The 18th Edition will constitute one of the biggest ever shake-ups to the UK Wiring Regulations, with energy efficiency introduced for the first time. Mahendra Mistry, technical manager for electrical systems at Bureau Veritas, explains.
The advent of sustainability is undoubtedly transforming the role of the modern maintenance engineer. Today, the task is not only to make sure that all electrical systems and equipment are in safe working order, but to operate in the most energy-efficient manner possible.
A strong influence has been the Government’s growing green agenda. But there is still a long way to travel towards reducing emissions by 80% from 1990 levels before 2050, with the commercial energy landscape playing a big part.
Currently, non-domestic buildings in the UK account for 17% of our energy consumption and 12% of greenhouse gas emissions. And as commercial premises are usually bigger than domestic properties, energy efficiency measures are more cost-effective.
The result is that the UK’s businesses need to get serious about their energy, and increasing responsibility is being placed on the maintenance engineer, who must play a major role in this transition by developing in-depth knowledge of the latest green products and solutions.
Yet until this point, there has been no official best practice regulation for the design and installation of energy efficient technology – meaning it has been all too common for installations to be chopped and changed, with little regard to the distribution of electricity or potential losses.
Published in July, the IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition goes for the first time beyond looking solely at safety requirements, to include a new section designed to make sure energy efficiency is incorporated into electrical installation designs as a prerequisite.
Comprising 25 pages of expert guidance, the new Part 8 takes a different approach to electrical installations, with a view to lessening environmental impact and reducing energy losses and, in turn, energy costs. It includes guidance on using energy only when required and potentially at a lower tariff, reducing maintenance by making sure equipment is installed correctly, and improving general lifetime efficiency.
Key energy efficiency performance measures include lighting, and the benefit of replacing traditional filament, halogen and fluorescent lights with LEDs as one of the easiest ways to cut energy costs. With a typical lifespan of up 70,000 hours, eight times that of traditional options, LED lights can help reduce lighting energy bills by as much as 90%. And because LEDs are typically low voltage, they can also reduce the risk of electric shock.
Another important area is that of the electric vehicle. Against the backdrop of a turbulent fuel market, in recent years there has been a surge in demand for electric vehicles in the UK, particularly in the commercial realm as more businesses realise the huge savings to be made by switching to a greener fleet. More than 100 companies have promised to integrate electric cars into their corporate fleet under the government-backed electric car campaign, Go Ultra Low. Though this is good news for the green economy, there has been an underlying concern about the charging infrastructure that is being installed to support this growth, and whether it is being done safety and correctly – another point clarified in Part 8.
Power factor correction is covered. This is an increasingly sought out energy-efficiency measure which employs the use of high quality, reliable capacitors that compensate for reactive power demand, restoring power factor as near to unity as possible and minimising reactive power charges from the utility company. Power factor correction units can achieve significantly reduced power consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, along with lower electricity bills – another significant revenue stream for the maintenance engineer to unlock.
Further measures included in Part 8 include guidance on best practice in the installation of transformers and cables, with a view to reducing losses by installing more energy-efficient models, alongside guidance on smart metering, load balancing and harmonics, and more.
All this is a clear sign of the times and the growing sense of urgency about energy efficient technology and smart installations, which will make businesses and building operators much more aware of the need to reduce consumption. For the electrical contractor in the know it will help generate greater demand for smart solutions and open up new business opportunities.
Contractors are recommended to invest time and resources in familiarising themselves with Part 8, along with the 18th edition, and the changes it brings, in general.
In addition, help is at hand, with many leading organisations offering dedicated support to help contracting firms adopt the new guidance. At Bureau Veritas, the electrical systems team is able to offer technical expertise and support to alleviate the growing complexity of electrical specification and installation – and it will be launching a package specifically for the 18th Edition, the changes and what it means to customers.
Amid new legislation and a volatile fuel market, there has never been a better time for the maintenance engineer to sell smart solutions to commercial clients. Not only is it important for legislative compliance and the environment, it can have a remarkably beneficial impact on any company’s profitability.
With the arrival of Part 8 marking a large step forward for sustainability, it’s time to give energy-efficient consultancy the green light.
Further information: 0345 600 1828;
info@uk.bureauveritas.com; www.bureauveritas.co.uk