Sustainability and Future Proofing
June 17, 2020
| When it comes to developing sustainable products, it’s not just about tweaking a design or value engineering a project, it’s about adopting a new approach to design which considers the sustainability of each component and ensures switchgear is built to last and not be prone to early replacement through fault or damage. Advances in technology now means most Electrical Systems can be fitted with sensors which can communicate a wealth of information about the operating status and health, highlighting maintenance needs without needing to go near the system itself. Schneider’s Micrologic 5E trip unit allows remote monitoring of any Moulded Case or Air Circuit Breaker device, whilst pre-programmed parameters monitor the performance and ratings of the devices and alerts are sent to warn of potential problems with the functionality of the board. AFDDs provide vital protection from arc faults. They analyse the waveform of the electricity being used to detect anything unusual, which would cause an arc. This device will cut off power to the affected circuit and could prevent a fire. PFC should be another design consideration when looking to improve the sustainability of any building. PFC reduces circuit currents to allow for additional loads to be introduced, which, in most cases can negate the need for a larger electrical supply when expansion occurs. In conclusion, by including the requirements of electrical switchgear at an early stage of the building design process, we can ensure all spaces are serviced appropriately and therefore, the sustainability of a site is increased with future expansion options available. |