Showing posts with label west end glasgow electricians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label west end glasgow electricians. Show all posts

Friday 3 June 2016

Electricians in Clydebank



Shipbuilding  Clydebank

The River Clyde has been a centre for shipbuilding for hundreds of years, with boats being built in the area possibly as early as the 15th century.
However, it was during the 19th century, in places such as Bowling Harbour, Denny's Shipyard in Dumbarton, John Brown's Shipyard at Clydebank and Govan Graving Docks, that shipbuilding became a real source of commerce for Glasgow.
The advent of the The steam engine marked massive opportunities for Glasgow to expand its heavy industry.Between 1844 and 1963, Denny's shipyard alone built over 1500 ships. The Denny family was involved in building the first steamship that crossed the Channel (1814), the first turbine steamer (1901), and the first diesel-electric paddle (1934), to name a few. Also well-known from Dumbarton was the fast clipper Cutty Sark, currently a visitor attraction in London.
For many, though, the heart of the shipping industry in Glasgow lay in Govan and the Fairfield Shipyards. At Fairfield, Robert Napier, known as 'the father of shipbuilding on the Clyde', trained many of those who went on to establish leading shipyards,including John Brown's Shipyard in Clydebank. These shipyards grew towards the end of the nineteenth century to become the some of the leading suppliers of the Royal Navy, as well as building liners and steamers, and the tradition continues today with BAe Systems yards at Govan and Scotstoun.
A shipbuiding landmark on the Clyde is the Finnieston Crane at Yokhill. Completed in 1931, it was primarily used to load large steam ocomatives for exportation. In addition, it was used to fit large ships' engines. This impressive machine is still in working order.
After World War Two the shipping industry went into decline and by the 1960's, Fairfield had collapsed.
Recently, however, regeneration of the Clyde Waterfront has attracted new industry to the area, including financial services, digital media and tourism. However, the long tradition of Shipbuilding in the area continues.

Thursday 4 February 2016

Electrician for landlords in Glasgow

Introduction of mandatory electrical safety checks 







03 Feb 2016 WES ELECTRICAL 0141 8405236
Electricians westend glasgow 
You may be aware the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 introduced a mandatory requirement for electrical testing in privately rented properties.
This will be implemented in due course through guidance from Scottish Ministers.

The Scottish Government are in the process of drafting guidance. In summary the proposal is: -
 
(1) Any new tenancy from 1 December 2015 must have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
(2) Any existing tenancy must have an EICR by 1 December 2016, so there will be a 1 year period to bring existing tenancies up to standard.
(3) An EICR which complies with BS7671 completed by a competent person since 1 January 2012 will be acceptable.
(4) An EICR completed on or after 1 December 2015 must have additional documents to show a record of appliances checked and any remedial work undertaken, but these additional documents won’t be required if the EICR was completed earlier.
(5) An ongoing duty to renew EICRs every 5 years.
 
SAL and the CLA are working closely with the Scottish Government as the guidance is being drafted, and have already been successful in ensuring that the proposed guidance allows for existing EICR certificates carried out before the legislation is implemented to remain valid. 

We will keep members informed of any developments in relation to electrical safety checks and we will issue the finalised guidance to members as soon as it has been published.

Wednesday 6 January 2016

Benefits of electrical heating

The Benefits of Electric Heating

Electric heating is making something of a comeback. With natural gas prices soaring and uncertainty in its future availability, electric heating systems are the preferred choice of those who wish an efficient heating system and peace of mind with a more environmentally friendly alternative to gas central heating. So what are the benefits of an electric heating system?

What is Electric Heating?

Essentially, an electric heating system converts electricity into heat. Like an electric kettle, the electric boiler heats water via an element then pumps the water throughout the building’s radiator network. Domestic systems require a boiler but, because of their smaller size compared to gas boilers, they can be situated more discreetly and in smaller spaces.

Efficiency of Electric Heating

Compared to gas central heating, electrical is far more efficient and reliable:
  • EASY TO INSTALL AS THERE IS NO FLUE REQUIRED.
  • ELECTRIC BOILERS CAN RUN AT 100% EFFICIENCY.
  • QUICK RESPONSE TIMES – HOT WATER FROM TAPS WITHIN 5-10 SECONDS, RADIATORS HEAT TO MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE WITHIN 3 MINUTES
  • SIMPLE, USER FRIENDLY CONTROLS ENABLE QUICK AND EASY TEMPERATURE CONTROL, ROOM BY ROOM.
  • FEW MOVING PARTS MEANS NO ANNUAL SERVICE, QUICK AND EASY REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.
  • LONGER LIFE SPAN THAN A GAS BOILER – 10 YEARS FOR GAS, 15 YEARS FOR ELECTRICITY.
  • DURABLE COMPONENTS.
  • GOOD SAFETY RECORD – NO NEED FOR A FLUE OR VENTILATION.
  • QUIETER OPERATION THAN GAS.
  • MAINS PRESSURE HOT WATER – POWER SHOWERS DON’T REQUIRE A BOOSTER PUMP.
  • NO STORAGE OR HEADER TANKS REQUIRED.
  • PROVIDES CONSTANT ROOM TEMPERATURES.

Helping Your Pocket

Because of the simplicity of electric boilers, electric heating users rest safe in the knowledge that there is little or no energy waste. In addition, electricity usage for heating can be monitored accurately, which helps future domestic budgets.
Users of electric central heating systems can have lower running costs than gas users as they have the option of peak avoidance tariffs to help keep running costs down, something gas users cannot use for their central heating. In the UK, two popular tariffs are Economy 7 and Economy 10. Economy 7 splits electricity use for heating into day and night (7 hours on an off-peak rate during the night). Economy 10 offers 10 hours of off-peak electricity. The beauty of these tariffs means that you have the choice of running heating and other appliances during off-peak times.

Helping the Environment

Both gas and electricity prices have suffered in recent years. Most electricity is created from gas-fired power stations so if gas prices rise so do electricity prices. However, the move towards sustainable electricity generation is well underway. Wind farms account for increasing amounts of generated electricity year on year, and governments around the world continue to collaborate to make electricity more abundant and affordable. This type of electricity generation is not only good for the environment; it is good for end users reliant on electricity for heating. Another environmental benefit of electric heating is that there are no emissions. This not only has a positive effect on the wider environment, but also within buildings as it maintains cleaner, healthier living and working spaces.



Monday 4 January 2016

Smoke and Carbon monoxide Alarm

A Landlords Guide to: The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (SCOTLAND) Regulations 2015

Introduction

The legislation introduced in October 2015 has helped to standardise and clarify the responsibilities of landlords when it comes to installing smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms by a qualified electrician to protect their residents. Existing rules meant that owners of property built prior to June 1992 were not legally obliged to have smoke alarms installed. The updated legislation ensures that ALL rental properties and their residents are adequately protected against fire and carbon monoxide, and our guide is intended to help you interpret these rules.

Why has this change been made?

The legislation is part of a wider effort to increase fire and carbon monoxide safety across the UK. The statistics below, drawn from a variety of sources, highlight why the government has been so keen to redress the imbalance between protection levels for private tenants versus the rest of the housing sector.
Smoke alarm coverage in privately rented accommodation stands at 83%. This is the lowest of any housing type.Source Official Impact Assessment conducted by government prior to announcement of legislation.
Between April 2013 and March 2014, 97 people died and 1900 were injured in domestic fires affecting properties where no smoke alarm was present.Source: Fire Statistic Great Britain 2013-14
The risk of a CO related incident occurring in the private rental sector is three times greater than the risk for other housing types.Source: Gas Safety Trust Carbon Monoxide Incident Report 2012
A study of 1758 emergency department patients displaying symptoms that could be associated with CO poisoning found that only 16% had a CO alarm installed in their home.Source: BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal) Article 2012

Who does the legislation apply to?

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 apply to all Landlords within England bar a few exceptions. Those exempt from the legislation include:
  • Landlords sharing accommodation with their tenants
  • Landlords granting a right of occupation for a term of 7 years or more
  • Landlords who are registered providers of social housing
Responsibility for the enforcement of the legislation lies with the relevant local housing authority, and breaches of the guidance can be punished by a fine of up to £5000.

How will this affect me?

Many landlords already provide excellent protection by installing smoke alarms throughout their properties. However, carbon monoxide detectors have not necessarily been considered part of a landlord’s duty of care in the past. The statistic that residents of rental properties are three times more likely to suffer a CO related incident than a homeowner highlights how important the provision of CO alarms is, and the new legislation is intended to redress this imbalance.
Different types of properties are affected to different degrees. Under the previous regulations, some types of properties were assessed to different standards in terms of smoke alarms. Whilst this may still hold true, especially for HMOs which come under greater scrutiny, there is now a universal baseline in terms of smoke and CO alarm protection. The table below breaks down the consequences of the legislation and identifies best practice for a range of common property types:
Property TypeEffect of LegislationBest Practice
Assured Tenancy / Assured Shorthold Tenancy(Pre 1992 construction)Legal responsibility to ensure CO alarms are installed. Must provide smoke alarms on every floor.An interconnected system of longlife or mains smoke alarmsthroughout property.

CO alarms present in all high risk rooms.
Assured Tenancy / Assured Shorthold Tenancy(Post 1992 construction)Legal responsibility to ensure CO alarms are installed.
HMO1 or 2 Story. Individual floor area of no more than 200sqmLegal responsibility to ensure CO alarms are installed.A fire risk assessment to identify an appropriate mains poweredinterconnected smoke alarm system.

CO alarms present in all high risk rooms.
HMO3 Stories or higherLegal responsibility to ensure CO alarms are installed.A fire risk assessment to identify an appropriate fire alarm systemwith a central panel.

CO alarms present in all high risk rooms.

Where exactly should I install the alarms?

The new rules make the provision of both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors compulsory, but don't explicitly state exactly where landlords should site them. At present the legislation dictates that a landlord must ensure:
"a smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of the premises on which there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation"
"a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room of the premises which is used wholly or partly as living accommodation and contains a solid fuel burning combustion appliance"
These two directives allow you to accurately calculate the amount of detectors required relative to the types of rooms on each floor, but fail to give guidance as to the exact placement or the type of smoke detector.
There are, however, a few general pieces of advice we can offer to help you establish the best locations for your alarms and the most suitable type of detector. It is impossible to offer advice that covers all eventualities, but these rules of thumb should give you a solid foundation from which to decide where to install your alarms.

Smoke alarm placement tips-

  • If you only have one alarm per floor, cover any downstairs hallways with optical smoke alarms and any landings on subsequent floors with ionisation smoke alarms. This setup plays to the strengths of each sensor type to ensure a quick response to any fires without causing unnecessary false alarms.
  • Make sure the alarms are audible from any bedrooms.
  • Site your smoke alarms at least 30cm from any walls. This avoids the ‘dead air’ zone where smoke can take longer to reach sensors.
  • Avoid placing alarms within 30cm of any light fittings or obstructions on the ceiling.
  • Consider installing an additional heat alarm in the kitchen, but never rely on this to protect an entire floor as heat alarms are only effective over a short distance.

Carbon monoxide alarm placement tips-

  • Site your alarms more than 2 metres, and ideally less than 4 metres away from any appliances.
  • If wall mounting your detector, ensure the device is roughly 1.5m from ground level.
  • Site your alarms at least 30cm from any walls, and avoid placing them near to doors and windows.
  • Make sure the alarms are audible from any bedrooms.
Whilst it is ultimately up to you as an individual to consider the best placement for any alarms within your properties, we hope the guidance above will help you make those decisions.

Who is responsible for maintaining the alarms?

In basic terms, landlords must ensure that alarms are provided and working, but routine maintenance and testing then falls to the occupants of the property. Should the alarms develop a fault or expire during a tenancy it remains the responsibility of a landlord to replace them.
The legislation states that a landlord must make certain that:
"checks are made by or on behalf of the landlord to ensure that each prescribed alarm is in proper working order on the day the tenancy begins if it is a new tenancy"
Once the alarms have been established as working, whether a new tenancy or a tenancy overlapping the introduction of the legislation, many landlords ask tenants to sign a document confirming that alarms have been tested in their presence. This can also be used to clarify for the benefit of the tenants that the duty of maintenance falls to them from that point forwards.

What happens if I don’t comply?

Local housing authorities across England now have the power to serve remedial notices to any landlord they have “reasonable grounds to believe” is not in compliance with the regulations. Failure to take appropriate remedial action within the specified timeframe (usually 28 days) will leave you open to a fine of up to £5000 per property.

Friday 28 November 2014

ELECTRICAL TESTING IN GLASGOW

WES ELECTRICAL WESTEND GLASGOW 01418405236

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Safe method of isolation.



The recommended procedure for proving dead and safe isolation should be by use of a test lamp or two pole voltage detector as recommended in HSE Guidance Note GS38 regulations.
Non-contact voltage indicators and multi-meters should not be used. The test instrument should be proved to be working on a known live source or proprietary proving unit before and after use. All phases of the supply and the neutral should be tested and proved dead before any work is commenced by a qualified electrician.




Test sequence and descriptions of test procedures.



The following tests are carried out with the main board / Consumers main switch isolated



1. Extenal earth fault loop impedance (ohms)


Reason: To establish that a good earth exists at the electrical installation in order for the remaining tests to go ahead.


Method: Disconnect the main earthing conductor from the main earthing terminal at the main distribution board. An earth fault loop impedance tester is connected at line and earth (main earthing conductor) at the supply side of the electrical installation and a test performed. Reconnect the main earthing conductor. The result is Ze and recorded on the test sheet. The prospective fault current is measured at the same time after the reconnection of the main earthing conductor at the main board.


2. Continuity of protective and equipotental bonding conductors


Reason: To check that all circuit protective conductors are continuous and are present at every electrical outlet / accessory on the circuit. Also to check that the main earthing conductor and main bonding conductors are continuous and correctly connected at the terminals.


Method 1: The line conductor is connected to the circuit protective conductor of the same circuit at the consumer unit and a measurement taken at ALL accesories on that circuit between line and c.p.c. The highest measurement obtained is recorded on the test report. 
Test result is R1 + R2. The line conductor and neutral conductor are then connected and the above repeated to obtain R1 + Rn


Method 2 (used for main earth and main bonding conductors): A wandering lead is connected to one end of the conductor to be tested and a measurement taken between the other end of this lead and the other end of the conductor. 
Test result is R2.
During this test polarity can be checked as well. The continuity of the neutral conductor can also be checked to determine R2.


3. Continuity of ring final circuit conductors


Reason: This test ensures that all ring final circuits are indeed a continuous ring with no interconnects or breaks within it.

Method: The line, neutral and earth conductors of the circuit are identified and a measurement from one end to the other end of each is taken. These results are r1, r2 and rn. 
The incoming line conductor is then connected to the outgoing earth conductor and the outgoing line conductor is connected to the incoming earth conductor. A measurement is then taken at ALL socket outlets on the ring. The highest of which is recorded on the report. 
This result is R1+R2 for that circuit. The above is then repeated using the neutral conductor instead of the earth conductor. This test provides R1+Rn which does not need to be recorded on the report but is essential to check the circuit correctly.


4. Insulation Resisitance testing


Reason: This test checks whether the insulation around a cable is still intact and has not broken down over time or has been separated from the rest of the ring. It is a good indicator of the age of an installation.

Method: An insulation resistance tester is connected across line and neutral tails at the origin of the supply. 500V are then pumped down the conductors to see if any voltage leaks across from one conductor to the other. The same is then done for the line and earth and the earth and neutral conductors.


5. Polarity checks


Reason: To check that all accesories are correctly connected to line, neutral and earth and that all switches and circuit breakers are connected in the line conductor only.

Method: The method for this is the same as for continuity and is usually done at the same time by operating switches etc whilst conducting the test.


6. Earth electrode resistance


Reason: To make sure that any earth electrode used is of a sufficiently low impedance to allow the timely operation of the RCD protecting the installation.

Method: An earth fault loop impedance tester is connected between line and earth at the origin of the supply and a test performed. The result of which is considered the resistance of the electrode (Ra).



The following tests are carried out with the Consumers main switch switch in the on position




7. Live polarity testing


Reason: To verify polarity of supply authorities system.


Method: An approved voltage indicator shall be used or test lamp to GS38. Using the approved voltage indicator, one probe shall be placed on the incoming neutral, and the other on the incoming line conductor, on the main breaker. The indicator should show it is live. One probe shall now be placed on the CPC and the other on the incoming line conductor. The indicator should show it is live. A test shall be preformed between CPC & incoming neutral. The indicator should show that it is not live.


8. Earth fault loop impedance


Reason: This test is done at the furthest point on a circuit in order to make sure the impedance of the earth path is not too high even at the furthest point so that sufficient current will flow under fault conditions to take out the circuit breaker protecting the circuit.

Method: An earth fault loop impedance tester is connected to line and earth at the furthest point on the circuit and the test performed.


9. RCD testing


Reason: To make sure RCD's trip within the correct time

Method: An RCD tester is connected and a test at 1/2 times, 1 times and 5 times the trip current is performed on each side of the cycle and a time of trip obtained. Usually milli-seconds with the highest being recorded. The manual test button is then pressed.


10. Functional testing

Reason: To make sure all switches, isolators, MCB's etc. work as they should.

westend glasgow electrician

Ensuring Safe Homes: The Imperative of Electrical Testing, Qualified Electricians, and EICRs for Landlords in Glasgow

https://g.co/kgs/Fsif6i Introduction Renting out a property comes with significant responsibilities, particularly when it comes to the safet...