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April 30, 2008 A Penton Media Publication Vol. VII, No. 8


CONTENTS
New Construction Starts Decline in March

Colorado Votes No on Construction Payment Bill

IPL Commits $400 Million to Energy-Efficiency Plans

Railroad Settles With EPA Over Disposal of Lamps

Fire Alarm Installation in Virginia

Electrical Services Wanted in Connecticut

Business Brief

UL Issues Warning About Shop Lights

NFPA WSC&E

About this Newsletter
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ElectricalZone will:

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    Around the Circuit
    New Construction Starts Decline in March
    New construction starts decreased 8% in March, according to a recent report by McGraw-Hill Construction, New York. The association also reported that non-residential construction was down compared to the increases reported in January and February. Residential building continued to decline with the continued correction in single-family housing.

    To read more on this topic, visit EC&M's Web site.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Three-Phase Power Quality Analyzer
    AEMC's PowerPad® Model 3945-B power quality analyzer measures true RMS single and three-phase parameters at 256 samples/cycle. The meter is menu-driven with direct access functions that are activated at the push of a button. It has a large, easy-to-read color graphical display and includes DataView® software FREE for data storage, real-time display, analysis, and report generation. www.aemc.com/products/html/minfindex.asp?id=110101&dbname=products

    Colorado Votes No on Construction Payment Bill
    The Colorado House of Representatives recently voted down legislation that supporters say would have guaranteed prompt payment on all construction projects. Legislators voted 29-33 against the bill despite widespread support for it from a broad coalition of industry associations, including The American Subcontractors Association of Colorado (ASAC).

    To read more on this topic, visit EC&M's Web site.


    IPL Commits $400 Million to Energy-Efficiency Plans
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Interstate Power and Light Co. (IPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corp., Madison, Wis., recently filed its proposed 2009-2013 Energy Efficiency Plan (EEP) with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB). The proposed EEP includes a commitment of approximately $400 million to electric and natural gas energy efficiency customer programs over the next five years.

    To read more on this topic, visit EC&M's Web site.


    Railroad Settles With EPA Over Disposal
    of Lamps
    The Long Island Railroad, Long Island, N.Y., has settled a complaint by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over disposal of fluorescent lamps by paying a penalty of $43,875. Based on an inspection of the Hillside Maintenance Facility, Hollis, N.Y., last year and information received from the railroad about facilities at Richmond Hill Sheridan Shop, Richmond Hill, N.Y., and West Side Storage Yard, New York, the EPA found violations in the organization's method of disposing of fluorescent lamps as regular garbage at the three facilities.

    To read more on this topic, visit EC&M's Web site.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ILSCO has reinvented the compression category with a new ClearChoice(r) solution.
    SureCrimp copper compression connectors reduce inventory requirements by accepting multiple conductor classes including fine stranded and building wire. UL-listed, CSA-certified, and range-taking when installed with approved tools and dies. Circumferential dies produce strong, long-lasting crimps with a tight crimp profile for greater pull-out strength. The increased contact area reduces resistance and eliminates the potential for flash. www.ilsco.com

    Project Watch
    Fire Alarm Installation in Virginia
    The School Board of the City of Hampton, Va., is requesting bids for the installation of ADA-compliant fire alarm systems in Booker, Machen, Smith, Kraft, and Tyler elementary schools. Bids will be accepted until 10 a.m. EST on May 1. For more information, visit the City of Hampton's Web site.


    Electrical Services Wanted in Connecticut
    The Board of Education, Bloomfied, Conn., is soliciting proposals from minority business enterprise firms for Phase 1 of 3, including electrical services and switch gear, at the Bloomfield High School. Bids will be received until 3:30 p.m. EST on May 16. A pre-bid walk though is scheduled for May 7 at 2:30 p.m. EST. All pre-bid inquiries must be submitted to the construction manager, Newfield Construction, Hartford, Conn., by May 12. For more information, visit the State of Connecticut's online State Contracting Portal.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Great Prices on Split Bolts
    Starting from only $1.29, elecDirect Copper Alloy Split Bolt Connectors are highly resistant to corrosion and season cracking. UL- and CSA-listed for grounding/bonding and suitable for direct burial.
    elecDirect stocks more than 13,000 electrical products and tools. Use Coupon Code EZONE408 at checkout to receive 10% off your next order. www.elecDirect.com www.elecDirect.com -- or call toll free (800) 701-0975.

    Web Exclusives
    Business Brief
    The residential division of Palmer Electric, Winter Park, Fla., recently added a national homebuilder to its client roster with the signing of three contracts with KB Home, Los Angeles. Palmer is providing estimating and electrical wiring for new single- and multi-family homes in communities throughout central Florida.

    For more Business Briefs, visit the EC&M Web site.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Check More, Fix More, Spend Less!
    The new Agilent U1240A series enables you to check more with all the DMM features you would expect to see and more. Maintenance tasks are greatly simplified with frequency and capacitance and dual temperature functions. And new features, like a switch counter, harmonic ratio, and differential temperature, further extend your capabilities with just a push of the button. Click to learn more.

    Eye on Safety
    UL Issues Warning About Shop Lights
    Northbrook, Ill.-based Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is notifying consumers that portable, 500W halogen work lights manufactured by Shanghai Xiangshan Industries, Shanghai, China, may pose a risk of fire and electric shock. These lights do not comply with UL requirements and are not eligible to bear the UL Mark.

    Name of Product: Chicago Electric Shop Light
    Units: Unknown quantity
    Date of Manufacture: January 2004 to present
    Manufacturer: Shanghai Xiangshan Industries
    Hazard: These shop lights may overheat and pose a risk of fire and electrical shock.
    For more information, visit the UL Web site.


    Shows & Events

    Visit the EC&M e-Tradeshow
    Look for this free live conference, scheduled for Thursday, May 8 at 10 a.m. Eastern and Pacific:
    Calculating Arc Flash Energy Levels by Benjamin Medich, P.E.
    This conference will detail how NFPA 70E, "Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace," and IEEE 1584, "Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations," have varying - and sometimes overlapping - requirements for the development of an arc-flash analysis. It also will provide a survey of these methods, along with the basics to allow an integrated approach to arc-flash analysis, taking into account the requirements of both analysis methods. This conference is a must for electrical engineers and designers as well as plant/facility electrical maintenance personnel.

    Coming soon:
    "Understanding Electrical Safety and PPE Selection"
    "Implementing an Arc-Flash Safety Compliance Program"
    "Preparing an Arc-Flash Hazard Study"

    Visit the many exhibitors in this virtual tradeshow and take a look at the On-Demand Library, where you can view past online conferences 24/7/365. Visit the EC&M eTradeshow.


    NFPA WSC&E
    The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will present its World Safety Conference & Expo from June 2-5 in Las Vegas. This year's event includes more than 150 sessions in 11 educational tracks, including building and life safety, codes and standards, disaster preparedness, and premises security. For more information, visit the NFPA Web site.


    EASA 2008
    The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) Convention 2008 will take place June 22-24 in Dallas. Conference speakers scheduled for this year's event include Dan Patterson, Flanders Electric Motor Service, Evansville, Ind.; Austin Bonnett, IEEE Fellow, Bonnett Engineering, Gallatin, Mo.; and Bill Lockley, Lockley Engineering, Calgary, Canada. For more information and to register, visit the EASA Web site.

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