Switchtec’s cost effective Ethernet switches provide storm protection for industrial users.
Available from specialist distributor Switchtec, Kyland’s Opal series industrial Ethernet switches meet the growing demand for smaller, smarter control panels that need to communicate with external devices and systems in the industrial environment. Available in 5, 8, and 16 port variants, the versatile Ethernet switches are unmanaged types, and as such require no setting up, they are plug and play. An unmanaged switch allows Ethernet devices to communicate with each other automatically using auto-negotiation to determine parameters such as data rates and whether to use half-duplex or full-duplex mode. Kyland’s Opal series Ethernet switches are supplied with dual/redundant power inputs, and being multi voltage they are able to work on 18 to 30VAC, and 12 to 48VDC powered systems. The switches are DIN rail mountable and are of a compact design, the smallest OPAL 5 measuring just 115 x 68 x 30mm in size. Supplied in a rugged aluminium DIN rail mount housing the switches are rated to IP30 and have an operating temperature range of -10 to +60 degrees C. For ease of use in deployment, the switches feature full LED Link/ACT indication and dual LED power supply indication. Kyland’s Opal series Ethernet switches feature selectable storm protection. A broadcast storm occurs when a network system is overwhelmed by continuous multicast or broadcast traffic. When different nodes are sending/broadcasting data over a network link and the other network devices are rebroadcasting the data back to the network link in response, this eventually causes the whole network to go into meltdown and the failure of network communication. So being fitted with selectable storm protection, the Ethernet switches protect the network from this potentially dangerous problem. The Opal series is manufactured in accordance with FCC CFR47 part 15 and EN55022/CISPR22 Class A for EMI, and IEC61000-4-2/3/4/5/6 and IEC60068-2/27/32 for EMS. And providing confidence for the specifier or buyer, the all-important approvals are cULus, UL508 class1 Div 2, Atex zone 2 IECEx, FCC and CE approved. Further, each Kyland Opal Ethernet switch is supplied with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty. For use in control panel systems for building management systems (BMS) integration, the switches will find favour with panel builders, equipment manufacturers, OEMs and those directly involved with BMS integration. They are a cost-effective product providing a compact, easy to install and set up solution that is fully approved and manufactured to internationally recognised standards. For further information about Switchtec and datasheets you can visit our website
CDVI’s award winning GALEO keypad is now Bluetooth!
Done are the days of classic programming having to enter each user codes one by one, site by site! The GALEO Bluetooth allows for programming and remote control via an app available on both IOS and Android. This new version of the GALEO can be programmed as usual after defining a master code or via Bluetooth using the CDVI Manager app. The installer’s phone becomes the keypad’s remote control. Installation and programming done through the app are easy and straightforward. End users can open doors and gates from the app via the unlocking of the locking system up-to a 10-meter range. The system administrator can control the access codes of everyone via the app and allow or deny access. To make sure user data is stored safely, the app provides a secure online safe for user data storage. Top 3 features for the installer: Easy installation and programming Architecture sharing for quick reproduction Multi-site gestion in one app Top 3 features for the end user: Open doors or gates remotely Ability to give temporary access to a contractor or tenant Ability to decide schedules (dates and times) for visitors Availability: All GALEO keypads now come with the integrated Bluetooth features. Installers can decide whether to enable the Bluetooth app or use it as a simple robust keypad. Both apps are now available on the App Store and Google Play. For more information about GALEO, please contact Fiona Rappin fiona.rappin@cdvi.co.uk / 01628 533957
Rolec EV Charging Points Installed at Anglian Water Sites
Electric Vehicle drivers arriving at Anglian Water’s offices throughout the region will be able to charge their vehicles using brand new Rolec EV charging points. The water company chose to install a network of SecuriCharge, AutoCharge and Quantum EV charging units across six sites, having required a solution which could provide charging while implementing a user-dependent variety of tariffs. Anglian Water required its staff to be able to access the EV charging points using one particular payment rate, visitors to the site using another, and free EV charging to be provided for their fleet vehicles. Rolec EV’s Business Development Manager, Frankie Mellon, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Anglian Water on this EV charging project across their many UK locations. It is pleasing to see one of the UK’s leading utility providers encouraging its employees and visitors to drive EVs. The EV charging points Anglian Water chose to install all feature our EV Charge Online management system, which is able to provide the ideal bespoke solution in order to meet all of the project’s requirements. Anglian Water’s EV charging network operates in the form of PAYG, at varying tariff rates dependent on the user, supported by full back office management.” Anglian Water chose the EV Charge Online management system due to its simple to use, simple to manage, future-proof EV charging features which provide a pay-to-charge solution via the EV driver’s mobile phone or any other web-enabled device. Anglian Water’s Head of Fleet Services, Stewart Lightbody, said: “We are very pleased to announce this partnership with Rolec. We can now provide our fleet, and staff, with an affordable electric vehicle charging point to keep emissions as low as we possibly can. As a business, we’re committed to reducing our carbon emissions and this is another fantastic example.” The user simply pays for the charge advertised on the charging point or app using secure WorldPay protected payment methods such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Easy to install, the versatile EV Charge Online system only requires an electricity supply, and Ethernet connection or GPRS signal, in order to be installed at any location. The flexible design inherent in EV Charge Online allows any operator the ability to manage a single charge point through to a national multiple charge point network. With EV Charge Online, they pay no licence fees and can set their own charging tariffs. For more information about EV charging please click here.
Heating sector thriving as demand for oil expertise grows
OFTEC registration figures have hit a five year high and are continuing to rise, underlining the increasing value both technicians and consumers are placing on professional qualifications. The continued low price of oil compared to electricity, LPG and renewable heating technologies – the other heating options available to off grid households – has seen demand for oil remain strong with many consumers choosing to stick with, or even switch to oil. Technicians are capitalising on the popularity of oil by renewing or taking out oil registration for the first time, with OFTEC seeing an increasing number of gas technicians expand into the sector to take advantage of the new business opportunities on offer. It is anticipated the recent announcement by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) that oil boilers will be included in the next round of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO3), will likely spark a further wave of technicians seeking OFTEC registration which is mandatory to work on the scheme. OFTEC training manager David Knipe comments: “While many sectors are facing uncertainty about the future, the heating profession is thriving. All the time households need heat and hot water, there will be demand for skilled technicians.However, what consumers are looking for is changing. Social media means that incidences of poor workmanship are widely shared and consumers are becoming ever more aware of the risks of employing an unqualified tradesperson. OFTEC registration demonstrates competence and provides homeowners with the peace of mind they are dealing with a professional. This puts those technicians who can legitimately display the OFTEC badge at a distinct advantage when quoting for work.” “With heating technologies evolving and sector and business legislation continually changing, even the most experienced technicians can benefit from OFTEC training and the additional benefits this brings, including free technical advice and regular sector updates. Being able to confidently advise customers on the best solution for their needs could make the difference between winning and losing a job.” To keep pace with the rise in demand, the number of OFTEC training centres across the country has grown to 88, with the total expected to top 90 by the end of the year. A career in the heating sector offers job security, flexibility and with no shortage of domestic or commercial work, can also prove financially rewarding. However, the sector’s well-publicised skills shortage means there are simply not enough qualified professionals to go around. This situation could be further exacerbated if EU migration is restricted under the final Brexit deal and the industry has to rely solely on home grown talent. David Knipe continues: “While the heating sector is booming, the unfortunate consequence is a shortfall of skilled technicians available to take on all the work. We need to encourage more young talent into the industry to plug the gap and ensure we have the next generation of technicians coming through.” To help address the issue, OFTEC has been working closely with both City and Guilds and BPEC to improve the standard of heating and plumbing apprenticeships as part of government’s ‘Trailblazers’ initiative. The scheme aims is to provide sector businesses and industry with the opportunity to design training to ensure it meets their specific needs. David Knipe concludes: “Last year, just 1,070 heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration apprenticeships were started in England, accounting for 0.2% of the total number of apprenticeships taken up across the country. This situation needs to change and we are working to make this happen through our involvement with the Trailblazer scheme. Apprenticeships can offer an excellent way for businesses to upskill their workforce and expand at low cost. With the Apprenticeship Levy designed to make apprenticeships affordable for all, heating businesses should seriously consider this valuable opportunity.” OFTEC is currently offering free registration for the first year to newly qualified apprentices in Great Britain and Northern Ireland who have completed training up to Level 3, and in the Republic of Ireland up to Level 6, who are employed with an OFTEC registered business. OFTEC also offers training and registration in solid fuel and next year, the trade association is attending both the National Association of Chimney Sweeps Exhibition in Stratford upon Avon on 12-13 April and the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps Exhibition in Kenilworth on 1-2 March, to advise chimney sweeps looking to expand into the sector. OFTEC registration services are also available for technicians working in renewable and electrical trades. For more information about OFTEC please click here
SELECT provides industry guidance on the newly launched 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations
SELECT, the campaigning body for the electro-technical trade in Scotland, has been updating its members on key points from the newly launched 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations. SELECT’s Technical Standards Adviser, Bob Cairney, prepared the guide which is available in an on-line format to assist members to understand the changes contained in these important regulations. The guide will also feature in the next issue of SELECT’s CableTalk magazine. Bob said: “BS: 7671:2018 (The 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations) contains a number of significant changes which reflect industry best practice. We have recently been out on the road to highlight the changes during our recent very successful Scotland-wide Toolbox Talks. These were held a few weeks ago and the presentations were well received by the members who attended”. A central theme of the regulations concerns improvements to the level of safety provided in new electrical installations and in particular with regard to fire safety. The 18th Edition introduces new devices called arc fault detection devices (AFDD) and these, where installed can provide an additional level of electrical safety from faults which other protective devices cannot detect specifically arcing faults. These are expected to be widely adopted by the industry. There is also new guidance on types of RCD and arrangement of devices to achieve selectivity between protective devices. Also of interest is informative guidance on energy efficiency. Darrell Mathews, Managing Director of SELECT, said: “These regulations incorporate the latest in technological developments across our sector and, while they do not come into force until 1 January 2019, we want SELECT members, as ever, to be in pole position.” NOTES TO EDITORS SELECT, Scotland’s largest trade association, has over 1250 member companies who collective turnover is around £1 billion and provide employment for 15,000 people. Its members are responsible for over 90 per cent of electrical work carried out in Scotland. Bob Cairney, SELECT’s Technical Standards Adviser, has 40 years’ experience in the electrical industry. For more information about the IET Wiring Regulations please click here
Over a quarter of British adults never look out for fire safety routes or fire exits
The latest research from power management company Eaton reveals that a lack of fire prevention technology and safety awareness, combined with the assumption that appropriate fire safeguards are in place, may be putting the British public at risk. Fire fallacy – adequate fire prevention is not a given The survey of 2,000 UK-based respondents revealed that many British adults take fire safety for granted. More than half (54%) of respondents confirmed that they never feel concerned that property – ranging from homes to offices and public spaces like hospitals – is not adequately protected against fires triggered by electrical faults. The reality is that electrically ignited fires are common in the UK. In fact, the UK’s leading charity on electrical safety, Electrical Safety First, reports that over half of accidental fires in British homes are caused by electricity. This widespread complacency on fire safety was further reflected in British attitudes to fire exit strategies. More than one in four (27%) never try to spot fire safety routes and fire exits when in public buildings like shopping centres, stadia or hotels. A further 40% confirmed that they only look out for fire safety routes or fire exits sometimes or rarely – reflecting a supposition that they will be able to exit a building easily and quickly in the event of an emergency. Lack of awareness The poll revealed that almost one quarter (24%) of British adults “have no clue” what electrical issues can cause a fire to start. While 61% believe that they do know what electrical issues can spark a fire, the reality is that many consumer campaigns have only raised awareness around visible issues such as overloading sockets – yet invisible threats such as arc faults are not understood, and often go unnoticed. This lack of information is worrying given that current UK regulation remains below the level required to maximise protection against electrically-ignited fires. One improvement – the 18th Edition to the IET Wiring Regulations – will be published in July, including recommendations for the use of arc fault detection devices (AFDD) for the first time. The technology will be recommended for use in higher risk buildings, but the regulation stops short of any specific requirements, unlike countries such as Germany and the US where AFDD use can be mandated. Prevention vs. cure New technologies available today provide a further opportunity to prevent rather than just contain fires caused by electrical faults. The British public widely supports a greater focus on fire prevention, with more than half (59%) of the survey respondents confirming that building owners should place more emphasis on fire prevention rather than fire containment. This appetite to implement new fire safety technologies is also reflected in fire evacuation strategies. British consumers are accustomed to “normal” fire escape apparatus, such as highly visible and illuminated exit signs, to escape a building in the event of an emergency but they recognise the benefits of new technologies to improve this process. One third (33%) see the advantages of a voice system which can alert and guide people out of a building, while almost one quarter (24%) would welcome exit signs that can clearly show which escape routes are clear or blocked to guide them out to safety more efficiently. Marc Gaunt, segment lead, commercial buildings, Eaton, commented: “In addition to an increasingly urbanised environment, building owners and managers must consider the rising diversity of safety threats. Evacuation strategies need to be able to adapt to differing circumstances based on the wide range of potential risks today – from fires and natural disasters to acts of terrorism. Faced with this new landscape, steps must be taken to re-evaluate the measures in place to protect both people and property as well as ensure business continuity.” “Building evacuation can prove challenging, particularly if visitors are not familiar with the layout and exit procedures. Large, densely-populated, high-risk or complex premises, such as shopping centres or stadia, can be an even more complicated challenge. New, adaptable technologies exist to help avoid congestion, delays or even people being guided towards unsafe places in the building when trying to evacuate the premises. As one example, adaptive signage enables building owners to direct people outside in the safest way, even when the location or nature of the threat changes. Building owners and facilities managers must undertake their due diligence to ensure the British public’s trust in them is not misplaced.” Methodology Eaton conducted an online survey of 2,000 adults aged 18 and over in the UK through Google. This survey took place between 2nd – 4th May 2018. For more information about Eaton please click here
Stay on top form this summer with the trade active polo
Scruffs is committed to kitting out trade professionals in workwear that works as hard as they do. As the thermometer rises over the coming months, we know how important it is to stay cool and comfortable when working in a physically demanding profession. The latest addition to the Scruffs collection, the Trade Active Polo, is designed to be lightweight and quick-drying, and comes in two stylish colours: Black and Graphite. With an innovative design that includes incorporated mesh panels for improved breathability and a raglan sleeve for improved comfort, you’ll keep your cool when work gets toughduring the hottest days. A smart button placket with collar and a dropped back hem ensure a comfortable fit and a smart look throughout the day and after work. The polo also includes a blank left chest, perfect for company profiling. Engineered with the latest workwear technology, the Trade Active Polo is durable and hard wearing for a wide range of trade and industrial environments, and smart enough to wear for after-work drinks. For more information about the Trade Active Polo from Scruffs, visit https://www.scruffs.com or call 0115 938 9000, or email sales@birchwoodpricetools.com for more information on the range of products.
Launch of ‘FLIR ONE Pro LT’ low-cost thermal imaging camera for smartphones & tablets
FLIR Systems announces the launch of the FLIR ONE Pro LT, a new lower price thermal imaging attachment for smartphones in the FLIR ONE Pro series. The FLIR ONE Pro LT features many of the professional-level tools and advanced thermal image quality that define the FLIR ONE Pro series. Powered by the FLIR Lepton® thermal microcamera core, the FLIR ONE Pro LT builds on the advanced features of the FLIR ONE Pro. Key tools include FLIR’s patented MSX® image enhancement, which combines the thermal and a high-definition visible camera image to produce crisp, detailed images that are easy to interpret. All FLIR One Pro models feature FLIR’s MSX and VividIR™ video signal processing technology to deliver improved thermal image quality and clarity. Additionally, the patent-pending OneFit™ camera connector allows users to adjust the device to attach to their smartphone through many popular protective cases. FLIR is also releasing an updated version of the FLIR ONE App, which includes tools such as multiple spot temperature meters, custom onscreen temperature tracking regions, helpful tips for problem-solving and use-cases. Smartwatch compatibility with the Apple Watch and selected Android smartwatches provides the ability to stream live thermal imagery to see around corners and take images or video from your device. “Since FLIR first introduced the FLIR ONE line of thermal cameras for smartphones in 2014, the product has evolved to serve the unique needs of a broad set of professionals, providing an easy-to-use and affordable thermal camera,” said Frank Pennisi, President, Industrial Business Unit at FLIR. “The FLIR ONE Pro LT represents the next stage of the product evolution by placing pro features, such as VividIR, into the hands of more professionals at a more affordable price.” FLIR ONE Pro LT, with an MSRP of £277.00 GBP (ex. VAT), is available for pre-order worldwide today for iOS, Android (USB-C) or Android (Micro-USB) at www.flir.co.uk/flirone (UK). To learn more about the FLIR ONE Pro series, visit their website. For more information about the FLIR app developer program, please click here.
Engineering apprentices battle it out to win master maker crown at CEMAST
Apprentices from Defence Munitions Gosport took part in a Scrapheap Challenge-style CEMAST competition designed to test their flair for manufacturing and ability to work as a team. Eighteen apprentices, who are all working towards a L3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering, took part in ‘Phase Wars’, an annual competition hosted by Fareham College. Working in partnership with Defence Munitions Gosport, it pits 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase apprentices against one another. The apprentices were given one week, and a budget of £200 for materials, to design and make something in the manufacturing workshop at CEMAST – Fareham College’s centre of excellence for engineering, manufacturing and advanced skills training. There were no rules on what the students could make, but they were encouraged to produce products that were interactive and relate to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). They were also given a month to plan what they were going to produce, create engineering drawings and settle on what materials they were going to use. Judged by senior management from Defence Munitions Gosport, this year’s competition was won by Phase 3 students: Matthew Harrison, Ashley Biginton, George Ballard, Joe Salmon and Thomas Brading. The team impressed the judges with their V2 Piston Engine, made using a combination of materials including brass and steel. The initial prototypes were constructed ahead of the competition using CEMAST’s extensive 3D printing facilities. The judges credited them on their exemplary workmanship and fabrication skills, turning out a beautifully polished piece of engineering. Kevin Haydock, engineering apprenticeship project manager at Fareham College, said: “My team and I came up with the idea for ‘Phase Wars’ when I ran the Defence Munitions Gosport apprenticeship scheme, prior to starting work with the college. Since then, it has been going from strength to strength. I’ve now introduced the CEMAST Engineering Challenge, which is open to all apprentices from large employers that use CEMAST for their training.” Lynn Wilkinson-Berry, from apprentice training at Defence Munitions Gosport, added: “We have been working with Fareham College since 2006. CEMAST provides an excellent facility for our apprentices to learn and develop the skills that we require. Competitions like these are not only enjoyable for our apprentices, they also provide an excellent way for them to come together, work as a team and build their confidence.” To find out more about the CEMAST Engineering Challenge or apprenticeships at Fareham College, visit: http://www.fareham.ac.uk/
