• This includes general lighting, display lighting along with emergency lighting options. These can be controlled with switches, intelligent lighting systems or sensors.
• Power is designed within the office layout at either dado or skirting height to provide a safe and neat office arrangement. This can be designed around the office layout.
• We supply and install all wiring, panel boards, busbars and trunking for the industrial environment. Steel wired armoured cable (SWA) is used in exposed areas of electrical cabling along with galvenised trunking, steel conduit and cables trays.

Our employees hold mobile platform licenses and aluminum access platform licenses to install electrical systems at high levels.

Voltage Optimisation

If you commercial electricity bill is more than £30,000 per annum you could benefit from the installation of a voltage optimisation unit. There is a potential saving of 10-15% off your yearly electricity bill which would mean that the initial costs would be met within 3- 5 years.

Electrical Installations for Schools and Colleges

Energy Efficient Lighting in Schools

Most schools have Fluorescent strip lights however now it is possible to reduce the energy consumption by up to 50% and still maintain the same lighting levels. Most of the older fittings are fitted with T8 or T12 lamps. These can be replaced with the new more efficient T5 lamps and a conversion kit thus saving up to 50% of the energy consumption. A 35W T5 tube and 1W ballast produce the same amount of light as a conventional 58W T12 lamp and 19W ballast thus reducing consumption by over 50%. If it is a new block or the original light fittings are very old it is also possible, and perhaps better, to install new T5 light fittings or LED light fittings.

New electrical installations or refurbishing of existing rooms

We can offer a fully managed electrical and data refit of existing school or college rooms or of a new building.

• Along with our working partners we offer a design, supply and installation service including partition walls and ceilings, data cabling, furniture, decoration and flooring.
• Suspended ceilings and stud partitioning can make new rooms from the division of an existing space.
• A furniture layout can be designed for any room whether it is an office or school science laboratory, computer room, food technology room or library. We also supply and install interactive white boards.

All the electrical work is planned and project managed by us so that wherever possible work is carried out during school or college holidays with no disruption to the normal operation of the premises.

Our electricians have undergone CRB checks

We have recently carried out electrical work in the following schools:

• Mark Hall School, Harlow
• Stanborough School, Welwyn Garden City
• Edwinstree Middle School, Buntingford
• Duncombe School, Hertford
• Dame Alice Owen’s School, Potters Bar
• Francais Combe School, Garston
• Presdales School, Ware
• Simon Balle School, Hertford
• Pinewood School, Ware
• Yavneh College, Borehamwood
• St Anne’s RC Girls School, Enfield
• Thomas Buxton School, Tower Hamlets
• Smithy Street School, Tower Hamlets
• Bishop Challoner School
• Oaklands School
• Sir John Cross School
• Bishop Hatfield Girls School, Hatfield
• St George’s School, Harpenden

Data Cabling – CAT 5 and CAT 6 Installation

Data cabling has become a compulsory element in today’s office and school environment. We can offer the installation and termination of Cat 5e and Cat 6 data cabling. This would be neatly enclosed in either dado or skirting trunking. On completion of the works computer generated test sheets can be issued.

Cat5e or CAT6

• CAT 5e is an enhanced version of Cat5 which reduces interference (between cables slowing down or even stopping data transmission) and can handle greater bandwidth and can run handle gigabit Ethernet (Cat5 is rated at 100Mhz, Cat5e is rated at 350Mhz).
• Cat 6 is the next level and is certified for gigabit Ethernet and is better suited toward environments that are generally unfriendly to twisted pair cabling such as areas that have lots of interference from other power cables, lights, and manufacturing equipment.

Cat 5e is suitable for most common data cable applications and is more economical than Cat 6.

However, if you can be certain that all the components on your network are gigabit rated, and the volume of the data being transmitted calls for certified gigabit performance, then Cat6 is what you need.

We pride ourselves in carrying out our work to a high standard at fair competitive prices, using standard materials, without any hidden costs. To help us establish lasting relationships, we maintain a professional approach to all of our work which helps us to ensure our projects run smoothly and within time and budget constraints.

In England and Wales it is a legal requirement that electrical work which is carried out inside or outside of the home must comply with part P of the Building Regulations. This was introduced on the 1st January 2005 to reduce the number of accidents in the home due faulty electrical installations. At CAS Electrical we are registered with the NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme so you have peace of mind that our work will comply with these regulations.

All our work is carried out in accordance with the 17th edition BS 7671:2008 Regulations by competent, enthusiastic and reliable fully qualified electricians who have undergone ECS Health & Safety training.

Change of Consumer Units

A consumer unit, or as it used to be called the fuse box, goes between the electricity meter and all the electrical circuits in the house. Modern consumer units do not contain fuses, but MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers). They often also contain an extra protective device called an RCD (Residual Current Device). We can offer a quotation if you are thinking of upgrading your consumer unit.

Periodic Electrical Testing

 - sometimes called the Landlord’s Certificate or Homebuyer’s Certificate

We offer Periodic Electrical Testing in which we carry out a full electrical test of your property, we issue you with a computer generated NICEIC test sheet which will highlight any electrical problems there may be. This is usually carried out every ten years or when you move house and may be better known as a Home Mover’s Report. It gives you complete peace of mind of the electrical safety of the house you are intending to buy. If this test highlights any areas of non-compliance to current regulations we will be able to give you a quote for the cost to put it right.

Home Security Lighting

Home security lighting with sensor control is very popular and we can advise on the best system for your needs and give you a quotation for the supply and installation. PIR sensors are sensitive to even the smallest of movements. They also have a much larger range and are designed to ensure that all sensors close by over lap to prevent a “dead” area. The time you want the light to stay on after you are out of range can be set and there can be a time switch fitted so that lights are not set off over-night by nocturnal animals.

Energy Saving Lighting – LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes)

LED’s are the newest idea of energy efficient lighting and are a perfect replacement for all old filament lamps including halogen lamps in spot lights. Although the lamps cost more they are designed to last for longer and use 80% less energy thus saving money on electric bills. ‘If you replace a 50W halogen downlighter with a 6W LED you will typically save around £4 per year, or £70 by the time you have to replace the bulb’ – energysavingtrust.org.uk (26.10.11). That figure is for each lamp so if you replace all the lamps in your house the savings will mount up.

Well designed lighting

Well designed lighting also helps increase the efficiency of lighting. By concentrating the light where it is most needed, fewer fittings are needed. Allowance can be made for the effect of the walls, ceiling and floors that can reflect the light to other areas of the room. Most of the time in alounge low level background lighting is needed with a more concentrated light for reading or close work. A variety of lights in a room can accommodate for different functions of the lights and thus save on energy usage.

Domestic Voltage Optimisation

Voltage is supplied at approximately 242 volts however our electrical items in the UK tend to use between 207 and 253 volts. We can install a unit which is installed between the electricity meter and the fuse board which will reduce the voltage used to typically 220 volts thus saving the different in voltage used off the electricity bill.

Lighting Control

Lighting control is a very effective way to save money as well as saving lighting energy consumption.

Lighting controls most commonly come in the form of a switch or a manual dimmer. To meet building regulations dimmers have to be close to the switch of the light / lights that it dims.
An alternative is for the lights to automatically switch on when movement is detected. PIR occupancy sensors can be hard wired into either the luminaries or the marshalling box that provides power for a group of luminaries. Nowadays, PIR sensors are sensitive to even the smallest of movements. They also have a much larger range and are designed to ensure that all sensors close by over lap to prevent a “dead” area. The time you want the light to stay on after you are out of range can be set. These can be both switch start and high frequency fittings.

Lamps

There has been a huge increase in demand for energy efficient Compact Fluorescents (CFLs) to replace the inefficient incandescent lamp. The price of CFL lamps is now much reduced as the demand increases and the technology improves.

To meet Part L (1) of the building regulations all new house builds must install a low energy pendent set. Only four-pin compact fluorescent 10/13W lamps can be used with these pendants, which are typically installed where lighting is left on for long periods of the day e.g. kitchen or hall.

These have high frequency electronic control gear for operating the four pin compact fluorescents ensuring quick flicker free starting.

CFL’s provide good quality lighting and save energy as they use up to 80% less energy for the same light output compared to incandescent lamps. Over a 15 year period they can save 1 megawatt hour and half a tonne in CO2 emissions.

Even though CFL’s have helped cut energy consumption, the lighting industry is determined to keep bringing new types of lighting out to help cut down on CO2 emissions and energy consumption.

LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes)

LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) are the newest idea of energy efficient lighting and are a perfect replacement for all old filament lamps including halogen lamps in spot lights. Although the lamps cost more they are designed to last for longer and use 80% less energy thus saving money on electric bills. ‘If you replace a 50W halogen downlighter with a 6W LED you will typically save around £4 per year, or £70 by the time you have to replace the bulb’ – energysavingtrust.org.uk (26.10.11). That figure is for each lamp so if you replace all the lamps in your house the savings will mount up.

Well designed lighting

Well designed lighting also helps increase the efficiency of lighting. By concentrating the light where it is most needed, fewer fittings are needed. Allowance can be made for the effect of the walls, ceiling and floors that can reflect the light to other areas of the room.

High frequency control gear

A saving of another 20% in energy may be achieved by changing from the conventional switch start control gear to high frequency control gear. High frequency control gear needs less maintenance as it is an all in one unit compared to the separate starter, ballast and capacitor. Even more can be achieved if partnered with lighting control.

It also has benefits for the end user, with a flicker free start, automatic shutdown with failed lamps, flicker free lighting and silent operation.

Lighting Energy Conservation in the Commercial Environment

There are many opportunities to save energy in the commercial environment than there are in homes. Lighting can account for 50% or more of all energy consumption. It can be greatly influenced by improved lamp choice, improved fittings, more efficient control gear and lighting control solutions

Part L (2) or the Building Regulations for non-domestic premises in England and Wales plus the new Scottish Building Standards, both demand action to reduce wattage output for lighting per square metre of building.

Even more savings can be made when occupancy sensing is combined with daylight linking systems. These exist for both switch start and high frequency lighting. With switch start systems, the lights are simply turned on or off in response to occupancy and natural light levels. These systems have a delayed off so that they do not keep turning on or off depending on whether they are in shade or not. Daylight linking is used to dim the light depending on natural light levels. This needs a digital lighting control solution and high frequency lighting for fluorescents.

These types of systems also maximize lamp life, since typically they do not turn off in response to bright light, but dim down to around 10-15%. They can also have a delayed off setting so if no motion is detected for 20 minutes, they dim down to a set level, 15% for example, then after a further time period they turn off.

Energy Efficient Lighting in Schools

Most schools have Fluorescent strip lights however now it is possible to reduce the energy consumption by up to 50% and still maintain the same lighting levels. Most of the older fittings are fitted with T8 or T12 lamps. These can be replaced with the new more efficient T5 lamps and a conversion kit thus saving up to 50% of the energy consumption. A 35W T5 tube and 1W ballast produce the same amount of light as a conventional 58W T12 lamp and 19W ballast thus reducing consumption by over 50%. If it is a new block or the original light fittings are very old it is also possible, and perhaps better, to install new T5 light fittings.

We offer various electrical testing:

•  Periodic Inspection Report to BS 7671 sometimes called the Landlord’s Certificate or Homebuyer’s Certificate
•  Portable Appliance Testing (PAT testing)
•  Emergency Lighting Testing to BS 5266

We issue computer generated test sheets

Periodic Inspection Report

All electrical installations should be tested regularly to avoid the risk of harm, injury or death from an electrical problem or fault.

Under current legislation (BS7671: 2008), the maximum periods allowed between Periodic Electrical Test or Inspections is:

• Commercial Installations – 5 years
• Industrial Installations – 3 years
• Buildings open to the public – 1 year
• External Installations – 3 years
• Caravan Parks – 1 year
• Fire Alarms – 1 year
• Short Term Installations – 3 months
• Domestic Installations – 10 years or on moving house

However it may be appropriate to have a Periodic Electrical Test or Inspection done at other times such as if you are planning on moving home. The periodic Inspection gives a report on the condition of an existing electrical installation. The report details the findings and will recommend any work that needs to be done.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT testing)

There is a legal obligation on employers, businesses and establishments dealing with the public to take reasonable steps to ensure that no danger results from the use of electrical equipment. A regular program of inspection and testing is required where portable electrical appliances are used by employees and the public.

What Electrical Equipment Requires PAT Testing

This is electrical equipment which is either hand held whilst being connected to the electricity supply, or is intended to be moved whilst connected to the electricity supply, or is capable of being moved without undue difficulty whilst connected to the electricity supply.

It is usual for this electrical equipment to be connected to the electricity supply via a plug and socket; however this is not a requirement for electrical equipment to be deemed portable or transportable.

Frequency of PAT Testing

The level of inspection and testing required is dependant upon the risk of the portable electrical appliance becoming faulty, which is dependant upon the type of appliance, how it is used and the environment in which it is used.

In general handheld electrical equipment are higher risk than static equipment. The environment is an important consideration for example: offices, hotels and shops – might be considered low risk, schools and colleges – might be considered moderate risk, whereas factories and kitchens – might be considered high risk and construction sites very high risk. So in some situations a formal PAT test may be recommended every 3 months however it is more often carried out yearly.

Emergency Lighting Testing To BS 5266

Emergency lighting is provided to ensure minimum levels of light are available to ensure a building can be evacuated safely in the event of the failure of the normal lighting system.

This regime calls for a function test for a short period once a month to check that the luminaire is working. An annual discharge duration test is required for the full rated discharge.

A discharge duration test is also required. When self-contained fittings are new this test is for one-third of their rated capacity every six months (this hopefully retains some battery capacity if immediately after the test there is a mains failure.) After the fittings are three years old and approaching their four year minimum design battery life the test should be done annually for the full rated duration. The latest edition of BS 5266-1:2005 now aligns with the testing shown in BS EN 50172/ BS 5266-8.

Emergency Lighting Log Books are issued at installation and filled in annually when the fittings are tested.