Electrical Contracting News (ECN) June 2017 | Page 7

INDUSTRY
NEWS
XPELAIR ISSUES WARNING AS
AIR POLLUTION HITS THE HEADLINES
With new research revealing some unexpected, grave repercussions of air
quality pollution, Xpelair is reminding the industry of the importance of
ensuring adequate ventilation.
According to a new study entitled, ‘Can Clean Air Make You Happy?,’
exposure to nitrogen dioxide can have the same negative impact on the
human body as ‘big hitting’ life events, such as losing a job or partner.
With the likelihood of being exposed to air pollution much greater than
such unforese en circumstances, the consensus is thereby that reducing
emissions would greatly benefit society and people’s wellbeing.
Xpelair has long championed the importance of improving the nation’s
indoor air quality and the importance adequate ventilation has to play.
Lee Stones, category manager for Xpelair, said, ‘The results of this
report are shocking. As a nation, we are generally well versed when it
comes to the physical health implications that exposure to unhealthy levels
of air pollution can pose, but for it to be put into the context of losing a job
or the death of a partner clearly shows the sheer gravity of the situation.’
Lee added, ‘Although it’s still a topic of much debate, it is vital that, as
an industry, we take a considered and holistic approach to the specification
of ventilation products which can improve air quality and thus improve
health and wellbeing for all.’
LIA TO RUN EU MARKET SURVEILLANCE
PROGRAMME FOR LUMINAIRES
The Lighting Industry Association (LIA) has launched a programme
in the UK as part of an EU-wide initiative from LightingEurope to
carry out market surveillance on luminaires.
A survey of European lighting companies in 2016 showed
there was a real need to address the problem of compliance and
exaggerated performance claims in the luminaire market. The
survey also found that 94 per cent of companies asked believed
the activity of their national market surveillance authority was
insufficient to tackle the problem. The largest number of responses
came from the UK.
In response to this survey LightingEurope has developed an
industry funded market surveillance programme which is being
rolled out in the UK, France, Spain and Poland initially with others
to follow.
LIA members are invited to join the scheme which costs from just
500 euros a year. Members will be entitled to display the Compliant
Lighting Initiative logo advertising their support while having access
to information on the products being tested.
All monies raised from UK companies will be spent checking
products on the UK market at the LIA Laboratory.
Peter Hunt, who was recently elected president of LightingEurope
and is coordinating this scheme in the UK, said, ‘Without doubt the
biggest concern expressed by our members is the plethora of non-
compliant products carrying exaggerated claims appearing on the
market. Compliance with the wide range of regulations our industry
is subjected to comes at a cost. It is simply unfair that certain
companies are avoiding the cost of compliance in order to gain a
competitive advantage. This programme aims to tackle this problem
and help create a level playing field.’
LightingEurope has pledged 30,000 euros to kick off this project
and plans to publish its findings annually.
For more detailed information email Peter Hunt – peterh@
thelia.org.uk
ARCTIC ADVENTURE: ARE YOU READY TO
TAKE ON A CHALLENGE FOR A CAUSE IN 2018?
The Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) is looking for brave individuals to
join its second Challenge for a Cause campaign to raise funds for the
Dickinson family.
Caz Dickinson, a mother, grandmother and a loving wife, spent 15 years
working for a large electrical wholesaler until her life changed in the blink of
an eye. On 4th January 2009, Caz collapsed in her home, hit her head on the
bathroom floor and was rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with
a Grade 4 brain haemorrhage. Since her collapse, she has faced numerous
major operations and has been left with severe, irreversible brain damage.
Over the years, Caz’s husband Mick has helped her through her struggles
and kept her positive while supporting their three daughters. Throughout
this time, the family struggled to get financial aid, and after being made
redundant from his job, Mick was left without any income to cover the
mortgage, hospital visits and other expenses. This resulted in them losing
their family home in October 2013.
Despite the challenging situation, Mick found another job and a rented
property which would accommodate his wife upon her return from the
hospital. In November 2015, he was given the option to take voluntary
redundancy, which gave him an opportunity to bring Caz home and become
her full time carer.
To help the Dickinson family with their financial struggles and to allow
the family to focus on caring for Caz the EIC has launched its second
Challenge for a Cause campaign – Arctic Adventure 2018. This incredible
challenge is aiming to raise £250,000 for the Dickinson family which
will allow them to secure a lasting family home and will help with Caz’s
development and care.
The adventure is set to include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
and husky sledding and will take place between 8th-12th March 2018 in
Finland, Kuusamo.
For further details visit: www.electricalcharity.org
The Electrical Industries
Charity has launched its
second Challenge for a
Cause campaign – Arctic
Adventure 2018.
SELECT LAUNCHES MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO PRESS FOR REGULATION
SELECT is stepping up its campaign to make it a
legal requirement for electricians to be regulated
by the Scottish Parliament.
It is launching a widespread media campaign
to highlight the dangers of using unqualified
people to carry out electrical work and to press for
official recognition of electricians as a profession.
SELECT will use major Scottish regional
newspapers, radio stations across the country
and railway station posters to disseminate the
message that regulation of the profession is key to
increasing safety as well as being wholly justified.
Government statistics have shown that 69 per
cent of all accidental fires in Scottish homes are
caused by electricity and unqualified workers
pose a distinct and continuing threat to safety in
Scottish homes.
The campaign, which will run over the spring
and summer of 2017, will emphasise the length
of training that electricians undertake and the
benefits of regulation with a focus on the aspect
of safety.
Alan Wilson (pictured), SELECT’s head of
communications and membership services, said,
‘Electrical installations are extremely complex and
they underpin modern life. Working wit h electricity
cannot be undertaken in a cavalier fashion.
‘Every year, fires arising from dangerous
electrical installations endanger – and sometimes
cost – lives and load costs on to insurance
companies and emergency services.
‘That is why it is so important that the Scottish
Parliament leads the way in ensuring that trades
people who go into people’s homes or businesses
know how to conduct themselves in a safe and
professional manner.’
Alan Wilson, SELECT’s
head of communications
and membership
services.
June 2017 | 7