The federal government continues to invest major sums to drive act as housing associations make an effort to meet the new 2010/2011 deadline with the Decent Homes Standard. Contractors and specifiers can capitalise around the opportunities this bit of legislation presents by being conscious of the very best wiring accessory products available.
Altogether the federal government has allocated ?11.5bn to housing, this includes ?550m brought forward from 2010/11 and it is mainly determined by the ‘Decent Homes Standard’ that was announced in 2002 using a target to ‘ensure that most social housing meets set standards of decency’. The typical covers every aspect of the home and as an inherently innovative industry, the electrical market has responded with an array of products to help specifiers and installers doing work in the affordable housing sector. From wiring accessories and lighting right through to cable management, leading manufacturers have developed solutions to meet the key public sector aims of energy saving, electrical safety, security and meeting legislation.
Social Housing Wants Quality & Durable Wiring Accessories
Looking specifically at the wiring accessory market, there is a definitive shift towards products that offer greater quality and safety than ever before. And also the lifecycle of equipment can also be now a major consideration as products that can stand test of time will give rise to lower maintenance costs. In today’s overall economy, some organisations might be looking for the lowest prices but local authorities recognise this can be a false economy as items will definitely break more frequently due to faults or breakages. Within social housing development investment the main objective remains on quality, durable solutions.
2008 saw the development of the 17th Edition with the Wiring Regulations, which needed the improved use of 30mA RCDs and effectively means every socket outlet in your home, has to be covered. In reaction manufacturers have launched ranges of new consumer units that enable individual RCBO overcurrent protection and residual current protection of each and every circuit, thereby providing added protection and safety. This means that should an RCBO trip, all other circuits is going to be unaffected, resulting in not merely improved tenant safety but additionally decreasing the number call-outs.
Durable Products Save Labour Costs
Furthermore, some units also come pre-wired and pre-tested, which could significantly reduce labour costs, and lots of feature lockable covers to guard from damage and ensure durability, a vital requirement in the sector when tenants can change on a frequent basis. Whether it is accidental damage, vandalism or abuse, a damaged wiring accessory can become a security hazard, along with requiring a planned or emergency on-site visit. Polycarbonate accessories are virtually unbreakable and may reduce the risk of damage as well as the have to be replaced. Using reliable, proven solutions will reduce lifetime costs, and so will ensuring they are sourced from reputable manufacturers to ensure there are no on-site or longer term failure risks.
Helping Special Needs & The Environment
The Disability Discrimination Act and Part M of the Building Regulations, has also inspired further changes, making sure devices for example wiring accessories meet diverse tenants’ needs. Many ranges have been specifically designed to support this legislation, such as sockets and switches that visually contrast using their background for easy detection, in addition to wide rocker switches to aid individuals with limited dexterity. To assist the visually impaired, some wiring accessories incorporate red flashes inside the switch rocker to clearly indicate whether or not they are ‘on’ or ‘off’. Sockets and switches are offered also with neon indicators making them particularly useful at night or even in low-light conditions.
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