If you are running a landscaping business an integral part of adding the finishing touches to your work will often be the installation of outdoor lighting and power outlets. It is great to see a garden lit up or a water feature as a focal point but you will want
An agreement has been reached between the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) and the Lighting Association Ireland (LAI). This agreement comes as the two lighting associations have been in discussions and come to the conclusion that they share a similar outlook and philosophy in regards to their members and the future
TIMco, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of screws, fasteners and fixings, has released its new summer catalogue with 10% more new product lines, taking their offering to over 6,000 products for the first time. The increased number of products offered comes as a direct response to customer demand
An extensive refurbishment project is currently taking place at the Saint-Gobain Weber HQ which is located in Flitwick, Bedfordshire. As part of this refurbishment and used extensively throughout the building is weberfloor. Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions vital to ensuring the wellbeing of all, whether that’s for
RCM, the complete through wall solutions provider for the UK construction industry has announced that they have formed a new charity partnership with the Douglas Macmillan Hospice. The DougieMac hospice looks after adult patients with a palliative or end of life diagnosis. The hospice serves people across North Staffordshire and
If you are running a landscaping business an integral part of adding the finishing touches to your work will often be the installation of outdoor lighting and power outlets. It is great to see a garden lit up or a water feature as a focal point but you will want to ensure the electrical aspect of your work is carried out as safely as possible. Here are some useful safety tips to consider when you are working on an electrical installation outdoors, including a reminder about rules and regulations for mains voltage, cable installation insights, plus suggestions for mixing up your lighting options. Sticking to the code The fundamentals of carrying out electrical work safely involve knowing your limitations and when to get someone more qualified to help with the electrics and ensuring that you stay on the right side of building codes and regulations. Fitting plug sockets, outdoor lighting, and providing power for a water pump all require mains voltage and every one of these cables, wires, and sockets need to be protected by a Residual Current Device (RCD) which is designed to shut the power off instantly when something like a power leak to earth occurs. Someone like RS Components can provide you with all the sockets and circuit breakers you need to meet your outdoor power requirements and maintain the integrity of that power source. Make a plan If you are working on a design plan to give a garden a makeover those plans also need to incorporate details of how you are going to keep all the cables and wiring needed as safe as possible. You never want to see electrical cables trailed around the garden. It is not just unsightly but you are raising the prospect of a trip or fall and inviting a disaster like running over a cable with a lawnmower or hedge cutter at some point. You will need to use a steel wired armored cable if you are going to be burying cables underground together with some warning tape that identifies its presence when anyone is digging the ground in the future. You could also consider laying electricians plastic conduit pipe and then pull the cabling through to the other end, but whatever way you go about it, think safety and have a plan that meets the required standards for an electrical installation. Low voltage options Installing power cables will add to the cost of any landscaping work and a safer and less expensive option to consider would be to see where you might be able to get away with using a low voltage alternative. There are plenty of low voltage lighting options that don’t require any cables to be laid so you can light up the garden in places with the minimum of fuss and greatly reduce the risk of shock or any other electrical hazard. A successful outdoor lighting and power project requires planning and using the right fixtures and wiring in the right places. Get that right and the electrical aspect of your landscaping project should be as successful as the rest of your work.
An agreement has been reached between the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) and the Lighting Association Ireland (LAI). This agreement comes as the two lighting associations have been in discussions and come to the conclusion that they share a similar outlook and philosophy in regards to their members and the future of the lighting industry. It is thought that the two associations can make significant improvements by working together. The Lighting Association Ireland has been in operation for three years, and in this time the organisation has been able to have valuable input into the design, manufacture, distribution and installation of lighting being carried out across Ireland. On the other hand, The Lighting Industry Association has been a dominant part of the industry landscape for the past 80 years and is the largest Trade Association in Europe for professionals working with lighting equipment. The older LIA will be able to offer insight and knowledge to the agreement that has been developed from years of working within the industry. The LAI will offer new and innovative solutions and possibilities for how changes could improve the lighting industry for their members in the future. The LIA has more than 250 members and is considered around the world as an authority in the industry. This means that the agreement will allow all of the members of both of the organisations to make the most of any changes that are made, and the associated benefits. Also, as part of the agreement that has been reached between the LIA and the LAI, all members will share the range of benefits on offer between the organisations, including training opportunities, social events perfect for networking and the LIA’s UKAS accredited lighting laboratory. With Brexit on the horizon, this agreement will create ties that are mutually beneficial for the industry and its continued improvement going forward.
TIMco, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of screws, fasteners and fixings, has released its new summer catalogue with 10% more new product lines, taking their offering to over 6,000 products for the first time. The increased number of products offered comes as a direct response to customer demand for a broader range of high quality products from TIMco. The new catalogue, which is now available, details the full range of TIMco products, guides on how to get the most out of the products, environmental and corrosion ratings as well as ordering and delivery information. TIMco’s product range has grown to include more than 6,000 products, including brand new product lines such as Addax X6 impact driver bits, chucks, adaptors, sockets and drill bits. There are also new products from the newly extended SHIELD protection range as well as the usual comprehensive selection of high quality fixing and fastening products under the TIMco brand. Simon Midwood, Managing Director of TIMco comments: “We aim to be the wholesale supplier that supports independents, and this brochure helps merchants extend the range they offer to their customers which makes the end user’s shopping experience quicker and easier. This catalogue includes many new products outside of our core fixings and fastener lines and was launched as a direct result of the research conducted by our marketing team, who found merchants wanted a better choice from their supplier.” Merchants interested in the new product catalogue are being advised to contact their regional sales manager or visit www.timco.co.uk/contacts to download the latest version. TIMco is head quartered in Nantwich, Cheshire and is one of the UK’s largest and most experienced importers and wholesalers of screws, fixings, fasteners, nails and power tools accessories. A family company, TIMco was founded in 1972, starting off in a small unit in Chester city Centre. Now the company has up to 110 members of staff from offices in the UK, Ireland and Taiwan. For more information, visit www.TIMco.co.uk.
An extensive refurbishment project is currently taking place at the Saint-Gobain Weber HQ which is located in Flitwick, Bedfordshire. As part of this refurbishment and used extensively throughout the building is weberfloor. Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions vital to ensuring the wellbeing of all, whether that’s for buildings, transportation, infrastructure and a range of other industrial applications. As part of this, Saint-Gobain Weber is the provider of flooring solutions that are innovative and easy to apply. Refurbishments are being carried out in the 240 ㎡ industrial and commercial floor space of the HQ in Flitwick. The project entails demolishing the old training workshop on the Bedfordshire site in order to transform the area into a new product storage area. The floor of this new storage areas will be pre-treated and primed with the weberfloor 41716 primer, which is ideal for this floor and suitable for all substrates prior to the application of other weberfloor products. Following this weberfloor 4310 fibre flow will then be applied on to the mesh as a high performing pumpable and levelling floor screed. This product has an enhanced level on durability because of the fibre reinforcing in the screed. It was important that Weber worked fast to get the following applied in order to allow more trades to access the site and continue with the work. The facilities that are being renovated are used often by a range of staff and overseas visitor, therefore it is vital that the work is carried out in the shortest time possible. Weber’s extensive collection of floor screeds are all manufactured in the UK and have been developed so that they can deliver optimum speed, durability, strength and smoothness in the finishing product. The product range is known for being one of the most technically advanced available, and therefore an ideal solution for the new Saint-Gobain Storage area.
RCM, the complete through wall solutions provider for the UK construction industry has announced that they have formed a new charity partnership with the Douglas Macmillan Hospice. The DougieMac hospice looks after adult patients with a palliative or end of life diagnosis. The hospice serves people across North Staffordshire and offers free care and support 24 hours a day and 7 days a week through the help and support of staff and volunteers working diligently to have a positive impact on the lives of and journeys of their patients. The hospice sports those living with cancer as well as other non-cancer illnesses that are life limiting. The DougieMac hospice was established in 1973, serving primarily the North Staffordshire area for more than 40 years. The hospice the only one of its kind to offer care only to adults in this area therefore all of the help and work that goes into delivering the proper care is vital. The DougieMac relies heavily on donations from the local community. This is because they need to source 75% of their running costs from voluntary donations in order to keep the hospice running. At the moment it has been calculated that the operational costs for the hospice are just under £12 million a year. RCM have committed to raising as much as possible for the local hospice, and a dedicated to supporting this charity and the good work that they carry out for palliative care patients in the area. As part of their efforts to fundraise for the charity, RCM will be hosting a Corporate Charitable Golf Day to raise money for DougieMac. This event will be held in September and will offer the construction supply company the opportunity the chance to give back to the local community in North Staffordshire.
