switched on issue 22

Issue 22 | Autumn 2011 | £5.00 www.esc.org.uk

White goods under firePROTECTION AGAINST FIRES CAUSED BY LAUNDRY APPLIANCES

WELCOME

The Council

continues to

develop electrical

safety initiatives that

bring benefit to the

most vulnerable in our

society and everyone

at the ESC is

particularly proud of our Fire Safety Fund (see

page 20) and the Grants Scheme. This year we

have initially allocated £215,000 to support

initiatives that will make a real difference to

the safety of many people throughout the UK.

As in previous years, this year’s applications for

funding far exceeded the monies available to

support the many organisations that sought

to help those most at need in their area.

Because the funding we offer creates real and

direct impact on consumer safety, we have,

through cost savings, managed to provide an

additional £25,000 to go to grants for essential

remedial electrical work in homes for

vulnerable people.

This is a shining example of how the ESC

really brings about benefit to society

through the gift aid it receives from its

trading subsidiary the Ascertiva Group. On

page 5 you will see that we are inviting

anyone interested in getting involved in

shaping the work of the Charity through

focus groups to get in touch with us. Please

consider doing this - with your help we can

shape future campaigns and grant-making

activities so that they have an even greater

impact than they do now.

The ESC continues to work with its industry

colleagues on the consultation with

government about the future of Part P. At the

ESC there is a firm commitment to see Part P

retained and improved as we believe it is key

to preventing the unregistered ‘electrician’

from carrying out unsafe electrical work in

England and Wales, which we know cause

fires and even deaths. Our position as an

impartial safety body has helped us bring

together the key scheme operators, NICEIC,

ELECSA and NAPIT, in collaboration, and I

believe that as one voice we are getting our

collective message across to government.

By the time you read this we will know the

shape of the consultation document on Part P

and whilst we are confident of a positive

outcome we will continue to work hard to

ensure the regulatory framework provided by

Part P is both retained and improved. You too

can have your say. If you believe Part P is

important, please write to your MP or let us

have your thoughts by emailing us at

[email protected]

The Council has been working hard to

ensure the inclusion of an isolating switch in

the specification of the smart meter

(page 6). Support for such a measure has

come from a wide range of industry bodies

and this solution would eventually bring an

end to the long debate about the

temporary removal of the cut-out fuse. It

goes without saying that the proposal

would provide a safer working environment

for electricians as there should be no

temptation to work on live equipment and

would certainly provide a better solution for

the customer in terms of safety and

convenience. Initially, despite a very strong

business case, the government had decided

to reject the industry’s proposals. Now,

following a challenge from the ESC, there is

likely to be a public consultation on this and

other smart meter issues. Please look out for

the consultation and express your views on

this very important matter.

I was recently invited to the launch of the

‘2021 Vision’ which was the culmination of a

joint research initiative into the future of the

industry undertaken as a collaboration

between the NICEIC and ECA. The research

provided insight into what the future holds

and the opportunities that can be grasped

by a professional and dedicated industry. It

also flagged up the potential threats that

could impact on all of us if we become

complacent and let those opportunities slip

away. What impressed me most was the fact

the NICEIC and ECA had come together to

collaborate in such a way. Only two years

ago most people would not have thought

such an initiative could have happened. The

fact that it did shows strong leadership from

both CEOs of NICEIC and ECA, which must

bode well for the industry as it seeks to

meet the challenges that it will inevitably

face as more competitors enter the market

in areas such as renewable technologies.

The Council moved offices recently so please

take note of our new address and contact

details, which you will find on page 4. Our

move was brought about by the need to

consolidate all employees into one building.

We plan to be in our new space for at least

five years and we look forward to inviting you

here should you be coming to a meeting with

members of the team.

As always, we would welcome feedback on

Switched On, to help us improve the content.

Email [email protected]

Phil Buckle Director General

A year’s subscription to the ESC’s online

Essential Guide to the Wiring Regulations is

now available for a limited period at the

bargain price of just £35 (plus VAT)!

Well respected in the industry as a source of authoritative

technical information concerning the application of the

requirements of the Wiring Regulations (BS 7671), this fully

searchable online resource contains over 300 topics covering

a wide range of relevant subjects to help you in your work or

studies. Subjects are clearly explained with the aid of full

colour illustrations, diagrams and tables. Each topic can be

printed out for ease of reference

as required. During the

subscription year, the topics will

be updated as necessary to take

account of the changes that will

be introduced by Amendment 1

to BS 7671: 2008.

ESC Essential Guide now available FOR JUST £35

To subscribe or for a 7 day free trial, visit www.eschub.org.uk

The effects of using compact fluorescent lamps with switching and dimmer devices - see page 14

news

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issue 22 Autumn 2011

switchedonyour insight into the electricalsafety industry

Enhanced protection againstfires caused by laundryappliances

The effects of using compactfluorescent lamps with switchingand dimmer devices

Welcome

News in brief

Plug into Safety campaign

ESC challenges smart meterdesign decision

Electrical Product SafetyConference 2011

As safe as …sheds?Also, The Part P review

Competence requirement raised forproposed Qualified SupervisorsAlso, New consumer video

Prosecution highlights the dangersof live working

Essential guide to the wiringregulations being updatedAlso, 17th Edition guidance

Partners announced for this year’sFire Safety Fund

Spotlight on… The risk fromasbestos

Have you ever been asked...what is the difference betweenearthing and bonding?

Published by:

The Electrical Safety Council

Unit 331, Great Guildford Business Square

30 Great Guildford Street

London SE1 0HS

www.esc.org.uk

www.eschub.org.uk

www.twothirtyvolts.org.uk

www.switchedonkids.org.uk

Tel: 0203 463 5100 Fax: 0203 463 5139

email: [email protected]

Letters I’m sure that there are many

within the electrical industry

that will have strong feelings

about some of the issues

raised in Switched On. So feel

free to shout about them.

Please email your letters to theEditor of Switched On at:[email protected]

SwitchedOn Issue 22 Autumn 2011 3

4 SwitchedOn Issue 22 Autumn 2011

news

Electrical Safety Council relocates

The Electrical Safety Council has now

moved from its offices in Buckingham Gate

and Canterbury Court to new offices near

London Bridge.

The new address is:

Unit 331

Great Guildford Business Square

30 Great Guildford Street

London SE1 0HS

Tel: 0203 463 5100

Fax: 0203 463 5139

Amendment 1 to BS 7671: 2008

BS 7671:2008

incorporating

Amendment

No 1 was

published, on

schedule, on

1 July.

The

amendments

have been

incorporated

in a new full

version of the standard which, for the

first time, will also be referred to as the

‘IET Wiring Regulations’, rather than the

‘IEE Wiring Regulations’. Following a six-

month transition period, the revised

requirements will come into full effect

for the design of installations from 1

January 2012.

Significant changes include a new

model Electrical Installation Condition

Report form in Appendix 6; this

supersedes the Periodic Inspection

Report form. Guidance on the

application of the new Classification

Codes for the new Condition Report can

be found in Issue 3 of ESC Best Practice

Guide No 4.

Fire safety in purpose-built

blocks of flats

The ESC has contributed to the writing and

production of new fire safety guidance for

purpose-built blocks of flats in England. The

work was initiated by the Department for

Communities and Local Government.

The guidance is intended to ensure

adequate fire safety in purpose-built blocks

of flats, regardless of age. Practical advice is

offered on how to assess the risk from fire

and how to manage fire safety in such

buildings. The document also includes case

studies based on the commonly-found

issues in blocks of flats, with suggested fire

safety solutions.

This guide is intended for buildings which

have been constructed as purpose-built

blocks of flats. It applies to existing blocks

only. Fire safety design in new blocks of flats

is governed by the Building Regulations 2010

but, once a block is occupied, the new

guidance is applicable.

This guide is aimed particularly at those

who manage, give advice on and enforce

standards in, purpose-built blocks of flats.

This specifically includes those undertaking

fire risk assessments of such buildings,

including those contracted to do this on a

commercial basis. Some aspects of the

guidance may also be of interest to

electrical contractors.

ESC helps in mobile phone

chargers raid

Thousands of potentially deadly mobile

phone chargers have been seized from a

Birmingham warehouse after shoppers

complained they exploded when they were

plugged into electricity sockets.

Birmingham City Council’s Trading

Standards officers raided the warehouse at

Rovex Business Park in Hay Hall Road,

Tyseley, after a tip-off from colleagues in

Aberdeen. Steve Curtler, product safety

manager at the ESC, attended the raid to

confirm that the chargers were substandard

prior to seizure.

Scottish Trading Standards had received

complaints from consumers who claimed

they had brought the lethal iPhone

chargers for 99p each from shopping

website eBay.

Birmingham officers posed as customers

and purchased some of the devices from

eBay in a bid to trace where they were

being supplied from, tracking them to the

Tyseley warehouse.

As well as the raid on the warehouse, in

which they seized more than 2000

substandard chargers and other mobile

accessories, they also searched the home of

an eBay trader in Birmingham city centre

suspected to be selling the goods.

Tests showed that the chargers, believed to

have been manufactured in China, had a

catalogue of faults, including unsuitable

electrical insulation and inadequately sized

pins, some of which were too thick and

risked overheating within the socket.

David Dossett awarded MBE

David Dossett, who

was chairman of the

Electrical Safety

Council from April

2007 to March 2009,

has been awarded an

MBE for services to

the electrical

manufacturing industry.

David is the current president of CENELEC,

the European Electrotechnical Standards

body helping to manage the successful

implementation of standards supporting

industry initiatives such as electric vehicles,

smart grids and smart meters, as well as

longstanding EU legislation such as the

Low Voltage Directive.

David also continues to serve as a Trustee of

the Electrical Safety Council.

IN BRIEF


news

The Electrical Safety Council’s flagship

campaign, Plug into Safety, has now

completed its first year, following a

successful launch in May 2010.

The five-year campaign aims to raise public

awareness of the safety benefits of RCD

protection and to promote and encourage

the habitual use of this life-saving

technology.

One of the strategic aims of the Council’s

campaign was to establish and build strong

relationships with a wide range of partners.

In particular, the ESC wanted to build on its

relationships with electrical wholesalers

and electricians, as key intermediaries, to

help the charity to reach consumers. This

would assist us in promoting the

campaign’s key messages to the widest

possible audiences and drive take-up of

RCD protection by those most at risk. The

Council also planned to influence

consumer attitude and behaviour through

a wide variety of media channels, using

national, regional and online social media.

To further support this range of activity, the

ESC aimed to secure partnerships with

well-known and trusted brands from high

street DIY stores and garden centres to

carry the campaign’s key messages through

in a variety of activities, including point of

sale and online promotions.

Over the past year, the Council has been

encouraged by the level and range of

support it has secured and the progress

made to date. The ESC has:

• secured 23 electrical industry and retail

partners to undertake partnership

marketing activity and act as

intermediaries to reach consumers;

• developed an Electrician’s Toolkit and

distributed 27,000 of them via electrical

wholesaler outlets;

• worked with 640 retail partner outlets to

distribute point of sale promotional

material;

• reached 2 million consumers via print

and online methods;

• worked with a leading manufacturer to

have 10,000 electrical products labelled

at point of manufacture with an RCD

safety message;

• achieved 200 pieces of national and

regional consumer media coverage,

plus a range of coverage in the trade

and professional press;

• produced a film which was launched on

social media sites. This generated strong

media coverage and was praised by a

number of organisations. The film can

be viewed on the ESC’s website;

• influenced the introduction of the

requirement for 50,000 inspections of

privately-rented homes a year in

Scotland from 2012;

• secured an opportunity to influence the

Scottish government on tenant

information packs;

• gained support from 37

parliamentarians in the Westminster and

Scottish parliaments, enabling the

Council to lay 10 parliamentary

questions;

• gained support of 18 key industry and

housing sector stakeholders.

The Council’s partners are vital to the

success of the campaign to help promote

the use of RCD protection. The ESC is

grateful for their continued support and

looks forward to continuing to work with

them.

During the second year of the campaign,

the Council plans to strengthen the

relationships it has with existing partners

and to seek to establish relationships with a

number of new ones.

PLUG INTO SAFETY CAMPAIGN MARKS ITS FIRST YEAR

If you would like to find out how to obtain an Electrician’s Toolkit, obtain more informationabout the campaign or get involved, then visit the ESC website at: www.esc.org.uk.

Get involvedwith thecampaign

Do you follow the ESC’s campaigns

and wonder how you could get

involved? Do you use the Council’s

leaflets or information on its website

to communicate safety messages to

your customers? Electricians are an

important link for the Electrical

Safety Council in communicating

best practice to consumers and the

Council would like to hear from you

on how the industry can work

together to

spread vital

safety advice

to everyone.

You can make

a real

difference to

electrical safety. Why not join a

regional focus group to discuss ideas

for initiatives that involve electrical

firms and domestic installers? Right

now the ESC wants to hear from

installers who can help with the

development of local initiatives to

encourage homeowners to upgrade

their consumer unit to one that is

RCD protected.

Meetings are on an occasional basis

and the Council won’t contact you

too often.

For more information, or to register

your interest in becoming involved in

this and/or future focus groups,

please email [email protected]

esc.org.uk

The key message of the Plug into Safety

key campaign is simple:

“RCD protection couldone day save your life”


news

The Electrical Safety Council has

challenged an initial decision by the

government not to accept the

recommendation to include an isolating

switch in the smart meter specification. The

ESC had strongly recommended that a

manual isolating switch should be

incorporated in all smart electricity meters

to provide a safe and convenient means for

non-electrical

industry parties,

such as

electricians, to

isolate the

supply to

domestic

premises when

necessary for

safe working on

consumers’

installations (for

example to

replace

consumer

units).

The

Department for

Energy and

Climate Change

(DECC) initially

advised the ESC

that the Smart

Meter Design

Authority had

decided not to

accept the

Council’s safety recommendation. DECC had

also ruled out the installation of a separate

isolating switch at the same time as a smart

meter.

However, shortly after registering its

dissatisfaction with the decision, the ESC

was advised by DECC that, contrary to the

initial indication, the isolating switch issue,

together with a number of other issues, was

to be the subject of public consultation.

The Council has been campaigning for the

inclusion of a manual isolating switch in all

smart electricity meters as a safe and

convenient means for electricians to isolate

the supply to domestic premises when

necessary for safe working on consumers’

installations.

This facility would avoid the need to arrange

for the supplier or meter operator to remove

and later replace the cut-out fuse, as

continues to be the current unsatisfactory

situation. The provision of such a means of

isolation would also be of considerable

benefit to consumers in terms of cost and

convenience when having certain electrical

work carried out.

The provision of an integral isolating switch

would also help address another safety issue

that the ESC had drawn to DECC’s attention

– the risk that meter tail connections at the

main switch in

consumer units

may be loosened

when meters are

replaced, possibly

introducing a fire

hazard. The ESC

believes that the

meter installer

should be

responsible for

checking the

tightness of these

connections

before re-

energising an

installation and

leaving site.

However, this

safety issue is still

under

consideration by

the electricity

suppliers/meter

operators.

In conjunction

with an integral

means of isolation, the ESC also

recommended that the functional design

requirements should permit the outgoing

(load side) terminals of the smart meter to

be accessed by electricians, that is, not

sealed. This would enable the consumer’s

meter tails to be replaced (for example

when a consumer unit is relocated) without

needing to call in the meter operator to

remove the cut-out fuse and to connect the

meter tails to the meter.

Electricity meters with integral isolating

switches and unsealed outgoing terminals

have been in service in some parts of the UK

for the past 20 years.

In early June, DECC called upon the ESC to

submit a business case for the inclusion of

an isolating switch into the smart meter

specification. This was developed in

collaboration with other interested parties

including AMO (Association of Meter

Operators), ENA (Energy Networks

Association), ECA, ELECSA, NAPIT, NICEIC and

SELECT, and submitted with their support to

DECC at the end of June. In summary, the

benefits of including an isolating switch in

smart meters are:

• Good, safe, engineering solution

• No less safe means of isolation for

electricians than is currently achieved by

withdrawing the cut-out fuse

• Cut-out fuse secure and unaffected

• Significantly less costly than a separate

isolating switch

• Avoids the need to call out meter

operators to effect temporary isolations,

avoiding wasted time for electricians and

additional third party costs for consumers

• Significantly eases the regulatory burden

on small electrical contracting businesses

• Reduces the likelihood of illegal

abstraction by ensuring that all necessary

seals can remain intact

• No additional space required for a

separate isolating switch between the

meter and consumer unit

• Provides for unsealed access to the

outgoing terminals of the meter,

enabling electricians to tighten

connections, replace meter tails etc

without the need to call out the meter

operator

• In new properties, provides for the

distributor’s service head and the meter

to be installed and left energised

awaiting connection of the electrical

installation by the electrician

• No costs incurred in providing a separate

isolating switch between the meter and

consumer unit

• No initial or ongoing costs for electricians

to be authorised to remove cut-out fuses

(should a registration scheme need to be

introduced.

ESC CHALLENGESSMART METERDESIGNDECISION

Existing meter with integral isolating switch

The Electrical Safety Council’s second

Electrical Product Safety Conference will

be held at the Church House Conference

Centre in Westminster, London on 26

October.

With the timely theme of “Market

Surveillance – overcoming the cut-backs

through a combined approach”, the

conference will offer an excellent

opportunity for product safety

professionals and stakeholders to seek

opportunities for working together to help

ensure that market surveillance remains

effective during these challenging times.

The product safety community needs to

combine expertise and resource to ensure

that only safe electrical products enter and

circulate within the UK market. This is

particularly true now that there is reduced

funding for the public sector and local

authority job cuts and new legislation is

needed to meet our obligations under the

“New Legislative Framework”.

Delegates can listen to industry leaders

and experts and discuss the current big

issues in consumer product safety. The

programme includes:

• Initiatives in market surveillancePriorities in the UK national market

surveillance programme

• The safety of imported goodsCo-operation with the Customs and

Border authorities, the successes and

challenges and how manufacturers are

helping to improve unsafe/counterfeit

product seizure

• Local enforcement – dealing withreduced spendingHow is this affecting local enforcement?

Learn more about local successes and

project initiatives

• Product testing and third-partycertificationIs it time to call for third-party

certification for higher-risk electrical

products? Viewpoints from

manufacturers, retailers, regulators,

certification bodies and consumers

• Sub-standard products – theconsequencesCase studies based on fires caused by

sub-standard and misuse of products,

and the challenges to determine the

source of the fire from leading experts

from the Fire and Rescue Services

• Consumer protection -communicating the risk andinfluencing changes in behaviourOverview of the Electrical Safety

Council’s product safety activities:

working with the Authorities, safety

screening projects and consumer-

related campaign activity

This event promises to be the definitive

view on electrical product safety in the UK

market and everyone is welcome to attend,

but please note that registrations are

limited and will be accepted on a first-

come, first-served basis.

If your organisation is committed to

electrical product safety and would like to

be associated with this high profile event,

a range of sponsorship, exhibitor and

advertising packages have been

developed and are still on offer.

If the industry’s preferred recommendation

and the alternative option to install a

separate double-pole isolating switch at the

same time as the smart meter are ultimately

rejected, only two other, far less satisfactory,

options would remain to be considered

outside of the smart meter programme:

• The authorisation of electricians to

withdraw cut-out fuses – a solution

previously blocked by the electricity

supply industry

• Continued reliance on service provided

by the electricity suppliers/meter

operators.

Each of these other options proved

considerably more costly and less beneficial

than the strongly recommended integral

isolating switch solution when considered in

the business case.

The full, costed, business case can be

viewed on the industry section of the ESC

website (www.esc.org.uk)

Details of the DECC consultation process

were awaited at the time this article was

written in early August, but the Electrical

Safety Council and other stakeholders will

welcome the opportunity to further

progress the case for an integral isolating

switch.

Readers are urged to look out for the

opportunity to express their views because

one thing seems certain - the current

unsatisfactory situation, which relies on a

large proportion of temporary de-

energisations in domestic premises being

unauthorised, cannot continue indefinitely.

This is because smart meters will be

designed to give a ‘last gasp’ alarm signal if

the supply to the meter is cut, which will

alert the authorities immediately there is an

unauthorised removal of a cut-out fuse.


news

ELECTRICAL PRODUCT SAFETY CONFERENCE 2011 – AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED

Electrical ProductSafety Conference 2011Safety of electrical products in the UK market26 October 2011 | Church House | Westminster | London

The conference, organised by the Electrical Safety Council, will discuss UK Market Surveillance - overcoming the cut-backs through a combined approach – and will address the current big issues in consumer product safety.www.esc.org.uk

For updates on speakers and information

on the conference programme, and to

book your place, please visit

www.esc.org.uk/industry/product-safetyor call Siobhan Doyle on 0203 463 5133.


news

The Electrical Safety Council is concerned

that government plans to review Part P of

the Building Regulations could result in it

being watered down or scrapped

completely. This could leave householders

exposed as Part P provides the only

regulatory framework that addresses the

safety of electrical installation work in

domestic properties in England and Wales.

Maintaining Part P, albeit with improvements,

is important for a number of reasons:

• There has been a 17.5% reduction in fires

attributed to mains wiring faults since

the introduction of Part P (2004-2007)

• It aims to reduce electrical accidents in

the home and the number of ‘cowboy’

electricians undertaking domestic

installation work

• There has been a reduction in the

number of unregulated persons

undertaking domestic electrical work

• It seeks to improve the average level of

competence of those undertaking

domestic electrical work, as well as raise

the awareness of builders and

householders of the need for care.

Since the review announcement in

December 2010, the ESC has been working

with partners to look at how Part P can be

improved without compromising safety.

The ESC has established strong links with

the Department for Communities and Local

Government (DCLG), which is evaluating

any benefits Part P has made, since its

introduction in 2005, to improving electrical

safety in and around the home. The Council

has submitted ideas and views to the

responsible Minister Andrew Stunell on the

forthcoming consultation for the Building

Regulations; convened a round table

discussion on the future of Part P; and

established a working group which

developed an industry response to the

review. In addition to such partnership

working, the Council is also refining its

approach to the consultation process which

focuses on safeguarding the interest of

consumers.

The ESC-led roundtable in March this year

brought together a diverse group of

stakeholders - including various electrical

and related trade bodies, as well as the

consumer watchdog Which?, the Trading

Standards Institute and the Chief Fire

Officers Association. The general consensus

was that there was a need to retain Part P –

although concerns about compliance, in

particular, were raised. The need to clarify

and simplify documentation, and increase

the awareness of both consumers and

electrical contractors to the benefits of

Part P, was also highlighted.

The working group, which met in April, was

comprised of representatives from ABE,

BEAMA, DCLG, EAL, ELECSA, IET, LABC, NAPIT

and NICEIC. Members confirmed the view

that Part P did provide additional consumer

protection by requiring notifiable electrical

work to be designed and installed to

protect persons from the risk of electric

shock and fire.

The group thought that the present scope

of notifiable work should not be reduced as

it covers all higher risk electrical work,

including kitchen installations. However, the

working group agreed that there was no

longer a need for the Defined Competence

Scheme. Instead, a recommendation that

the minimum technical competence

requirements for other self-certifiable work -

which may include electrical installation

work as part of a job - should incorporate

relevant competencies for that electrical

installation work.

This debate led on to the question of

whether or not certification of electrical

installation work not carried out by a

registered competent person could be

undertaken by a competent third party

THE PART PREVIEW –FINDING THERIGHT BALANCE

Sheds are a British institution, providing anything from an escape

from the rigours of daily life to a place where you can indulge

your hobby in peace. The shed has thousands of devotees, there is

significant media coverage on the topic and the importance of the

shed in the British psyche is even recognised by National Shed Week,

which took place in early July.

However, ESC research undertaken by YouGov shows that far from

being a humble refuge, the garden shed could actually cost lives.

And it was this fact that the Council has highlighted as part of its

ongoing Plug into Safety campaign.

Sheds present an increased shock risk because electrical equipment

stored and installed in them is exposed to extreme temperatures

and often damp, dusty conditions. All of these factors mean it is

critical that shed enthusiasts check wires and plugs for damage

before using equipment and ensure that they have RCD protection,

which helps prevent fatal electric shock by rapidly switching off the

flow of electricity.

Cherry Read, head of campaigns and communications at the ESC,

took this message to the airwaves in a radio interview which was

picked up by 14 local BBC stations and gained online coverage in a

number of social media sites.

Our campaign also got the thumbs up from Gordon Thorburn,

author of Men and Sheds and The Pocket Guide to Sheds, who said:

“Many sheddies are highly practical men and women, who know all

about safety and the proper use of electricity in their workshop-

sheds, shed-offices, shed-studios and pub-sheds. There are also

many who, like me, are a bit hazy, lazy and messy when it comes to

wires and power points. It's not hard to see if you're protected by an

RCD - if not, for goodness' sake get it sorted."

COUNCIL SURVEY SHEDS LIGHT ON THE RISKS IN BRITAIN’S HUM


news

other than Building Control (or their agent).

It was felt that the risks with this approach –

which ranged from the possibility of

encouraging work by unregistered

contractors, to an increase in electrical

installations without a warranty or

complaints procedure – could reduce

consumer safety and so could not be

supported.

Other issues considered at the meeting

covered how the cost of becoming Part P

registered might be reduced and how

central guidance (from, for example, the

Building Control Alliance) could help

building control bodies establish levels of

cost based on the competency of the

person undertaking the work. Much time

was also spent considering how compliance

could best be improved.

Changes to the DCLG Conditions of

Authorisation for Part P scheme operators,

which will take effect from October, mean

that registered contractors will be

required to report unregistered

contractors that they know to have

undertaken notifiable work without

notifying that work to the Local Authority

in advance. The group also suggested that

an ‘administrative offence’ be introduced,

to allow Local Authorities to issue on-the-

spot fines or ‘stop notices’ to unregistered

contractors who have not complied with

the Building Regulations.

It was also noted that under amendments to

the Conditions of Authorisation, Part P

scheme operators will be required to

contribute to the cost of promoting Part P to

the general public. This is something the ESC

wants to be closely involved with, as it would

draw on the Council’s existing expertise in

campaigning and ensure an integrated

approach to promotional activities.

It is because the ESC believes that it is vital

that the electrical industry and consumer

groups work together to inform proposed

changes to Part P generally – and the

Competent Person’s Scheme specifically –

that the Council has promoted collaborative

working. The intention has been to offer

government an informed view to help

balance the competing need of the public to

be confident in the standards of work being

carried out in their homes, while respecting

the industry’s desire to avoid unnecessary red

tape. The bottom line is that the industry

needs to reduce the complexities of Part P

without compromising safety. The ESC is

working on it.

A Building Regulations Advisory Committee

Technical Working Party will be making its initial

recommendations on the scope and content of

the Part P consultation to the Minister in

September. It is expected that the DCLG will

launch its consultation in December 2011 and

close it in March 2012, with a view to revised

requirements coming into force, after six months’

notice, in April 2013.

“Our ultimate objective is not only to increase awareness of electrical

safety but also to change individuals’ behaviour, by ensuring they are

RCD-protected,” said Angela Murphy, ESC’s media manager. “This won’t

happen overnight - electricity is such a part of the modern world, that

people tend not to think of its potential dangers. But by linking into

seasonal themes or particular activities we can continuously raise

awareness of how to use electricity safely.”

MBLE GARDEN REFUGE

Of the top five shed hazards identified in the survey,

three relate to electrical safety:

• storing mains-powered tools uncovered - 32%;

• not checking leads or plugs for damage - 28%;

• using mains-powered tools without residual current device

(RCD) protection - 26%;

• storing unsecure tins of chemicals such as weed and pest killer

or paint - 38%; and

• leaving the sharp edges of garden tools uncovered - 58%

New surveyshows supportfor Part P

According to a new industry survey,

85% of registered electricians believe

that Part P of the Building Regulationsfor England and Wales should be

retained – but with improvements.

More than 3,500 electricians who are

registered under Part P completed

the survey, which was co-ordinated

by the Electrical Safety Council.

And 90% of respondents also believe

that all electricians undertaking

notifiable work in domestic premises

should have to register as competent

persons.

Data based on an online survey of 3,763

electrical contractors registered with

ELECSA, NAPIT and NICEIC, undertaken

between 6 May and 1 June 2011.

�

NEW CONSUMER VIDEO FOR DOWNLIGHTER SAFETY


news

The industry bodies represented on the

management committee of the

Electrotechnical Assessment Specification

(EAS) have agreed that, with effect from 1

January 2012, a level of technical

competence equivalent to Level 3 NVQ will

be the minimum requirement for all new

proposed Qualified Supervisors.

There are five different routes to achieve

this standard including on-site assessment,

off-site assessment, a mixture of both, and

the gaining of appropriate qualifications.

Existing Qualified Supervisors The new requirement does not apply

retrospectively to existing Qualified

Supervisors. Persons who already have a

competency-based qualification as

outlined in the EAS document will not

have to have the new qualification if they

apply to become a new Qualified

Supervisor after 1 January 2012.

What about proposed QualifiedSupervisors applying before January2012? The new requirement applies only

to proposed Qualified Supervisors applying

after 1 January 2012.

What about persons previouslyregistered as Qualified Supervisors?

Persons who have been working as

registered Qualified Supervisors within the

two years preceding 1 January 2011 will be

eligible to be proposed as a Qualified

Supervisor for a new employer without

needing to demonstrate the new level of

technical competence.

Qualifications For those choosing the qualification route,

the Level 3 NVQ certificate in “Installing,

Testing and Ensuring Compliance of

Electrical Installation Work in Dwellings” is

expected to be available from 1 January

2012. This will be the minimum

qualification level for Qualified Supervisors

having responsibility for electrical work in

domestic premises subject to Part P of the

Building Regulations (for England and

Wales).

For compliance with Building Regulations in

Scotland, Approved Certifiers of electrical

installations must be eligible to be graded

as Approved Electricians and be suitably

qualified, such as having an SVQ Level 3 in

electrical engineering or equivalent.

For work in commercial and industrial

premises, the minimum qualification for

Qualified Supervisors will be the new Level

3 NVQ “Diploma in Installing

Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment

(Building and Structures)”.

Relevant electrotechnical NVQ

qualifications are currently certificated

through two UK awarding bodies: City &

Guilds (www.cityandguilds.com) and EAL

(www.eal.org.uk).

More information about Electrotechnical

Level 3 NVQs is available on the SummitSkills,

City & Guilds, and EAL websites.

About the EAS Management Committee

The EAS Management Committee is the

national committee responsible for

determining the minimum technical

standards against which companies in the

electrotechnical sector are assessed.

The committee comprises representatives

from organisations across the electrical

installation industry, including the Electrical

Safety Council and the electrical competent

person schemes. The EAS document can be

downloaded free of charge from the website

of the Institution of Engineering and

Technology (IET), by searching for ‘EAS

specification’.

COMPETENCE REQUIREMENT RAISEDFOR PROPOSED QUALIFIED SUPERVISORS

Downlighters have become an increasingly

popular form of lighting in the home but

if incorrectly fitted or using the wrong lamp

or bulb, they can be a fire risk. A new ESC

video aims to address this issue by helping

consumers choose safely when replacing or

buying downlighter lamps.

The short video explains the different type of

lamp available and clearly shows how to

ensure the right choice is made. “Dichroic or

cool beam lamps and aluminium lamps look

very similar and it is possible to fit either type

into an extra low-voltage downlighter,”

explains Martyn Allen, ESC head of technical

development. “However, fitting the wrong

lamp type can cause overheating, so it’s

important to choose the correct type.”

The video also provides viewers with a safety

checklist for any downlighters they currently

have fitted and tips on how to keep them

safe to use – such as ensuring they are clear

of any combustible material and making sure

that downlighters fitted in floor or ceiling

cavities have sufficient space around them.

“While we recommend using a registered

electrician to install downlighters, people will

obviously want to replace the lamps

themselves but, if they select the wrong type,

they could be putting their families and their

homes at risk,” says Allen. “We have produced

two separate leaflets on downlighters – one

for consumers and one for the trade - but

given the popularity of ‘teaching’ videos on

the internet, it seemed a logical extension of

our information to put our downlighter safety

video online.”

The video can be found on the generalpublic section of the ESC website:www.esc.org.uk


news

Global packaging firm Innovia Films Ltd has

been fined £90,000 and ordered to pay

£26,790 towards the cost of the prosecution

after a works electrician and his apprentice

suffered life-threatening injuries when they

were engulfed by an electrical arc at a factory

in Cumbria. The electricians were working on

an energised 1 MVA low voltage (400 V)

distribution board supplying the production

plant when the incident occurred in 2006.

A fire had broken out in one of the

compartments of the distribution board the

previous day, possibly due to a short circuit. A

damaged switch fuse had been removed,

with some difficulty, from the board by other

workers to enable them to restore power to

the production plant. The distribution board

remained energised.

In normal operation, the design of the

distribution board allowed individual switches

to be safely withdrawn for maintenance

purposes whilst the board remained

energised. However, in addition to damaging

the switch, the fire had damaged or destroyed

at least one of the plastic shutters that were

designed to close automatically when a

switch was withdrawn, to prevent access to

live parts in the busbar chamber behind.

The following morning, the works electrician

and his apprentice, who had not been

involved the previous day, were asked to clear

away some of the combustion debris from

the switch compartment before bolting a

plate over the front; the normal door to the

compartment had also been damaged by the

fire. The board was not de-energised before

the work was undertaken on the grounds that

it would take 36 hours to resume production

once shut down.

As they began the work, an explosive arc of

electrical energy engulfed both electricians. In

addition to the effects of radiated heat, the

ultra-violet light from electrical arcs caused

severe skin burns, and molten metal particles

penetrated the skin, causing further damage.

With their clothing also set alight, both men

suffered burns to over 40% of their bodies.

The works electrician was in intensive care for

six weeks, four weeks of which was in an

induced coma. In total, he was in hospital for

five months. Nearly five years on, he is still

undergoing treatment for his injuries and will

never be able to return to work. Although in

hospital for nine weeks, four in intensive care,

his less severely injured colleague has since

been able to find employment.

This case graphically illustrates what can

happen if electrical work is undertaken

without first safely isolating the equipment to

be worked on, or taking other necessary

precautions after due consideration of the

circumstances and the risks.

As all electrical engineers and electricians

should know, regulation 14 of the Electricity at

Work Regulations 1989 states that: No person

shall be engaged in any work activity on or so

near any live conductor (other than one suitably

covered with insulating material so as to prevent

danger) that danger may arise unless:

• it is unreasonable in all the circumstances for

it to be dead; and

• it is reasonable in all the circumstances for

him to be at work on or near it while it is live;

and

• suitable precautions (including where

necessary the provision of suitable protective

equipment) are taken to prevent injury.

In this case, the failure to isolate the

equipment safely resulted in the severe injury

of two persons, and legal and commercial

consequences far more serious than 36 hours

of lost production.

PROSECUTION HIGHLIGHTS THEDANGERS OF LIVE WORKING

Detailed advice and guidance on safeworking practice can be found in theESC Best Practice Guide No 2 –Guidance on the management ofelectrical safety and safe isolationprocedures for low voltage electricalinstallations.

Free of charge, the guide can bedownloaded from the industrysection of the Council’s website:www.esc.org.uk


feature

12

An examination of recent fire statistics shows that

in 2007 there were 1425 fires in domestic

premises involving tumble dryers and washing

machines.This indicates that these appliances are

a significant cause of fire. It is difficult to quantify

the number of fires in non-domestic locations due

to such appliances but there is no reason to

believe the numbers are less significant.

The cost and inconvenience of fires caused by tumbledryers, washing machines and similar appliances, such asdishwashers, should not be underestimated. Thefollowing case study is not atypical. The fire was causedby a faulty tumble dryer located in a small laundry roomnext to a kitchen in commercial premises. As the door tothe room was closed, the fire was not discovered until itwas well established. Although the Fire and RescueService extinguished the fire before structural damagewas caused to the building, there was fire and waterdamage to the laundry room, extensive smoke damagethroughout the establishment, and the kitchen was outof action for several days. It can only be surmised thatthe excess on the insurance, loss of income and generaldisruption resulted in a significant cost to the owner.

Factors that contribute to the likelihood or severity of fire

The continuing rise in energy prices is encouragingconsumers to use time switches to operate their laundryand similar appliances during the hours when cheaperelectricity tariffs are available. However, operating theseappliances when the occupants of the premises areasleep is likely to introduce delays in fires being

discovered and to increase the likely severity of any firecaused by such an appliance.

In many electrical installations, such appliances areconnected to the supply by means of plugs and socket-outlets located behind the appliances. In this situation, inthe event of a fire, local switching off of the supply toremove the source of heat within an appliance isimpossible.

For tumble dryers in particular, other typical factors thatcan increase the likelihood or severity of fire include thefollowing:

• Reduced airflow in the dryer, mainly due to build upof lint in filters/traps but also from poor ventingarrangements. This can cause overheating byconsiderably slowing down the drying action

• Insufficient ‘cooling cycles’ for reducing thetemperature of items in the dryer. This will result inhigher temperatures of the items being dried andlonger periods for the heat to dissipate from theitems

• Inappropriate fabrics or fabrics contaminated withcombustible substances (grease, oils, fats). These mayignite spontaneously when exposed to thetemperatures generated in a tumble dryer.

Control measures that can be put in place in the electrical installation

Whilst it may be unreasonable in many cases toadvocate the installation of push-button emergencyswitches of the type used in industry, it is goodpractice to provide laundry and similar appliances with

Enhanced protection agaby laundry appliances

“fire wascaused by a

faulty tumbledryer located

in a smalllaundry room”

feature

a suitable switch that could be used in an emergency,located in a position that would be accessible in theevent of a fire. In certain situations the use of amaster switch that disconnects a number ofappliances may be appropriate.

Also, where such an appliance is frequently left

unattended in use, particularly if used during the

night, a suitably selected smoke detector or, where

appropriate, heat detector will provide enhanced

protection (if such a detector has not already been

installed as part of a fire alarm system in accordance

with BS 5839 and/or national building regulations).

Looking to the future, although the planned

introduction of smart meters is likely to encourage

consumers to use laundry and similar appliances at

times when low cost tariffs are available, the

associated establishment of home area networks

(HANs) will provide the opportunity to link

smoke/heat detectors to the HAN. The HAN could

then be configured so that, in the event of a fire, the

fire alarm would sound and the electrical supply to the

appliances would be automatically disconnected.

Until the provision of automatic disconnection

systems becomes the norm, disconnection

arrangements based on current practices will generally

need to be used. However, it is important to realise

that BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and other

standards provide for a minimum standard of safety.

Thus, where the likely consequences of a fire are

particularly severe, the provision of additional safety

measures may be appropriate.

Risk assessment

Whether in a domestic situation or in a place of work,an assessment should be carried out of the risks involvedin operating laundry and similar appliances unsupervised,and consideration should be given to appropriatemeasures to minimise the effects of any fire.

When deciding if expenditure on additional safetymeasures is justifiable, the likely human and economicconsequences of a fire should be considered, and factorssuch as the difficulty of evacuation (which depends onthe age and fitness of occupants and the location of theappliance, amongst other things) should also be takeninto account.

Summary

The growing trend to use laundry and similar appliancesunattended, particularly at night, increases the likelyseverity of the effects of fires caused by the misuse ormalfunctioning of such an appliance.

However, for a moderate expenditure, suitable controlmeasures can be put in place in the electricalinstallation. A small investment on fire alarm equipmentand an effective means of switching off in an emergencycan reduce financial burden and inconvenience. It mayeven save lives.

Needless to say, it is also important for appliances to beused in accordance with the manufacturers’recommendations relating to safety. In particular, fortumble dryers, attention should also be paid to matterssuch as cleaning lint filters, not allowing lint toaccumulate in and around the appliance, and not placingitems contaminated with combustible substances (suchas solvents, grease, oils and fats) in the appliance.

“...for amoderateexpenditure,suitable controlmeasures canbe put in placein the electricalinstallation”


ainst fires caused


feature

“in mostcases

the lampsstarted

flickering andemitting noise

from thecontrol gear

housing”

In the Winter 2010 edition (Issue 19) of Switched On

the Council reported on consumer concerns over

compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). As a continuation

of that project, the ESC has looked at the effects of

using compact fluorescent lamps with various

switching and dimmer devices.

Low energy CFLs generally come with instructions

stating that the lamps are not suitable for use with

dimmers and timer switches. In some cases the user

instructions warn of a potential fire hazard in such

conditions. The Council wanted to determine if there

are electrical safety concerns when using CFLs with

these devices and in particular touch dimmer devices.

The ESC commissioned an independent laboratory to

carry out limited endurance and thermal testing on a

selection of commercially available low energy CFLs.

The investigation revealed no excessive surface

temperatures or apparent hazards when using CFLs

with a touch dimmer, a table lamp with touch control

or the timer and switching devices. In most cases,

however, the lamps started flickering and emitting

noise from the control gear housing. While there was

no evidence of a potential fire hazard, one lamp sample

did suffer a ruptured capacitor. The damage was

contained within the lamp housing, and the lamp was

considered to have failed in a safe manner.

The use of low energy CFLs with dimmers and timersmight be considered to be consumer misuse. Yet thesignificant safety finding from this investigation relatedto the specific retrofit lamp, which was clearly intendedfor direct user replacement. After the initial switchingcycles, live parts became exposed owing to the distortionof the control housing. The two halves of the housingactually separated after the subsequent thermal testing.

Other observations from the investigation included:

• All bayonet (BC22) lamp caps were a loose fit wheninserted into a batten lampholder

• Heavy signs of blackening at the cathode were evidentfor two of the lamps

• Almost half of the lamp samples operated well belowthe manufacturers’ stated wattage

• Conflicting rated voltage markings were found on lamppackaging when compared with the lamps themselves

• Low power factor associated with dimmer, switchingand timer usage

Sample election

Ten self-ballasted CFLs were randomly selected andpurchased. The lamps ranged from 7 W through to 250 W.A selection of switching, timer and dimmer devices andluminaires were purchased with the aim of simulatingforeseeable installation conditions (see table 1).

The effects of using comlamps with switching aShould consumers have any concerns over electrical safety when using CFLs with switchingand dimmer devices? The ESC investigates.


feature

“an internalcapacitorruptured afterapproximately30 minutesrenderingthe lampinoperative. ”Product testing

Each lamp type was subjected to limited thermal testing,with some lamps being subjected to 5,000 switchingcycles (10,000 operations) before beginning thermaltests. Each lamp was operated at its rated voltage, withthe mean voltage being used for lamps marked with avoltage range. Generally, the tests were conducted withthe lamp cap facing downwards.

Thermocouples were positioned at appropriate pointssuch as the lamp cap, control gear housing, lampholdermounting surface and mounting surface of the variousdevices. The switching devices were set for a one-hour onperiod, allowing stabilisation before temperaturemeasurements were recorded. Voltage, current, power andpower factor were also recorded.

After consideration of possible installation conditions,the various test configurations were:

• 7 W – 250 W lamps mounted in B22 or B40lampholder and used in conjunction with a touchdimmer

• 7 W and 9 W E14 (SES) lamp mounted in touch lampon full brightness setting

• 24 W retrofit lamp used in outdoor use floodlight withPIR

• 7 W and 11 W lamp mounted in B22 lampholder andused with sunset switch

• 12 W and 20 W lamp mounted in B22 lampholder andused with digital programme timer

• 20 W lamp mounted in B22 lampholder and used withdigital timer switch

• 20 W lamp mounted in B22 lampholder and used withmovement sensor

• 250 W lamp mounted in E40 lampholder andsubjected to 5,000 switching operations

• 250 W lamp mounted in E40 lampholder and used inconjunction with a touch dimmer, set at minimumand maximum brightness

• 7 W lamp mounted in B22 lampholder and used withphotocell kit

Product testing results

In each case the lamps when operated with the touchdimmer started flickering and emitting noise from thecontrol gear housing as soon as the voltage was applied.Despite these findings, the surface temperatures werewell within the applied standard limits and no hazardousconditions were evident. It was not possible, however, torecord the surface temperature for the 12 W spiral tubelamp, as an internal capacitor ruptured afterapproximately 30 minutes rendering the lampinoperative. The damage was contained within the lamphousing, with no hazardous conditions present. A pungentaroma typical of an overheating or failed electroniccomponent was apparent but this was not consideredhazardous, as the damage was limited to a singlecomponent only.

mpact fluorescentnd dimmer devices

Table 1: CFL samples under test

Lamp design Stated wattage Switching, timer and dimmer devices Luminaires

Multi straight tube 7-20 W Photocell kit B22 lampholder

Spiral tube 7-12 W Touch dimmer E40 lampholder

Retrofit straight tube 24 W Digital timer switch Touch lamp

Large multi straight tube 250 W Digital programmable timer Floodlight with PIR

Movement sensor switch

Sunset switcher


It was also noted that all the bayonet (B22) lamps capswere a loose fit when inserted into a battenlampholder with the lamp cap facing downwards.

The surface temperatures measured for the two lampswhen operated in the touch lamp were well within thestandard limits applied and no hazards were present.The use of the sunset switch, digital timers and themovement sensor also resulted in satisfactory results,with no apparent hazards. It was clear, however, thatthe power measured for almost half of the lampsduring these tests was way below the manufacturers’figures, with one lamp recording a value of 6.6 Wagainst a claimed 20 W. In one instance the measuredpower was higher, at 9.6 W, than the claimed 7 W.

Ten of the lamps were subjected to 5,000 switchingcycles before beginning thermal testing in the chosenconfiguration. Each lamp was inspected after the 5,000cycles and in eight cases the lamp showed no signs ofdeformation or obvious hazards. The 7 W B22 lampused with the photocell kit showed heavy signs ofblackening in the cathode areas but this was notconsidered hazardous.

The most significant safety finding was after 5,000switching cycles for the 24 W retrofit lamp. Visualinspection revealed exposed live parts where the controlgear enclosure had distorted. The lamp was operational,

allowing the thermal testing to continue. At the end ofthe thermal tests the two halves of the enclosure hadseparated. The test laboratory considered this ahazardous condition and a departure under EN 60598-1: 2008 and EN 60968: 2000 – Safety Requirements –Self-ballasted lamps for general lighting services.

The retrofit lamp also had two sets of productmarkings. Both sets of markings had different ratedvoltages, which also differed from the rated voltagemarking on the product packaging.

Three other lamps had rated voltages marked on thepackaging that were different from those marked onthe lamps themselves. In two of these instances thepackaging stated 100 - 110 V, with the lamps beingmarked 220 V. One lamp was also not marked with itsrated wattage, which is a departure under BS EN 60968.

Conclusions

Testing with various switching and dimmer devices wasan attempt to simulate foreseeable conditions ofmisuse. The findings of this limited investigationsuggest that using low energy CFLs with suchswitching and dimmer devices does not necessarilyresult in a hazard, but is clearly misuse where the lampis not designed for use with such devices.

The flickering and noise emitted as soon as the lampswere used with the touch dimmer might prompt aconsumer to realise that the lamp is not intended tobe used with a touch dimmer, thereby avoiding apotential hazard. It cannot be assumed, however, thateach lamp will fail safe if used with a dimmer or aswitching device.

The failure of the retrofit device is a concern, especiallyas the device is designed as an energy savingalternative for a typical floodlight. Its size exacerbatedthe confined space within a floodlight, and the ‘clip-on’fixing arrangement for the control gear housing wouldappear to be a design fault.

The conflicting rated voltage markings, as well as thepresence of multiple markings on one particular lampand the absence of the rated wattage on another, aredisappointing and suggest that the product standardsand safety regulations are not understood or notproperly followed.

The recorded wattage when compared with themanufacturers’ claimed wattage is a performanceconcern that the Council intends to bring to theattention of the lighting industry.

As with all safety investigations, the ESC will liaise withthe retailers and manufacturers concerned and keepthe authorities informed of its actions. If necessary,an update will be published in a future edition ofSwitched On.

feature

“all thebayonet (B22)

lamps capswere a loose

fit wheninserted into a

battenlampholder”

A copy of the laboratory test report will bemade available on the Council’s websitewww.esc.org.uk


All the questions and answers in the

renamed ‘Industry guidance on the

Wiring Regulations’ section of the ESC

website have been reviewed by the

Electrical Installation Forum and updated as

necessary to take account of Amendment

1 to BS 7671: 2008.

In addition, the answers to several new

commonly-asked questions have been

added, including:

• With consumer units getting larger, there

may not always be sufficient space to

mount them horizontally. Is it permissible

to mount them vertically, provided the

manufacturer is in agreement?

• Is it permissible to use equipment (such as

circuit-breakers, RCDs, main switches etc)

made by one manufacturer in a consumer

unit or distribution board made by

another manufacturer?

• For an electric shower, can the copper cold

water supply pipe be contained in the

same trunking as the insulated and

sheathed BS 6004 supply cable?

• When undertaking a periodic inspection

on a domestic electrical installation

having more than one consumer unit, do I

need to complete a separate Electrical

Installation Condition Report for each part

of the installation?

• When carrying out a periodic inspection, is

it acceptable to use a wander lead to carry

out protective conductor continuity testing

to exposed-conductive-parts (such as

metallic accessory plates) with the

installation still energised?

Also, a revised answer has been given to

the previously-published question “After

replacing a consumer unit, it is found that

there is a shared neutral between the upstairs

and downstairs lighting circuits. Would it

comply with BS 7671 if I put the lighting onto

one circuit to avoid the RCD tripping?”

For the industry-agreed answers to these

and many other commonly-asked

questions relating to the application of the

17th Edition, please visit

www.esc.org.uk/forum, where each

section of the questions and answers is

now searchable.

We recommend that those following the

information provided in the ‘Industry

guidance on the Wiring Regulations’

section of the website revisit the site at

least every couple of months to see what

other additions and amendments have

been made.

17TH EDITION GUIDANCE – UPDATED, EXPANDED, AND NOW SEARCHABLE

Now available for an annual subscription

of only £35 (plus VAT), the ESC’s

Essential Guide to the Wiring Regulations is

really fantastic value compared with other

guidance on BS 7671.

Work is now underway on updating the 300

plus topics in the Essential Guide to take

account of the changed requirements

introduced by Amendment 1 to

BS 7671: 2008.

If printed on each side of A4 paper, the

topics would fill at least three or four large

ring binders. But fortunately, all the

information is fully searchable and, if

required, any topic can be printed in colour

as a fully-formatted PDF for ease of

reference. And the search facility has now

been improved to be at least as powerful as

that on the now superseded CD version.

Like to know what you’re missing? Go to

www.eschub.org.uk for further information

and a free trial.

ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE WIRING REGULATIONSBEING UPDATED

Would you be interested in an offlineversion of the Essential Guide?The Essential Guide is now accessible online only, which means that users needto be connected to the internet whenever using it.

Last year, we asked whether there was any interest in subscribing to an enhanced

version of the online version of the Guide that could also be used on laptops,

netbooks etc offline when internet access is not available, such as may be the case

when users are away from their office or base.

At that time, only 50 or so users registered such an interest, which meant that it was

not economically viable for us to develop an offline version.

However, now that the standard CD version (which effectively gave ‘offline’ access) is

no longer available, we are reviewing users’ needs. If the level of interest is sufficient,

we will look further into the cost of developing such an enhanced version and the

effect this might have on the subscription rate for that version.

To register your interest in subscribing to an enhanced, offline version of theGuide (at an additional cost yet to be determined), please go towww.esc.org.uk/industry/essential-guide

news

The Health and Safety Executive has issued further advice onthe serious safety issue of asbestos. On average, sixelectricians die every week from the effects of asbestos.

You are mostly at risk when:

• You are working on an unfamiliar site

• The building you are working on was built before the year 2000

• Asbestos-containing materials were not identified before the jobwas started

• Asbestos-containing materials were identified but thisinformation was not passed on by the people in charge to thepeople doing the work

• You don’t know how to recognise and work safely with asbestos

• You know how to work safely with asbestos but you choose toput yourself at risk by not following proper precautions, perhapsto save time or because no one else is following properprocedures

As long as the asbestos is not damaged or located somewhere whereit can be easily damaged, it won’t be a risk to you. Asbestos is only adanger when fibres are made airborne, but remember:

• You can’t see or smell asbestos fibres in the air

• The effects of asbestos take many years to show up - avoidbreathing it in now

• Smoking increases the risk many times over

Are you sure that you don’t come in to contact with asbestos?

If you are an electrician and work on buildings built or refurbishedbefore 2000, you may come in to contact with asbestos. It’s not easyto tell asbestos from how it looks. It needs to be properly identifiedin a specialist laboratory, but here are a few examples of where it iscommonly found:

• Asbestos in switchgear and fuse assemblies in distribution boardsand consumer units

• Asbestos used as packing between floors and in partition walls

• Sprayed (‘'impet') asbestos on structural beams and girders

• Lagging on pipework, boilers, calorifiers, heat exchangers etc

• Asbestos insulating board - ceiling tiles, partition walls, serviceduct covers, fire breaks, heater cupboards, door panels, lift shaftlining, fire surrounds, soffits etc.

• Asbestos cement products such as roof and wall cladding, bathpanels, boiler and incinerator flues, fire surrounds, gutters,rainwater pipes, water tanks etc.

• Other products such as floor tiles, mastics, sealants, rope sealsand gaskets (in pipework etc), millboard, paper products, cloth(fire blankets, etc) and bituminous products (roofing felt, etc)

Some of the materials listed above can only be worked on by acontractor who has been granted a licence from HSE. Other jobs canbe carried out using the appropriate HSE method sheet, such as A33– Replacing an asbestos-containing fusebox or single fuse assembly.Also check the equipment and method sheets for details on what touse and how.

How do I deal with asbestos waste?

Make sure you double-bag and label it as asbestos waste. You canthen get in contact with the Local Authority to find out if they willassist you in disposing of it. They may charge for this service.Alternatively, you can contact the Environment Agency(www.environment-agency.gov.uk) or, if based in Scotland, theScottish Environment Protection Agency (www.sepa.org.uk). Thewaste must be disposed of at a licensed tip.

18

technical

Spotlight on… The risk from asbestos

For further information, visit:www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos

It is easy to confuse earthing and bonding because:

• both are associated with fault protection, where protectionagainst electric shock is by means of AutomaticDisconnection of Supply (ADS), and

• there are visual similarities between earthing and bonding,such as the green-and-yellow colour identification of theprotective conductors that are used for both.

Nevertheless, earthing and bonding are distinct from each other intheir purposes, their general arrangements, and in many of therequirements of BS 7671 they have to satisfy.

Description of earthing and bonding

Earthing is the name given to the connection of the exposed-conductive-parts of an installation (such as metallic enclosures ofClass I electrical equipment) to the main earthing terminal of thatinstallation.

Equipotential bonding (‘bonding’ for short) is the electricalconnection of the extraneous-conductive-parts (such as metallicservice pipes and exposed structural metalwork that are liable tointroduce Earth potential) and exposed-conductive-parts within theinstallation, to maintain them at substantially the same potential.Main bonding connects extraneous-conductive-parts to the mainearthing terminal of the installation. Supplementary bonding (whererequired) connects together exposed-conductive-parts andextraneous-conductive-parts.

The purposes of earthing and bonding, and how theyare achieved

The danger of electric shock due to earth fault conditions in an

installation arises from what are sometimes called touch voltages.

These can occur under earth fault conditions between any

combination of the exposed-conductive-parts and extraneous-

conductive-parts in an installation that are simultaneously accessible

to a person.

The purpose of earthing is to limit the duration of the touch

voltages. This is achieved by the operation of the relevant protective

device (such as a fuse or circuit-breaker) under earth fault

conditions. This removes the touch voltages by causing the

automatic disconnection of the supply to the faulty circuit within

the maximum time specified in BS 7671.

The purpose of bonding is to limit the magnitude of the touch

voltages to a level that is insufficient to cause danger during the

time taken for the relevant protective device to disconnect the

supply to the faulty circuit.

A by-product of main bonding and supplementary bonding is that

they are likely to reduce the duration (not just magnitude) of the

touch voltages. This is because the bonding provides conductive

paths in parallel with the earthing arrangement of the installation.

These paths allow a greater magnitude of earth fault current to flow,

which reduces the time taken for the relevant protective device to

disconnect the supply to the faulty circuit, and consequently reduces

the touch voltage duration. However, bonding must not be relied on

to satisfy the disconnection time requirements of BS 7671, which is

the function of earthing.

Summary

Earthing and bonding are distinct from each other. The purpose ofearthing is to limit the duration of touch voltages, whereas thepurpose of bonding is to limit the magnitude of touch voltages.

what is the difference betweenearthing and bonding? ?Have you ever

been asked...


technical

Figure 1: Typical earthing and main bonding Figure 2: Typical main and supplementary bonding (where required)

MET

Meansof Earthing

Exposed-conductive-part

XProtective device

Fault

Earthing

Bonding conductorExtraneous-conductive-

part

cpc

Gasmeter

Watermeter

Main Earthing Terminal

Extraneous-conductive-partother than pipework(eg exposed structural metalwork)

Main equipotentialbonding conductors

Supplementary equipotentialbonding conductors

Exposed-conductive-parts

Special installation or location (such as a bathroom)

Metallic water service pipe

Metallic gas installationpipework

20

All the previous issues of Switched On are available to read or

download from the ‘Business & Community’ section of our website.BACK ISSUES OF SWITCHED ON

As part of the Electrical Safety Council’s

commitment to reduce electrically-

related fires in homes, the ongoing Fire

Safety Fund provides an opportunity for

the Council to continue working with

partners to support fire prevention

schemes at a local level.

The Fund supports local electrical fire

prevention schemes UK-wide that aim to

influence safety standards and help to

change behaviours to keep people safe,

with a particular focus on areas of high-

risk and vulnerable groups.

Last year, £100,000 was shared among 23

organisations, ranging from Fire & Rescue

Services to Trading Standards officers and

from District Councils to the Royal

Association for Deaf People.

There was a diverse range of funded

projects, including the testing and

replacement of unsafe electrical

appliances and initiatives aimed at raising

awareness of electrical safety issues. Some

of the funding contributed towards the

refurbishment of a Fire & Rescue

community safety vehicle, which will have

a stock of electrical safety literature on

board when the vehicle is used at local

community safety events.

Last year’s funding directly benefited

almost 18,000 people and helped to reach

almost a million across the UK. In addition,

2390 unsafe products, such as electric

blankets and other small electrical

appliances, were removed from use.

This time round, the Fire Safety Fund

2011-12 has provided £140k which will be

shared among 33 projects UK-wide: 21 in

England, 8 in Scotland, 3 in Wales and 1 in

Northern Ireland.

A number of safety centres across the

country have been funded to assist them

in creating electrical safety scenarios at

their premises. These centres help

members of the community to learn

about home, road and leisure safety

through the use of realistic settings and

scenarios, which enables visitors to

experience risks in a controlled

environment.

One such project aims to replicate a

burnt-out bedsit which will be used to

demonstrate the dangers of various

household appliances, with preventative

guidance provided to groups attending

the centre.

Another project aims to introduce a

“bobby” van scheme which will offer

home safety checks to the elderly and

disabled in their local community in an

area of Wales. The scheme will be run by

local police and will provide vulnerable

local people with a range of advice,

including electrical safety. This scheme

plans to work with the local Fire & Rescue

Services to make some referrals, where

necessary, for a full fire safety home check.

PARTNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THIS YEAR’S FIRE SAFETY FUND

To find out about the full range of

projects supported this year by the

Fire Safety Fund, visit:

www.esc.org.uk/stakeholder/

news-and-campaigns/campaigns/

current-fire-safety-projects

switched on issue 22

Documents

forthe consultation

consumer safety

public consultation

consultation document

consultation withgovernment

terms of safety andconvenience

safety fund seepage

animpartial safety body