In this article, Woodward Group identifies some of the signs that it might be time to upgrade your control panels.

Signs it’s time to upgrade

• Frequent breakdowns

If you’re constantly calling in technicians to fix your control panels, it’s generally a sign that they’re reaching the end of their lifecycle.

• Incompatibility with new systems

As your business grows, so do your technological needs. If your control panels aren’t compatible with newer systems, you’re likely missing out on productivity gains. Outdated control panels can also lead to unnecessary downtime and maintenance issues.

• Rising energy costs

Older panels are often less energy efficient. Upgrading can therefore optimise energy use, leading to lower utility bills for your business.

• Safety concerns

Newer control panels typically come with advanced safety features that protect both your equipment and your employees.

What should you consider when you upgrade your control panels?

When thinking about an upgrade, we’d recommend you start by assessing your current needs and future growth. A well-designed control panel should be scalable, allowing for easy integration of new technologies. At Woodward Group, we work closely with our clients to understand their unique requirements and provide tailored solutions that enhance both performance and reliability.

Investing in modern control panels is not just about keeping up with technology – it’s about future-proofing your business. Upgrades can lead to reduced downtime, lower energy costs, and improved safety, all of which contribute to a more efficient and profitable operation.

Don’t wait until it’s too late

At Woodward Group, we specialise in designing and installing state-of-the-art control panels that meet bespoke requirements. If you’re considering an upgrade or simply want to explore your options, we’re here to help.

In a fast-paced business environment, it’s easy to overlook the importance of control panels. However, timely upgrades can make a significant difference in your operation’s efficiency and safety. Don’t wait until issues arise – get in touch today to discuss how we can help you stay ahead of the curve.

To book your free consultation or to find out more about our Control & Process services, please call 01283 819379 or email us here.

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In this blog, Woodward Group discusses Fixed Wire Testing, its importance and the risks of not having regular inspections.

What is Fixed Wire Testing?

Fixed Wire Testing, also known as Periodic Inspection or Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), involves the inspection and testing of all electrical installations in a building to ensure you are safe and compliant with regulations.

A Fixed Wire Test must be conducted by a professional, qualified engineer to ensure full compliance. The engineer will visually check all relevant areas of the premises, such as mains panels, distribution boards, light fittings, electrical accessories and mechanical power supplies. All circuits, cabling and equipment will also be physically tested and readings recorded within the report.

Once the engineer is complete onsite an electrical installation conditioning report is submitted detailing non-compliance works and these will be broken down into categories of severity. C1 & C2 defects will result in an unsatisfactory certification whereas C3 defects shown non compliance but still a satisfactory certification.

Potential risks of not having regular inspections

As electrical installations deteriorate with age, regular testing and inspections are essential to detect and prevent electrical faults and hazards – and can have lifesaving results.

In additional to legal consequences, not getting your premises tested could result in an increased risk of accidents. An electrical fault could lead to potentially fatal accidents, as they can cause electrical fires, electric shocks or even explosions. Any individual within the building could be at risk if regular inspections have not occurred and electrics are not up to standard, along with equipment that could be damaged as well as the building itself.

Reputational damage can also occur if regular inspections have not taken place and there has been negative media coverage of an accident caused by non-compliance. Damage to a company’s reputation can take a long time to recover from and will ultimately lead to a loss of customers, revenue and credibility.

The risks of not getting a premises electrically tested are significant and greatly outweigh any benefits that may occur from cutting corners.

Legal requirements for businesses

Fixed Wire Testing is a legal requirement under BS7671:2018 and should be prioritised by all managers and owners of commercial premises with public access. Typically, these tests must be carried out every five years, however some more high-risk properties such as industrial units and spa hotels require three-yearly inspections or even one-yearly inspection for medical buildings, swimming pools etc.

Failure to conduct Fixed Wire Testing in accordance with BS7671 results in non-compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act (often called the HSE Act) and Electricity at Work Regulations. Breaches of these regulations can result in fines or even imprisonment depending on the severity of the incident and the harm inflicted.

Carrying out Fixed Wire Testing not only demonstrates that you are compliant with numerous health and safety regulations but, of increasing importance, it ensures you are compliant with the requirements of most commercial insurers.

How we can help

Woodward Group’s Compliance division ensures our clients receive every inspection needed in order to carry out business operations in a safe environment. As an NICEIC approved contractor, with CHAS and Construction Line accreditations, every job we undertake is carried out in accordance with The Electricity at Work Regulations.

We provide a bespoke solution for every client, and we always strive to carry out testing with minimal disruption to your business operations.

If you have any further questions about Fixed Wire Testing or the services we offer at Woodward Group, please do not hesitate to get in touch today.

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Mechanical contractors are in charge of installing and maintaining various mechanical systems—from heating, plumbing, air conditioning, ventilation, and more. Having a well-built, high-functioning system means less reason to worry about possible breakdowns and more time to focus on growing the business.

What are the benefits of hiring a mechanical contractor?

You will achieve a solid foundation. Any physical store requires its own personalised set-up to begin operations. Technical knowledge and customised strategy are essential in identifying what kind of system to set up and how, as workflow and quality of service depend on these systems once the store doors open.

You will encounter fewer roadblocks. Having an expert on your side means getting the right solutions at the right time. In addition, regular maintenance visits will ensure your systems stay up-to-date and act as checkpoints for potential issues caused by wear and tear that may otherwise go unnoticed.

You will build with long-term stability. A mechanical contractor can upgrade your systems in a process called retrofitting. Since they understand the needs of the business, they can make adjustments without conflicting with any of the systems already in place. This customised approach assures that your business keeps up with the latest technology, maximising workplace productivity.

What services does Woodward Group offer?

Woodward Group provides an array of cost and energy-efficient solutions, such as:

• Heating & plumbing
• Heating ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC)
• Refrigeration & chiller unitsVentilation & extraction

We also offer the following maintenance services for our clients:

• Scheduled maintenance visits, carried out only when necessary
• Flexible maintenance service plans (Pay-As-You-Go, Term Contracts, etc.)
• Nationwide maintenance service with competitive discounted rates for multi-site clients

Book a free consultation for mechanical and engineering services today and call 01283 819379, or email us for further enquiries at enquiries@woodwardgroup.net.

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What is HVAC?

HVAC is a generic term that stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. As well as being responsible for heating and cooling a building, HVAC is also a source of ventilation and extraction, allowing for moisture to properly escape from a building.

A good way of thinking about HVAC is as a broader umbrella term that applies to all sorts of interconnected air control systems. For instance, although air conditioning is included within the acronym, not all HVAC units are necessarily air conditioning units. They may include any combination of the following:

• Boilers
• Air conditioning units
• Ducts and moisture vents

Ventilation and Extraction: MEV systems

Ventilation and extraction are the processes of introducing fresh air into indoor spaces while removing stale air. By law, all workplaces need an adequate supply of fresh air; this can be natural ventilation, from doors, windows etc, or controlled, where air is supplied and/or removed by a powered fan.

Letting fresh air into indoor spaces can help remove air that contains virus particles and prevent the spread of viruses such as COVID-19. The fresher the air that is brought inside, the quicker any airborne virus will be removed from the room.

Mechanical Extract Ventilation (known as MEV) refers to centralised systems that provide ventilation using a multi-point extract. A central unit is mounted and ducted to extract polluted air from the wet rooms of a building, such as kitchens or bathrooms. As there is no heat recovery, there is no requirement for any ducts to supply the replacement air. Instead, replacement air enters the home naturally through window vents or air bricks.

By extracting air continuously at a low rate, MEVs help reduce excess moisture in a building or facility to protect against condensation, damp, and mould.

Key Benefits of an Up-to-Date HVAC System

1. Lower electricity bills

For those considering installing a HVAC system for the first time, you will have much more flexibility with when and how you use the system and can therefore save money in the process. Following the initial installation, you’ll quickly be able to see a return on investment.

For those who already have a system in place, the best way to lower your HVAC electricity consumption and reduce your monthly bills is to replace an old, outdated unit with a new energy efficient model. It’s also important to schedule systems in for regular maintenance. When HVAC systems are dirty or worn out, they become less efficient; this translates to higher monthly electricity bills, as well as a marked difference in comfort levels as well.

At Woodward Group, we understand that maintenance is essential to ensure efficient, trouble-free running of all systems. Our team of qualified maintenance and repairs engineers can work around the clock to look after your systems if required. Please do get in touch to find out how we can help.

2. Better temperature variability

The temperature inside a building can differ considerably from room to room. Keeping on top of this this can cause outdated heating or air conditioning systems to work much harder than necessary. However, more modern HVAC zoning system installations can combat this by allowing you to regulate the temperatures of individual rooms to create an optimal environment. They work by allowing you to set unique temperatures in different rooms or zones in a building, thereby helping to balance more extreme, unpredictable temperature fluctuations.

This is particularly helpful for any staff working within the building; it means they can work at a consistently comfortable temperature, helping boost productivity levels. It is also highly beneficial for more specialist industries and sectors; for instance, those working in a science lab or in a commercial kitchen, where constant temperatures are critical.

3. Cleaner air

HVAC filters are designed to filter pollutants out of the air that pass through them. This means that they can contribute towards reducing the risk of the airborne transmission of viruses such as COVID-19.

As the Environmental Protection Agency states: “Air cleaners and HVAC filters can help reduce airborne contaminants including viruses in a building or small space. By itself, air cleaning or filtration is not enough to protect people from COVID-19. But when used alongside other best practices recommended by public health agencies, including social distancing and mask wearing, filtration can be part of a plan to reduce the potential for airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors.”

HVAC systems can also keep air clean by:

• Trapping pet dander and other allergens
• Blocking dust mites/dust
• Removing dangerous volatile organic compounds from the air
• Neutralising smoke
• Removing unpleasant odours from areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and waste disposal units

4. Remote access 

Another benefit of modern HVAC systems is that you can access and control them remotely from anywhere in the world. HVAC controls range from smart thermostats through to more advanced, integrated building management solutions.

Smart thermostats contain sensors that control the HVAC system in your building. Often available as apps that can be accessed on your phone, they provide a number of options at your fingertips that aren’t available with a standard thermostat; for instance, you can program temperatures for different times of the day when you are away from the premises.

An Environmentally Friendly Solution

At Woodward Group, all of our HVAC systems are eco-friendly and energy star-rated, and always adhere to strict energy-efficiency guidelines. For more information about upgrades to a new system, or to find out how we can make maintain your older system to make it as efficient as possible, please get in touch. 

Call us on 01283 819379 or email us at enquiries@woodwardgroup.net

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