MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Fortunately, there are standards

Convention has never held much appeal for me, with one exception: safety. In this issue of Electrical Industry Newsweek, contributor Bill Burr writes about ground fault circuit protection systems and, as reported by EFSI, the immense savings in human life and property. You'll also meet Brian Cook, for whom personal safety lies at the heart of his commitment to the electrical industry, and who was recently honoured for his contribution. Good reading!

Line Goyette
Managing Editor, Electrical Industry Newsweek
linegoyette@kerrwil.com

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Table of Contents

Changing Scene
Best Practices: How Ground Fault Detection and Protection Requirements Protect People and Equipment
Heating: Zone Heating — A Bargain for Your Customers
Codes & Standards: SCC Accredits AHRI to Develop National Standards
Peers & Profiles: Brian Cook, Master Electrician and Safety Award Winner
Survey Says: Copper and the Electrical Industry: Did You Know…
New Products & Solutions
EIN'S Training & Events Calendar
The Electrical Stock Market
In the Next Issue

 

CHANGING SCENE

• Torbram relocates Abbotsford, BC location / Torbram Head Office Supports Canadian Cancer Society
• Royal Building Products' Adrian Sloan promoted to Ontario Electrical Sales Manager
• Thomas Surran named FLIR System's COO
• Independent Electric and Ideal Supply to open South Barrie, ON location
• Sesco and Osso Electric Supplies to merge
• Canadian Solar to sell its Kingston, ON solar power plant
• Cory Pilbeam joins GB Agencies Ltd. as managing partner
• Schneider Electric appoints Laurent Vernerey EVP, North America Operations
• Career expo builds skilled trades opportunities for youth
• Pre-apprentice program to build local trades capacity across Northern Ontario
• Nova Scotia set to exceed renewable energy targets

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Introducing Square D™ SurgeLoc for NQ Panelboards

Schneider Electric is pleased to announce the release of the innovative Surgelogic SurgeLoc, a new line of commercial surge protection that provides advanced power and equipment protection for Square D™ NQ panelboards. Engineered with input from contractors and specifiers, the innovative SurgeLoc device from Schneider Electric™ has revolutionized commercial surge protection. Read More

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BEST PRACTICES

How Ground Fault Detection and Protection Requirements Protect People and Equipment

Since ground fault circuit protection was adopted in Canada over 40 years ago, the number of people dying annually from electrocution has been steadily reduced from over 800 to less than 200, and much electrical equipment and other infrastructure has been saved from damage (source: Electrical Safety Foundation International ESFI). The following overview outlines how ground fault detection and protection ensures the safety of personnel and equipment. Read More

 

HEATING

Zone Heating: a Bargain for Your Customers

Can you imagine living without heating between September and May in this vast, beautiful and often inhospitable country? Although we all talk about the warming effects of climate change, the answer remains a categorical no. Given all the heating choices available to our customers — wood, fuel oil, water, glycol, electricity, etc. — they often ask us this home-heating question: should we opt for central heating or individual heating devices in each room? The response depends on several factors: the cost of acquiring the equipment, the cost of installation, use, and maintenance, and so on. Read More

 

CODES & STANDARDS

SCC Accredits AHRI to Develop National Standards

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) has announced it has accredited the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) as a standards development organization (SDO). "The accreditation of AHRI as a Canadian SDO fulfills a long-sought goal of our organization and its 300+ member manufacturers, many of whom provide products and equipment to Canadian customers," says AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. Read More

 

PEERS & PROFILES

Brian Cook, Master Electrician and Safety Award Winner

A licensed electrical contractor and registered Electrical Field Safety Representative, Brian Cook is founder and president of PowerCheck Electrical Safety Services, a Vancouver-based company that conducts electrical safety assessments for the insurance industry throughout Western and Central Canada. Brian is also the 2013 recipient of a BC Safety Authority's Lieutenant Governor Safety Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to technical safety throughout the province. Read More

 

SURVEY SAYS

Copper and the Electrical Industry: Did You Know...

As an electrical conductor for building wire systems, copper is the most efficient, strongest, and most reliable metal available today. Since much equipment uses copper, being aware of the relative pricing effects is an important component when buying and specifying electrical equipment. Two charts detail the historical effect of copper from 2009 through 2012. Read More

 

NEW PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS

 

THE ELECTRICAL STOCK MARKET

Track the stock market performance of 25 publicly traded electrical equipment suppliers and electrical wholesalers. Updated weekly.

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