Bureau Veritas wants electrical contracting industry to go green
Posted by: electime 9th February 2018
Bureau Veritas is calling on the electrical contracting industry to embrace the changes brought by the new Part 8 section of the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, which is set to arrive in a few months. They say it is an important step forward in the UK’s green agenda.
With the UK being one of the most successful countries in terms of its carbon reduction, it continues to make huge headway in its target towards reducing emissions by 80 per cent on 1990 levels before 2050 – with the adoption of more energy efficient solutions integral to this.
Until this point, there has been no official best practice regulation around the design and installation of energy efficient technology – meaning it has been all too common for installations to be completed with little regard to energy use and emissions.
Set to be released in July 2018, the 18th edition will include a brand-new section dedicated to energy efficiency in installation – a move which Bureau Veritas states will bring renewed focus on the energy efficient plight.
Technical manager for electrical systems at Bureau Veritas, Mahenda Mistry, said: “Although it’s been the subject of much debate, with some stating that the Wiring Regulations should be confined solely to safety requirements, the introduction of an energy efficient section is an vital step forward in ensuring the most current and relevant guidance possible.
“Until now, energy efficiency has all too often been a ‘nice to have’, with it all too common for installations to be chopped and changed, with little regard to the distribution of electricity or potential losses. However, by making energy efficiency a primary focus from the offset, we can look to ensure that each and every installation is completely as safety and sustainably as possible.”
The new Part 8 section will contain 25 page and will provide guidance on ensuring the energy-efficiency of electrical installations with a view to lessening environmental impact, reducing energy losses, using energy only when required and potentially at a lower tariff, reducing maintenance by ensuring equipment is installed correctly and enhancing life-time efficiency.
The consensus is that the change could help coerce increased demand for smart solutions, such as electric vehicles, LEDs, power factor correction and the like, while, in turn, opening up new business opportunities for electrical contractors.
Mahendra adds: “As an industry, we still have a huge job to do in terms of not just meeting carbon reduction commitments but ensuring a sustainable infrastructure; which Part 8 will help to more adequately address. Indeed, it may mean more change for electricians and contractors to get to grips with but it is an important regulatory reform which not only aid our sustainability plight but create new opportunity.”
To find out more about Bureau Veritas please call 0345 600 1828 or email info@uk.bureauveritas.com. Alternatively, please visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
