Electrical Contracting News (ECN) March 2017 | Page 50

SPECIAL FEATURE

SPECIAL FEATURE

UPS & POWER DISTRIBUTION

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

The events industry has become increasingly reliant on effective power distribution . Whether it is a large scale music festival with elaborate light shows or small corporate events with sound systems and presentations , technological development has driven higher rates of energy usage from event organisers . With the festival season coming up , Matt Collins , business development manager of ide Systems , explains how contractors can ensure equipment is installed efficiently , effectively and safely .

The UK events sector is booming . The industry is currently valued at £ 42.3bn and , according to Eventbrite ’ s 2016 pulse report , 67 per cent of event organisers believe their events will grow and 20 per cent expect their budgets to increase . These are substantial statistics that show an optimistic and growing industry .

However , these growth projections bring with them the pressures of ensuring that operations run smoothly . With increasingly demanding applications and energy intensive equipment , both event organisers and electrical contractors are responsible for keeping everything functioning effectively .
While event organisers are tasked with sourcing suppliers and accurately quoting specifications , contractors must fit equipment properly and ensure everything is installed in a safe and timely fashion . To do this , contractors must bear several factors in mind .
Regulatory compliance
In many instances , the organiser of the event is not an electrical professional and may not have a strong understanding of regulatory standards for temporary electrical distribution equipment . As such , it is important that contractors double check to ensure that equipment is compliant and certified safe to use .
The electrical safety standard in the UK is BS7671 , which is better known as the IET Wiring Regulations 17th Edition . Theoretically , any power distribution installation certified to this standard is safe for use . However , this does not automatically make it compliant . For electrical equipment to be used at an event it must comply not only with BS7671 , but also with BS7909 — the set of standards for temporary electrical systems at events . Power distribution equipment at events must be certified to both BS7671 and BS7909 , though there are a handful
50 | March 2017