important to protecting the general public.” The new Kidde battery powered CO alarm range includes updated versions of its popular products and all include Kidde’s proprietary electrochemical CO sensor, which provides continuous monitoring of CO levels. The proven Kidde sensor is also designed and tested for a 10-year lifespan, longer than many other alarms on the market, ensuring confidence and long-term peace of mind. In line with the new requirements of EN 50291-1:2018, which apply in the U.K., all the products feature an ‘End-of-Life’ indicator that provides the occupant with a warning when the CO alarm sensor is reaching the end of its service life and must be replaced, typically 10 years. As stipulated in the updated standard, this warning consists of both a warning chirp and flashing LED lights to provide both audible and visual alerts. Kidde CO alarms also have three separate warning LEDs for low battery, alarm warning and alarm fault conditions, made mandatory in the new standard. The sound output of all the CO alarms in the range meets the 85dB(A) at three metres required by the updated standard, increased from 85dB(A) at one metre. This brings the alarms in line with the audibility levels required for smoke alarms that comply with EN 14604. In addition, the Kidde K5DCO, K7DCO and K10LLDCO alarms all feature digital displays to show the current CO level, with the option to view the peak recorded CO level from 11 to 999 parts per million (ppm). For added simplicity and reassurance, the K10LLDCO and K10LLCO models are powered by sealed-in lithium batteries, so users will not need to replace the batteries for the life of the alarm. The K7CO and K7DCO also meet the requirements of EN 50291-2:2019 and are suitable for the additional environmental conditions that might be encountered in boats, caravans or campervans. To learn more about the Kidde range of carbon monoxide alarms visit www.kiddesafetyeurope.co.uk.
Autism – Support from the EIC
Autism is a spectrum condition that affects people in different ways. Approximately 700,000 people in the UK are living with autism and it’s typically characterised by challenges with social skills, engagement in repetitive behaviours, or difficulties in speech and communication. It’s a widespread condition with around 1 in 57 children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The EIC is committed to supporting not only those who have been diagnosed with autism or any other mental health condition but anyone who is affected by an immediate family member. An example is Lilly who at 13 years old had seen her mental state deteriorate since her grandfather had passed away in March 2020. She had become increasingly withdrawn and wouldn’t leave the house, refusing to even go to school. She was very intimidated by her peers and refused to change her clothes and bathe, communicating thoughts of suicide. Her parents had removed all potential risks in the house, but they were living in a heightened state of anxiety. Lilly had an initial assessment with the Children’s Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in May 2020 where she was diagnosed with general anxiety and depression. However, the services said support could only be provided from May 2022. Lilly’s GP and other support services had six therapy sessions with her but discharged her from their care once they learned she was awaiting treatment through CAMHS. Terrified she was going to harm herself, Lilly’s mother obtained permission to work from home in order to monitor her, but it was impractical to provide this level of supervision 24/7. Although Lilly had not seemed significantly upset following her grandfather’s death at the time, it appeared to have acted as a trigger for the deterioration in her mental health. Over the summer of 2020, Lilly was in the process of receiving therapy from an NHS bereavement therapist who visited her in her home. At this point, her father John explained that for the last three years, he and his wife had been noticing traits of behaviour suggestive of autism in Lilly. She was highly anxious in crowds, usually wanting to run. She had strained interactions with her peers and her communication was generally awkward and erratic. At this point, John’s boss got in touch with the EIC to seek support for the family. As John is an employee of the electrical and energy sector, he was entitled to support for anyone living with autism in his immediate family. As a result, the EIC is currently funding a full assessment for Lilly to get an accurate medical diagnosis. The help Lilly’s family was able to access is due to the support of the EIC and the powerLottery. It means the family are getting the support they need to get a timely and accurate diagnosis for Lilly and move on to the next stage of treatment. Without powerLottery, EIC would not be able to offer support to people like John and his family. That’s why we need you to become a powerLottery player to help EIC to continue supporting our industry members. powerLottery is the only lottery made for our industry by our industry. It gives players 40 chances to win cash prizes ranging from £50 to £1,000 every single month. A £10,000 draw bi-yearly gives you even more opportunity to win BIG. A new car, a holiday in the sun, a kitchen re-fit or a brand-new wardrobe… Think of all the different ways you could spend £10,000. To sign up to play the powerLottery today, click here: https://www.electricalcharity.org/lottery
Online NVQ Level 3 Electrical Training Courses & More…
Since 2011 XS Training Ltd have delivered NVQs, 18th Edition and AM2 preparation training throughout the UK and are now the UK’s number one online training provider for the NVQ 3 Electrical Installation. To be eligible to undertake these NVQ’s you must already have prior experience and qualifications and be currently working in the industry. Upon successful completion of your NVQ qualification, you become eligible to apply for the highly prized contractors’ ECS Gold Card and JIB grading. These NVQs are completed online with their efficient and easy to use e-Portfolio system, OneFile. This means that you can complete the NVQ at a time of your choosing and in the comfort of your own home. Most people comfortably complete their NVQ between three and eight months. You will be supported by a team of highly experienced trainers and assessors who will provide you with support, advice and guidance on how to successfully complete your NVQ. The NVQ courses they currently offer include: NVQ 2346-03 Level 3 Electrical Installation (Experienced Worker) NVQ 2346-03 Level 3 Electrical Maintenance (Experienced Worker) NVQ 2357 Level 3 Electrical Installation and also the 18th Edition Course. As well as providing ePortfolio based assessor assisted courses in all NVQ Level 3 Electrical qualifications XS Training now also offer additional online electrical courses created through our own XS Training Academy. Courses currently available include the popular AM2/AMS2/AM2E Preparation & Revision course which has had excellent results in boosting the number of candidates passing their AM2 Practical Examination (Unit 399) at the first time of taking to over 85%. All their online courses are based around a series of video training with a multiple-choice quiz at the end to test your knowledge and understanding. For full details of all courses please visit the XS Training website at www.xstraining.com www.xstraining.com • enquiries@xstraining.com • 01535 657059
Graeme Rees outlines his aims and objectives as the new President of the BCIA
After taking over from Terry Sharp, Graeme Rees has outlined some of the key issues he would like to address during his tenure as President of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA). With the roll-out of the BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship a significant landmark of Mr Sharp’s two years at the helm, Mr Rees is keen to build on the foundation of that and use it to help solve the skills shortage, as well as improving the industry’s gender balance. He said: “The skills shortage is one problem that can’t be ignored as in an ever-changing world it’s imperative that we continue to facilitate a steady flow of skilled individuals into the BEMS industry. The nurturing of fresh talent is also something we must continue to push and I would encourage our members to explore the multiple benefits of taking on an apprentice where feasible. This also ties into the ongoing challenge of improving the gender balance and looking at what we can do to attract more female engineers and employees.” Graeme is also keen to embrace the increasing presence of Master Systems Integrators (MSIs) and the role they can play in the UK’s mission to meet its net zero target, commenting: “It is no real surprise to see the role of the Master Systems Integrators becoming more prominent. MSIs have become essential partners for many building owners and developers as there are clearly multiple benefits to be had through their engagement. Their increasing popularity will no doubt pose challenges to the more traditional building controls providers, but often with challenges also come opportunities that help drive the evolution of our industry.” Greater member engagement is another issue that Graeme hopes to drive forward, as he added: “Ongoing, regular engagement with our members is the only way in which we can achieve real progress and accomplish our goals. Our Marketing, Technical and Skills Working Groups are where a lot of important discussions take place and what starts off as a small idea contributed at our meetings can grow into an industry-changing initiative – the Trailblazer apprenticeship scheme being a perfect example.” This year the BCIA is expanding upon its hugely successful and ever popular annual BCIA Awards evening by inviting all members and their guests to attend the first ever BCIA Annual Conference entitled; Building Controls – Addressing the needs of a changing industry. Graeme concluded: “The agenda includes prominent guest speakers and workshop sessions covering a wide range of developments and policies which impact the building co
Innovation, legislation and sustainability on the agenda at the FPA 2022 InfoZone at FIREX International in May
The Fire Protection Association’s (FPA) InfoZone seminar theatre returns for 2022 this May, with an agenda covering a wide range of crucial talking points in the fire safety industry for attendees at FIREX International. Alongside its welcome reception area, where the FPA will be available for meetings and networking with members and the full supply chain of fire safety professionals, the popular InfoZone seminar theatre returns for FIREX International 2022, at London’s ExCeL between 17-19 May. FPA InfoZone 22 Sessions will cover key talking points for the fire safety sector, with updates on legislation, presentations on sustainability, and several informative case studies will be featured. CPD accreditation from the IFE has been applied for, and highlights of the programme will include: Steve Hamm, Chief Executive of the Institution of Fire Engineers providing a plenary update on the fire sector A debate around Sprinklers in Schools – with participation from Zurich, FM Global and BAFSA, amongst others John Davidson from the NSI will present on the most common and serious issues fire risk assessors are coming across right now Fire safety legislation updates from Red Lion Chambers Hear from the Head of Fire Safety at Ocado Jonathan O’Neill OBE, Managing Director of the Fire Protection Association, will be on-hand alongside the rest of the team at FIREX to provide advice and guidance to visitors. He commented: “The Fire Protection Association is delighted to bring to the sector our theatre of topical fire safety talks for the 11th year of the FPA InfoZone. “Our partnership with FIREX is an important part of the FPA’s external communications strategy within and together with, the wider fire sector. In 2020, following our first joint delivery of the FIRE conference with the IFE and the NFCC, I suggested that now was the time to raise standards across the board and that the government should encourage that all fire protection products and services were third party accredited; FIREX’s pledge for all exhibitors to be third-party approved or independently accredited is a welcome development which will itself directly contribute to improving competency in products and services across our industry.” Sessions will run from 10:00-17:00 on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th May, and from 10:00-16:00 on Thursday 19th May, taking place on stand F2050 at FIREX International at London’s ExCeL. Join the FPA at FIREX International in May! Register for FREE here.
