Why is smart home technology so popular?

Posted on 18th October 2021 at 11:17

It’s predicted that the UK’s smart home sector will grow by more than 15% and will be worth over £9billion by 2025.

To meet the demand across residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings, devices are now available to help homeowners and building managers improve efficiency and remain flexible as behaviour changes.

Commercial lighting trends

Posted on 15th September 2021 at 17:51

A modern office space with flexible lighting

From growing evidence that lighting affects employees’ wellbeing to the recent changes in our working patterns, there are some significant trends in commercial lighting.

Zero carbon homes

Posted on 23rd August 2021 at 13:33

The 30-year delivery plan for the construction industry aims to deliver high-quality zero carbon homes using sustainable building methods.

The Future Homes task force includes housebuilders, professional bodies, suppliers, regulators, environmental groups, and planners.

Woking a construction site which must soon meet carbon zero standards

Repairs and replacements in Castleford

Posted on 16th August 2021 at 15:31

Office lights replaced with LEDs and sensors

We’ve been on the road again, this time going to Castleford in Yorkshire, home to Roman legions and Rugby League.

This project involved a ground floor reception area and offices, including toilet lighting renovations and replacements for failed emergency lights across the site.

Like many reception areas the fluorescent lights here had been left on all the time, even when there wasn’t any activity. The lights have been upgraded to energy efficient LEDs and the wall switches have been replaced with sensors to control the lighting automatically. Now the lights switch off when there’s enough natural light and when there’s no movement.

Building Safety Bill – disappointment about electrical safety checks for high-rise buildings

Posted on 29th July 2021 at 15:03

High-rise buildings should have electrical safety checks

Electrical Safety First and many other commentators have said they are disappointed that the recently published Building Safety Bill doesn’t propose mandatory electrical safety checks in high-rise buildings.

Earlier this year a tower block in East London was badly damaged and residents were evacuated after a fire caused by a faulty consumer unit.

In many high-rise blocks there will be a mix of privately rented, social and owner-occupied flats. Without mandatory electrical safety checks for all of them electrical safety and the associated fire risks can depend on the type of tenure for each flat and the awareness of occupants.

Home rewiring projects – what you should know

Posted on 25th June 2021 at 10:07

If you are working on a property renovation or refurbishment project then Building Regulations will probably apply to your wiring work and electrics.

If your electrics aren’t properly installed, they can be a fire hazard and could lead to injury or electrocution. That’s why they have been brought into the Building Regulations under Part P.

Cabling and fire safety

Posted on 26th May 2021 at 14:50

The fire resistance of insulated cables plays an important part in building safety.

It must be easy for building designers, specifiers, and contractors to identify and install suitable cables that can survive real-life fire conditions.

Fix it or ditch it?

Posted on 12th May 2021 at 14:42

Do you like to mend things when they are broken?

In Europe there’s now a ‘right to repair’ (R2R) movement. It argues that technical information and genuine parts should be widely available, allowing people to mend their appliances. However, manufacturers say that these should only be supplied to qualified professional repairers.

#TheGreenReset

Posted on 27th April 2021 at 18:42

A campaign is underway which challenges homeowners to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

#TheGreenReset is running between 22 April and 22 May and is encouraging people to take action. From becoming plastic free or reducing online shopping, growing vegetables or reducing energy use, the aim is to create new ‘green habits’.

The future for electrical installation

Posted on 13th April 2021 at 18:27

The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) have produced a 2021 Vision report about the future of the industry.

In the last 12 years the UK has seen a major recession and a pandemic. Like many other sectors, electrical contractors have found it difficult to plan ahead. The report aims to look beyond short-term survival and to plan for future business development.