Lock up after lockdown!

Jul 10, 2021 | News

Despite the fact that the vast majority of us were forced to spend more time at home over the past year than ever before, staring at a Zoom screen after fighting for time on the laptop with the kids, recent data has revealed that it has not halted an increase in burglary.

With the huge increase in home working during the various periods of Lockdown, we could be forgiven for having taken home security for granted. However, according to research, 64% of burglaries in England and Wales happen while residents are at home. Over 356,000 homes were broken into in the UK last year, prompting a warning from experts that now is the time to improve home security, especially as we steadily exit Lockdown 3.0, bound for the workplace.

In a rather unusual focus group, when asked their opinion of the best way to deter them, convicted burglars suggest that the best deterrent is CCTV, closely followed by barking dogs and security lighting.

Spring Electrical can’t be of much help when it comes to supplying the canine solution, but our range of easy-to-install CCTV surveillance equipment will enable you to feel confident and get peace of mind knowing your property or workplace is protected. Our wireless CCTV packs come with one standalone camera or combine multiple cameras for a hub free security system with monitoring and recording on desktop, smartphone or tablet.

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Early detection of unwanted ‘visitors’ proves that prevention is better than cure. Security lighting offers an affordable way to illuminate your garden, driveway or pathways, to shine a spotlight on potential intruders but also allows you (and visitors who ARE welcome!) to move safely around in the dark.

CLICK HERE to find out more about our security lighting, floodlights and PIR products.

For more information call or email us…

For more information about these or any other product or service contact

Spring Electrical & Lighting Wholesalers on 020 8393 4000 or email us at info@springelectrical.com

18th Edition Amendments

May 5, 2021 | News

The so called 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, the essential publication for all electrical contractors and engineers, underwent a major overhaul in 2019, with Amendment 1 coming into effect on 1st February last year.

But the recent BSI proposals for a new set of changes (Amendment 2) could represent the biggest set of revisions to the Regulations to date.

With the ever increasing speed of technological change, the Regulations need reflect these changes to ensure that installations are safe, efficient and suitable to keep pace with evolving standards.

The key changes proposed are as follows:

Mandating of arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) on circuits with a rated current not exceeding 32 A

The proposal is that AFDDs should now be required on all single-phase final circuits supplying socket-outlets and fixed current-using equipment.

The potential benefit is that this would effectively mandate the use of AFDDs across all small, single phase circuits, whether in a domestic, commercial or industrial installation, increasing the potential for safety. But this also creates the prospect of greatly increasing cost and the complexity of installations.

Risk assessment for sockets

It is also suggested that Regulation 411.3.3 should be altered to remove the option for omitting RCDs on socket outlets not exceeding 32 A.

The impact could be that designers have no option but to install RCDs on all socket outlets – unless they raise a departure against BS 7671.

Reducing the number of items on the schedule of inspections for an Electrical Installation Certificate.

The number of boxes would be reduced to 13 items, greatly reducing the time needed to complete an EIC. A list of items that should be inspected (where relevant) is available, but this does not need to be completed.

Foundation earthing

Regulation 542.1.2.202 would require that for new premises, additional earthing, such as foundation earthing, should be provided.

This means that every new build would need to be provided with a means of embedding electrodes to supplement the earthing system. This will require the use of electrodes or foundation earthing, in many cases at times when electrical contractors are not on site.

Consultation on the above changes closed in December of last year but updates are always in discussion. To keep up-to-date with regulatory changes CLICK HERE.

For more information call or email us…

For more information about these or any other product or service contact

Spring Electrical & Lighting Wholesalers on 020 8393 4000 or email us at info@springelectrical.com

Road blocks to progress

May 3, 2021 | News

Newly re-elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to consider reducing the impact of proposed boundary taxes affecting contractors in Greater London, by the Federation of Master Builders.

The London branch of the FMB has drafted a manifesto calling for help to access workplaces and for an assessment of road closures and restricted parking on their operations.

SME construction firms across the country have seen extraordinary levels of growth in workload in a decade during the various Lockdowns from January to March 2021 in a decade. According to their survey, repairs and maintenance accounted for most new work at 36 per cent compared with house building at 24 per cent.

FMB London director Sam Eden (pictured left) said: “The mayor must back builders, electrical installers and other contractors by supporting policies that matter the most to them, by helping them access the city effectively by being more flexible with road closures and restricted travel.”

In his first term, Mayor Khan resisted a call proposing that the Congestion Charge zone should be extended to the north and south circular which would have affected over four million Londoners and presented electrical contractors and other trades with yet more pressure on costs.

But even greater parking restrictions and charges, and an apparent obsession with the idea that more bus and cycle lanes will encourage us all to leave our cars at home and take to public transport are naive when it comes to enabling hard working trades people to travel to clients’ homes and workplaces.

Let’s hope common sense (and de-congestion) prevails.

For more information call or email us…

For more information about these or any other product or service contact

Spring Electrical & Lighting Wholesalers on 020 8393 4000 or email us at info@springelectrical.com