News

19 January 2021

How to save energy in your home or business

As an experienced electrical contractor in Norfolk, saving energy at home and at business premises is a key part of our work and that’s why we are fully supportive of Big Energy Saving Winter which runs from November 2020- January 2021 and have put together some of our top energy saving tips.

Big Energy Saving Winter is an initiative run by the Energy Saving Trust, the Citizens Advice Bureau, and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. It’s focused on how you can cut down your energy bills and play a part in saving energy to help the environment.

We’ve put together a handy checklist of tips to help you save energy at home and at work.

Review your energy supplier.

The Citizens Advice Bureau has its own energy comparison service to help you evaluate your energy costs and what savings could be made by switching supplier. You could also consider switching to a green energy supplier to reduce your impact on the environment. If you’re a business, there are many services available online to evaluate suppliers and rates and it’s worth doing this annually.

Make your building more energy efficient.

Draft proofing and improving insulation can make a big difference to your energy consumption. Take a look at whether you qualify for a green homes grant. This is a government backed grant scheme that can help fund energy efficiency improvements to your home such as loft insulation and cavity wall insulation and includes funding for landlords as well as home owners. There are also various energy efficiency and low carbon grant schemes available regionally for businesses to take advantage of.

Convert your lighting to LED.

LED lighting is highly efficient and can be used across all manner of light fittings both inside and outside. From ceiling panels in work environments to LED light bulbs in traditional light fittings, you can expect them to be up to 85% more efficient than Halogen equivalents. They also last longer too, with most light bulbs expected to run for at least 10,000 hours.

Update lighting to PIR sensor / Smart programmable solutions.

Consider purchasing PIR (passive infrared sensor) lighting, especially for outdoor lights, that activate on motion and save unnecessary electricity costs. There are also a wide range of indoor motion sensor lighting solutions available too that are particularly beneficial to businesses. Use in areas such as corridors and bathrooms to prevent unnecessary energy consumption when zones are not in use.

Have your distribution system checked including your consumer Unit and Fuse Board.

Apart from being a safety concern, an unchecked old consumer unit can also be highly inefficient. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), is a thorough check of your electrical system and will provide you with recommendations to improve your supply. It’s recommended at least every ten years or at a change of ownership and is mandatory for Landlords to undertake every five years. If you’re a business looking to improve your efficiency, our energy management and load monitoring review service can assist with controlling your costs and longevity of electrical systems.

Choose energy efficient electrical appliances.

From washing machines to TVs, electrical appliances come with their own energy efficiency ratings and these should be an important consideration when making your next appliance purchase. An A+++ rating being the most efficient. This is particularly important for fridges and freezers, as they are in constant use, and their efficiency has been greatly improved in the past decades.

Switch off electrical appliances.

This simple measure can help save electricity costs and reduce unnecessary consumption. In business environments, this can have a considerable impact on your overall usage and is a great practice to communicate with your staff.

Install a room thermostat.

Using a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves can help you save on your energy consumption. If you are able to reduce your heating temperature by one degree you could save up to 10% on your energy costs.

Think big, start small

There are lots of ways we can improve our energy consumption. Big Saving Energy Winter is an initiative that looks to shine a light on the simple measures we can take to become more efficient.

If you’re looking for help or advice on how to improve your electrical system, please contact us.

24 November 2020

Electrical Safety & Fire Prevention Tips

With more than half of accidental fires caused by electrical faults, at Diamond Services we take electrical safety very seriously. As experienced, accredited electricians in Norwich, we are using Electrical Fire Safety Week, #EFSW, to share some important advice and tips to help reduce the risk of electrical fire at your property.

Here are some simple do’s and don’ts.

Do…

Call an electrician if you notice any hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow frequently, flickering lights, or scorch marks on sockets or plugs. These are all signs of loose wiring or other problems that should be fixed as soon as possible
Turn off electrical appliances when not in use
Fully extend any coiled extension cables
Make sure electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark when you buy them
Keep electrical appliances in good working order
Make sure you have a working fire alarm on every floor
Use a fully qualified and accredited electrician to carry out any electrical work

Don’t…

Overload your sockets
Buy counterfeit or substandard electrical items or chargers
Keep electrical items and sockets near where they could get wet
Use water on an electrical fire
Leave items continuously on charge after the item’s cycle is complete or when you are not home
Cover charging devices
Use frayed or damaged leads, or badly wired plugs
Attempt to do it yourself!

Just making a few small changes to your home could cut your risk of a fire down significantly.

A valuable test of your electrical system that can indicate its safety is an EICR – Electrical Installation Condition Report. It provides you with an assessment of your electrical system and is advised to be undertaken at least every ten years or at change of ownership for residential properties, with the exception of landlords where it is mandatory to have an EICR every five years. Book yours today.

13 August 2020

Full-Service Electrical Support for Veterinary Practice

Wymondham based Wood Farm Vets* chose a beautiful Grade II listed barn for their practice which required total renovation into a modern centenary facility for the treatment of both small and large animals. The veterinary practice needed an electrical contractor who could provide a comprehensive service across the entire facility and we were delighted to assist.

In an ongoing relationship spanning several years, Diamond Services has continued to offer maintenance support and new installations as the practice has grown.

The state-of-the-art facility offers a full range of amenities including modern diagnostic utilities, a fully equipped operating theatre, on-site laboratory, stocks, and boarding kennels.

Commenting on the relationship Hannah Kelly said, “Diamond Services has consistently provided us with an excellent quality of service over the past 5 years. Starting with the superb conversion of our agricultural grain barn with no previous electrical supplies into a veterinary practice, they have continued to sort out any of our many and varied requests in an efficient and professional manner. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.”

As part of the barn conversion into a veterinary practice, we integrated seamlessly with other building contractors and project managed works to maintain the agreed deadlines. Working in close partnership with Wood Farm Vets, we used our expertise to design and specify the power and lighting requirements for each room in the practice.

Our services included the installation of all electrical supply, lighting, data cabling, and a fully compliant fire alarm system. Requirements varied depending on the intended purpose of the room from a welcoming reception area to consultation rooms and a custom-designed laboratory and operating theatre. We specified various LED lighting types to determine the most effective solution and aesthetically pleasing impact on the working environment.

We also provided new external electrical supply and lighting in the equine treatment room and stables to facilitate the comprehensive range of services available at Wood Farm.

To find out more about our Commercial Electrical Services and to book your free no-obligation quotation please contact us.

*Photography used for this article is for illustration purposes only and not of Wood Farm Vets

5 August 2020

Electric Trace Heating Solution for Tank Storage

Diamond Services recently installed Trace Heating Systems for two newly commissioned storage tanks. The systems were fabricated by Sinclair Stainless Fabrications in Snetterton and are required for temperature control and storage of liquids.

The two large tanks will be used by an East Anglian chemical manufacturer for storage of solvents and have been especially designed to be used in an ATEX zoned area. The addition of a top-quality Trace Heating System, designed, installed, and commissioned by our fully qualified electrical engineers, positioned around the entire circumference of the vessel means the business can accurately control the temperature of the large volumes of fluid being stored.

The nVent Raychem Trace Heating Cabling can be used to safeguard against spoiling due to varying temperatures, prevent crystallisation and offers protection against condensation. It can also be used for special purposes such as heating up liquids and agitation processes. Another benefit of Trace Heating is that it can help maintain good process control to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on systems such as pumps and filters.

As a critical part of the finishing process before the vessels could be delivered to their destination, the installation was carried out by observing strict site operating guidelines and Covid-19 Secure procedures. A comprehensive risk assessment was conducted prior to our visit and covered our procedures to take all possible precautions and limit exposure wherever possible.

Company Director, Martin Barmby said, “The safe storage and movement of liquid materials is imperative to industrial businesses and Trace Heating Systems offer many significant advantages. Working in close collaboration with Sinclair Stainless Fabrications means the storage vessels can be put to use as soon as they arrive at their final destination with no downtime and increased efficiency.”

Correctly installed trace heating cabling offers long-lasting, highly cost-effective results and the systems are very low maintenance. Diamond Services, as part of the Diamond Controls Group, is a partner installer of one of the leading manufacturers of trace heating products, nVent Raychem.

Diamond Services offers a comprehensive design, specification, and installation service. Engineers are CompEx qualified and adhere to the highest standards of health and safety. Find out about our Industrial Electrical Services here.

21 July 2020

Commercial Electrical Services for Norwich based Lifeline 24

Diamond Services were on hand to offer comprehensive electrical expertise to assist with the seamless delivery of Lifeline 24 support services following the renovation of their new office building in Norwich.

Lifeline 24 provides at-home personal pendant alarms to offer independence to vulnerable people. With their business operations spread over different premises, they bought a large warehouse and office building to bring three of its businesses together under one roof. The building had been vacant for over six months and had water damage due to a leaking roof.

The building required a full electrical audit and Lifeline 24 also wanted to invest in a brand-new area to house additional office and dispatch space which required electrical supply.

The Diamond Services electrical engineers attended the site and carried out an Electrical Installation Condition Report to assess the condition of the building. After reviewing the insight gained from this report, we were able to bring the building back into a usable and safe condition. This rectification work has ensured their electrical system is fully working as it should and is fit for purpose.

When it came to supplying power to the brand-new part of the building, we fully designed, specified, and installed all power requirements along with efficient lighting solutions and high-speed data points.

Commenting on the electrical work, Kerrie Farnan, Head of Projects said, “We purchased an office building in need of renovation, and Diamond Services helped us to get our building back to a safe standard in no time all. We used Diamond Services once again when we came to extend our office space and will be using them again in our future projects. No job is too big or small. Time and time again we have been delighted with the cost, speed, and standard of works carried out. We would thoroughly recommend Diamond Services to any other local business like ourselves.”

To find out more about our Commercial Electrical Services or to book a no-obligation consultation, please contact us.

15 July 2020

Keeping our Team and Customers Safe

We wanted to keep you informed on what we’re doing to ensure a Covid Secure workplace following the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Most importantly, we want to reassure you that the safety and wellbeing of our customers and team members is our number one priority and you can rely on us being a Covid Secure Electrician.

We are closely monitoring the ongoing government advice and are continuing to adapt, following the guidance, to help keep everyone as safe as possible. Our thoughts go out to anyone who has been personally impacted, and we hope that you and your families are safe and well.

Business Continuity

Rest assured that we can maintain our continuity of service. One of the greatest benefits of being an independent, local business, is that the phone will always be answered, emails responded to and we are able to closely monitor and advise our team.

We have a fully operational electrical engineering team and the operations and support team are continuing to work from our office, but we are taking extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety.

Social distancing measures are in operation and, where appropriate, PPE will be worn. We are adhering to strict site operating guidelines from the Construction Skills Council and are also now offering virtual appointments to discuss your requirements and for some quoting.

We remain fully committed to helping you in whatever ways we can. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss our procedures in more detail or to arrange an appointment.

Many thanks

The Diamond Services Team

2 July 2020

New Electrical Legislation for Landlords

New legislation affecting landlords has come into force this month and at Diamond Services we are on hand to help ensure you remain compliant. It is now mandatory for private landlords to ensure they have a valid Electrical Condition Installation Report (ECIR) for their properties.

Private landlords are now required to have electrical testing and inspection carried out before a new tenancy commences from 1^st July, and for all existing tenanted properties, by 1^st April 2021. After this inspection, landlords must arrange for testing of their electrical installations every five years.

This new legal requirement is to ensure that all electrical safety standards are met and covers four core areas. To identify any potential fire hazards or electrical shock risks, to find any defective electrical workmanship, to detect lack of earthing or bonding, and to pinpoint any overloading of electrical circuits or equipment.

Following the ECIR, where a fully documented report will be provided, landlords must submit a copy to their tenant and, on request, to the local authority, and also any new or prospective tenants who wish to view it.

Working with many landlords across Norwich and Norfolk to provide this vital service, our fully qualified electrical engineers will determine if the system is satisfactory for continued service. Our report provides a full summary of the condition of electrics and whether it complies with current British Standards (BS 7671). We also make recommendations on necessary or beneficial improvements for safety and efficiency. The certificate contains classification codes that will determine the priority and degree of severity in any defects found and we work with you to rectify any urgent remedial work required.

Diamond Services is part of the Diamond Controls Group and holds many industry accreditations including an approved NIC EIC contractor, and two ISO awards. To find out more about the new legislation please read the government’s guidance here.

16 June 2020

LED Light Panels lead the way

We’ve been particularly excited to work with one of the leading research facilities in the region in a long-term project aimed to help create a better work environment, save costs and reduce energy consumption.

We pride ourselves on having great working relationships with high quality suppliers who can partner with us to provide a solution led approach to our customers’ needs and are highly experienced in offering lighting solutions to organisations. This includes Glamox, a leading lighting supplier, who helped us to fulfil the unique and bespoke design components needed in this project.

The brief

Our customer needed minimum disruption to the everyday working at the facility and to stage the project into several phases.

The lighting scheme was to be programmable and adaptable to the different working environments throughout areas of the facility. It also needed to be low maintenance and help the centre achieve its goals in reducing energy consumption and offer long-term benefits to its workers.

Existing lighting fixtures were not suitable for the installation and so we were keen to find a solution which meant we did not have to make infrastructure changes to the ceilings in order to install the new lighting. This would have added cost, time and disruption to the project and so, if we couldn’t make the existing ceiling work, the project wouldn’t have been viable to go ahead.

The solution

Working with the facilities department at the organisation, we created a project plan of works to avoid disruption of employees and set about specifying the right product. We chose Glamox as our supply partner for this project due to their focus on quality and enhanced 5-year warranty for their products.

To minimise works required to ceilings we commissioned bespoke light fixings that could house the LED panels within the existing recesses of the ceiling, resulting in a seamless installation that would require minimum maintenance and installation disruption across the premises.

We specified a totally programmable lighting scheme which had several core benefits including,

Smart lighting sensors which activate lighting on movement
Varying brightness in different areas eg. near windows or working areas
Differing panel sizes to suit the environment.

Why use LED in a commercial workspace?

There are many benefits to using LED lighting panels in all sorts of commercial environments from industrial and manufacturing, scientific and healthcare, education or retail.

With advancements in technology moving at a rapid pace there are so many solutions on the market which, combined with our skills and expertise in this area, can help you to capitalise on this vital area of your premises. Some of the benefits of using LED lighting include,

Human centric lighting – adjust the daily rhythms and improve motivation, concentration, well-being, and productivity of your workforce
Programmable options
Smart lighting
Highly adaptable solutions
Reduction of your carbon footprint by significantly reducing energy consumption
Low maintenance

Put simply, LED lighting is the future and when installed and project managed by an experienced electrical contractor like Diamond Services, it can significantly benefit your business. To find out more and to see how we can help you navigate the wide range of options available, please get in touch.

Photo credit – Glamox

16 June 2020

Specialist Electrical Services for Farming & Agriculture

The agriculture industry presents various electrical challenges and is a sector Diamond Services is experienced in and able to help.

Hazards such as flammable materials, damp and corrosive environments, rodents, and livestock are all important considerations to be made and the presence of these conditions qualifies farming and horticulture premises as special locations with respect to the electrical installation requirements (BS 7671, Section 705).

In this blog, we will cover the main challenges and how our service provides safe and efficient electrical installation.

Electric Shock Protection

The metallic building structures, fixtures and fittings often found in farming create increased access to exposed conductive parts. This, along with regularly damp working conditions which may reduce contact resistance, can result in an increased risk of electric shock.

There are several specifications for this environment we identify to help protect against this. For example, RCDs (residual current devices) protecting socket outlets are used to break an electrical circuit, preventing serious harm from an ongoing electric shock.

A common factor, due to the often remote location of farming buildings, is for the supply to be managed by a TT earthing system. In this scenario, we stipulate that the main isolator for the installation must break all the live conductors of the supply.

Livestock safety is also a major factor in reducing electric shock risk. They are more susceptible to shock due to their physicality, naturally inquisitive nature, and herding habits, where they may simultaneously contact with earth and conductive elements over large areas. This means the placement of earth electrodes for TT systems must be inaccessible to livestock and carefully considered. Extra equipotential bonding will be specified between all exposed and extraneous conductive parts within the location, such as milking parlours, and wherever possible, floor based metal grids connected to the supplementary bonding.

Flammable materials

The agricultural sector uses many combustible materials such as fertilisers, grain and straw which can also produce flammable dust when stored and moved.

Circuits are deemed to be safeguarded against fire if they are protected by an RCD with a rated residual operating current no more than 30mA that operates within 40ms when tested at five times its rated residual operating current. The BS 7671 regulations state that fire protection is to be provided by the use of RCDs with a rated residual operating current no more than 300mA, which is of benefit for higher voltage sockets which will need a different RCD rating. And of course, electrical sockets must also always be positioned at a safe distance from flammable materials.

Electrical heating appliances used for breeding and rearing must comply with BS EN 60334-2-71 and be fixed at an appropriate distance from both livestock and combustible materials.

Rodents

A common occurrence in country living is the prevalence of rodents. Damage to cables and installations is one of the main causes of fire in the agricultural sector. This danger can be minimised by routing cabling on the underside of ceilings instead of the roof void and steel conduit can also provide some protection (although it does introduce further exposed conductive parts). As part of our electrical installation, we can also offer suitable containment systems and armoured cabling to provide mechanical protection for equipment.

Corrosive and damp environments

Animal waste and many fertilisers and treatment products are corrosive and that’s where cable containment systems can offer added protection from the elements. Depending on the environment, carefully placed high-quality PVC conduit and trunking will help protect your installation.

Electrical Supply

There are also some standard requirements for external electrical supply into your agricultural building. They include ensuring self-supporting suspension overhead cables are installed at a height of at least 6m and underground cables buried to a minimum of 0.6m (a depth of 1m in cultivated or arable land).

Service Continuity

If you’re involved in high-density livestock rearing then you may need an alternative power source to maintain essential services in the event of a power failure such as ventilation, feed, heating and lighting. An alternative mains power supply or back-up generator will be required and circuits that supply ventilation and lighting should be on separate dedicated circuits to minimise total failure of all services. Ventilation should also include monitoring of the temperature and supply voltage with an alarm mechanism and be regularly monitored and maintained.

An electrical contractor you can trust

There are a number of very important considerations when installing electrical services in agricultural buildings. Diamond Services’ experienced electricians are on hand to offer help and support in this vital area. To find out more please contact us.

16 June 2020

EV Charge Point Grants Available

As one of the few Norfolk based authorised installers for both the Workplace Charging Scheme and the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, we’re able to help our customers receive government grants to assist with the initial outlay of chargepoint purchase and installation. Find out more about our electric vehicle charging station installation.

Workplace Charging Scheme

From 1st April, the Government scheme will see workplaces able to receive grant funding for up to 40 chargepoints at their premises, a 100% increase from the previous year. Workplaces will be able to receive up to £350 per installed chargepoint, helping to reduce the initial outlay of costs.

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS)

For homeowners looking to benefit from the government grant, as an approved installer of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, we’re able to assist you with obtaining up to £350 funding as a contribution to your initial outlay for a charging station.

So, if you’re commuting and worried about keeping your vehicle ‘fuelled’ with power, you can have the best of both worlds with charging facilities at work and at home.

The scheme is also being extended to include larger electric motorcycles in addition to electric cars and vans.

Why choose electric?

The environmental and financial benefits for electric vehicles are very clear. Not only do you have lower running costs but it’s significantly better for the environment. Plus, if you’re able to incorporate solar energy into your property, you could even become completely energy independent for fuelling your vehicle.

Our Services

We are an approved supplier for the major manufacturers of EV charging points including MyEnergi-Zappi, EO Charging and Rolec. Our skilled electricians can offer support and advice, and the expertise to ensure your needs are met.

Further information

Read more about the grants available and to apply. Or give us a call on 01603 745000 and we’ll be happy to help.

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