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Around the Circuit
New Day for
Daylight
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a comprehensive
package of energy legislation setting rules for everything from oil
exploration to energy consumption in commercial buildings, includes one
seemingly small change -- a little surprise that could potentially
create major headaches for computer-controlled building management
systems and other date-sensitive technologies throughout the United
States starting next month.Extending the length of daylight-saving
time (DST) by about four weeks, as of March 11, the legislation
officially moves up the start date for DST to the second Sunday in
March
instead of the first Sunday in April -- and delays the change back to
standard time until the first Sunday in November instead of the last
Sunday in October. The trick is, most building management systems --
not to mention their owners -- don't know it yet. In fact, the new
day
for daylight savings time could throw off all sorts of time-sensitive
management systems, such as security systems and lighting controls to
name just a few. This situation may create an opportunity for
proactive electrical contractors and distributors willing to take the
extra effort to alert customers and offer recommendations for
addressing
the switch, ensuring that business continues as usual. For a
comprehensive report on how this legislation will affect end-users, as
well as reports on what some electrical manufacturers are doing to
help,
read "Spring Forward: The Daylight Surprise," featured in the February
2007 issue of EC&M magazine's sister publication, Electrical
Wholesaling
magazine, and written by Executive Editor Doug Chandler. To read the
complete article, visit the magazine's Web site.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Power Quality Analyzer Model 8220
The Model 8220 is a single-phase AC/DC power meter with an
electro-luminescent backlit digital display. It is designed for
technicians and maintenance engineers, as well as electrical
contractors
and educators. It measures all electrical parameters -- V, A, W, VAR,
and harmonics. It is ideal for tracking disturbances. www.aemc.com
AASHE Urges
Campuses to Build Green
Washington, D.C.-based Association for the Advancement
of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recently established a
policy requiring all campus construction be built to the U.S. Green
Building Council's (USGBC) LEED Silver standard. This move is part of
AASHE's
support of the American College & University Presidents Climate
Commitment, an effort to make campuses more sustainable and address
global climate change. Organizers of the Commitment say they are
seeking
to commit at least 200 presidents and chancellors by June 2007 and more
than 1,000 administrators by December 2009. Presidents and chancellors
who sign the
Commitment pledge to eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions
over time.
BACnet Addenda
Approved for Review
Six proposed addenda to Atlanta-based ASHRAE's BACnet
standards are expected to be released for public review Mar. 16. If
approved, they would become part of Standard 135, "BACnet -- a Data
Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks,"
and
Standard 135.1, "Method of Test Conformance to BACnet." Proposed
addendum (j) to BACnet-2004 would add physical access control to
BACnet's
support for building automation and would round out the working group
access control extensions to BACnet, which began with the Access Door
object presented in addendum (f). The committee is actively soliciting
comments on these extensions from the access control
industry.Proposed addendum (g) to 135-2004, a new means for securing
BACnet network communications, provides part of the base on which
proposed addendum (j) is built. Developed by the Network Security
Working
Group, addendum (g) draws on significant advances in encryption and
authentication technologies since BACnet became a standard. Proposed
addendum 135-2004 (i) presents several extensions to the BACnet
standard
to support lighting control systems. Also recommended for review are
135h, which would include miscellaneous changes to the standards
135.1b,
involving new and revised tests, and 135.1c, updating references in
135.1 from 135-2001 to 135-2004.
ADVERTISEMENT
ILSCO Pigtail Adaptors
Popular Again
With the recent increased use of aluminum conductors, ILSCO's ACM,
ACO-90, CPM, and CPML pigtail adaptors are in high demand. The pigtails
give contractors the flexibility of using a less- expensive aluminum
conductor and then converting the conductor so that it can be installed
into a copper connector. Pigtails also reduce the size of the conductor
to allow installation of the conductor into smaller panel board
connectors that may have been supplied. Go to www.ilsco.com and click on Compression
Products to learn more.
Project Watch
Austin State School
Needs Electrical Transformer Replacement
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission currently
is soliciting bids for
electrical transformer replacements. Work consists of the replacement
of
high-voltage transformers and switches and 208V circuit breaker panels.
A pre-bid conference is scheduled for Feb. 20. Sealed bids will be
received until 2 p.m. on March 8. For more information, visit the
Health
and Human Services Commission's Web
site.
Virginia Town
Seeks Qualified Contractor
Culpeper, Va., is requesting qualifications
from contractors for major upgrades to the Culpeper Water Pollution
Control Facility. The town is seeking to achieve the Enhanced Nutrient
Removal (ENR) requirements associated with the Chesapeake Bay
Initiative
and expansion from 4.0 mgd to 6.0 mgd to accommodate planned growth in
the plant's service area. Major facilities to be constructed include
new
ENR tanks, aeration blowers, secondary clarifiers, denitrification
filters, ultraviolet disinfection, flow equalization, solids handling,
chemical feed, and odor control. All required yard piping, site work,
electrical, installation, HVAC, and plumbing is included. The design
engineer for the project, with an estimated construction cost in the
range of $18 to $21 million is Hazen and Sawyer. The anticipated start
of
construction is late spring or early summer of 2007. For more
information, download a pdf from the town's Web
site.
ADVERTISEMENT
 New Flip Clip From Cooper B-Line
The fastest, most inexpensive way to securely hang and level wire
basket
tray, saving installers time and money. The Flip Clip™
can be used with 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch threaded rods, eliminating the
need for multiple hanger sizes. The Flip Clip requires only one nut and
one tool for installation. www.cooperbline.com/flipclip
Web Exclusives
Business Brief
Costa Mesa, Calif.-based MGE UPS Systems recently
invested $1 million into expanding its Customer Test Center. The
expanded facility encompasses more than 25,000 square feet, including
28
test bays with a total electrical capacity of 12MW. The expanded test
site gives MGE customers the ability to witness critical testing of
their enterprise and data center power systems to assure operational
functionality and interoperability of their entire power
infrastructure."At our state-of-the-art facility, customers can
easily view the equipment under test and have instant access to test
data, testing procedures, and results," says Christian Madelon, vice
president of operations for MGE UPS Systems. Steady state, dynamic,
overload, and fault testing, as well as monitoring voltage current,
frequency, and Watts are automatically performed for each system under
test in the 28 test bays -- 14 for large three-phase systems, 11 for
10kVA to 100kVA equipment, and three for power distribution units and
power switches. For more Business Briefs, visit the EC&M Web site.
Eye on Safety
OSHA Final
Rule Updates Electrical Standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)
is revising the general industry electrical installation standard found
in Subpart S of 29 CFR Part 1910. The Agency has determined that
electrical hazards in the workplace pose a significant risk of injury
or
death to employees. The requirements in the revised standard,
which draw heavily from the 2000 edition of the National Fire
Protection
Association's (NFPA) Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee
Workplaces (NFPA 70E) and the 2002 edition of the National Electrical
Code (NEC), are reasonably necessary to provide protection from these
hazards.This final rule focuses on safety in the design and
installation of electric equipment in the workplace. This revision will
provide the first update of the installation requirements in the
general
industry electrical installation standard since 1981. OSHA is also
replacing the reference to the 1971 NEC in the mandatory appendix to
the
general industry powered platform standard found in Subpart F of 29 CFR
Part 1910 with a reference to OSHA's electrical installation standard.
This final rule becomes effective on Aug. 13, 2007. To read the
complete
text of OSHA's final rule, visit the Feb.
14 issue of the Federal Register.
Shows and Events
LIGHTCongress 2007
LIGHTCongress 2007 is scheduled for Mar. 13 at the
Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. The forum brings together experts in
design, architecture, academia, and engineering to discuss lighting
trends and technologies. Panel topics include designing with light,
energyefficiency and sustainability, and daylighting and health.
Continuing education credits are available by attending the forum. For
more information and to register, visit the LIGHTCongress Web site.
PowerTest 2007
The International Electrical Testing Association (NETA)
will present PowerTest 2007: Electrical Maintenance and Safety
Conference March 21-22 in Denver. Targeted for personnel who work in
electric utilities, industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and
governmental facilities, the event includes seminars discussing
subjects
such as protective relays, ground resistance testing, and low- and
medium-voltage circuit breakers. For more information, visit the
NETA-sponsored Web site.
ABC National
Convention
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) will
present
its 2007 National Convention March 21-25 in Nashville, Tenn. In
addition to exhibitors in the Construction Showcase, this year's event
features several awards ceremonies and competitions, as well as many
educational seminars. For more information and to register, visit ABC's
Web site.
ISC West
The International Security Conference (ISC) &
Exposition, scheduled for March 28-30 at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas,
will
feature a return of Urban Security, products and technologies that
protect cities and public/private critical infrastructure, and will
debut SmartHome@ISC, products for residential installations as well as
the New Product Showcase. In addition, the education program will
feature a pre-show, behind-the-scenes casino tour and the return of the
IP Institute full-day certification program. For more information and
to
register, visit the show's Web
site.
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