|
|
Editor's Note
Don't Miss
Out on Future
Issues of ElectricalZone
Add our new "from" address to your address book so you
will continue to receive our e-newsletters. To ensure delivery of all
future issues of ElectricalZone, please add "ecmweb@pbinews.com" to your
e-mail address book.
Around the Circuit
U.S. Census Bureau
Reports on February Construction Spending
The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that
construction spending in February was at a record seasonally adjusted
annual rate of $1.19 trillion, up 0.8% from January and 7.4% from
February 2005. According to Arlington, Va.-based Associated General
Contractors of America (AGC) Chief Economist Ken Simonson, all major
segments followed the overall total's lead by showing similar growth.
For the first time since the 2001 recession, private nonresidential
construction led the industry with a 9.6% increase from last year.
Private residential construction showed a 7.1% increase, and public
construction was up 6%.
With regard to year-to-date totals,
shopping center construction spiked 61%, hospital construction jumped
22%, manufacturing and commercial warehouse construction grew 20%, and
the office segment was up 18%. Single- and multi-family residential
construction increased 14% in the first two months of this year
compared
to the same span of 2005. As predicted by Simonson, home sales are
slowing but builders are still working on the backlog of unbuilt houses
and condos.
ADVERTISEMENT
 The Multi-Tasking Power Quality
Analyzer!
Wouldn't it be nice if you could look inside your electrical system and
see what's going on? Troubleshooting would be so much easier if you
could see the volts, amps, and harmonic content in real time and take
pictures to document and analyze. Now you can do just that and more
with
AEMC's PowerPad Model 3945. Record trends and capture transients,
events, and screen shots all at the same time. Review it on screen or
download a complete database for thorough analysis on your PC with the
DataView software provided. Call (800) 343-1391 or e-mail sales@aemc.com for your free PowerPad
brochure. AEMC's brochure is also available online at www.aemc.com.
NEMA Releases
Standard for Secondary, Non-Sealed Multiport Distribution
Connectors
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association
(NEMA), Rosslyn, Va., recently published ANSI C119.6-2006, "American
National Standard for Electric Connectors-Non-Sealed, Multiport
Connector Systems Rated 600 Volts or Less for Aluminum and Copper
Conductors." This standard covers non-sealed multiport connector
systems
rated at 600V for making electrical connections between conductors and
establishes electrical, mechanical, and sealing requirements for
non-sealed multiport connector systems.
The standard gives
reasonable assurance to the user that non-sealed multiport connector
systems meeting the requirements of this standard will perform in a
satisfactory manner, provided they have been properly selected for the
intended application and are installed in accordance with the
manufacturer's recommendation. ANSI C119.6-2006 replaces ANSI C119.4,
which is primarily for uninsulated single-conductor or tap-type
connectors. This is now the utility industry standard for secondary,
non-sealed multiport distribution connectors. ANSI C119.6-2006 is
available on NEMA's Web
site
or by contacting Global Engineering Documents at (800) 854-7179.
National Grid
Plans to Upgrade Electric System in New York
Buffalo, N.Y.-based National Grid plans to spend $1.2
billion over the next five years to upgrade its aging electric system
in
New York after failing reliability standards set by state regulators.
Charged with an $8.8 million fine from the state Public Service
Commission for logging too much outage time in 2005, the company will
increase its spending on system improvements by about two-thirds over
levels budgeted in its current rate agreement. The upgrade program will
target the utility's poorest-performing circuits and will replace more
than 600 miles of lines this year.
Publix Purchases
Generators for Hurricane-Prone Locations
Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets plans to
install 400 stationary and mobile generators to hurricane-prone store
locations, as well as 175 quick-connecting docking stations to stores
in
lower-probability hurricane areas. The 500kW permanent generators
include automated turn-on sensors and contain a double-lined fuel tank
(with a bi-fuel option) that holds 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The
mobile generators are trailer-mounted and will be transported by Publix
tractors. They have a self-contained, double-lined fuel tank that holds
860 gallons of diesel fuel. The company expects the generators to
protect Publix stores in approximately 575 communities at an estimated
investment of $100 million.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Buy IDEAL Connectors and Rock with Awesome
Stuff
It's time to kick start spring with the IDEAL Jammin' on the Job
wire-connector promotion. Welcome the warm weather with a Bosch Power
Box radio, Keg-a-Que grill, and Thermos cooler set. You can get all
these prizes just by purchasing the most trusted wire connectors in the
industry. Stop by your IDEAL distributor or visit www.idealindustries.com
for details.
Project Watch
Illinois School Board Seeks Bids for
Work in Schools
The South Central Board of Education is accepting bids
for various projects for work at schools located in Farina and
Kinmundy,
Ill. Scope of electrical work includes disconnection and reconnection
of
power to equipment, the removal of an existing electric boiler and
classroom unit ventilators, and extension of electrical service to
provide power to all new rooftop air-conditioning units. Sealed bids
are
to be delivered to South Central CUSD #401, 501 South Madison,
Kinmundy,
IL, 62854 prior to 2 p.m. CST on April 19.
North Carolina County Requests
Proposals for Repairs to County Building
Carteret County is soliciting contractors for repair
work in a building that incurred water damage when an internal roof
drain burst. The scope of electrical repairs for this contract includes
removal of all damaged fixtures, reattaching loose conduit and cable,
installing new fixtures, replacing two light fixtures in second-floor
conference room with surface-mount fluorescent fixtures, adding two
surface-mount fluorescent fixtures to second-floor hallway, replacing
all receptacles, covers, wall switches and plates, and replacing one
main lug 100A, 18-circuit panel. The deadline for bids is May 2 EST at
2
p.m. For a pdf of the bid documents, visit the county's Web
site.
ADVERTISEMENT
 Contractors Earn Free Merchandise
From
B-Line
Introducing the Great Gear program, a way to acquire free gifts by
collecting and redeeming B-Line Bucks found on B-Line's fastener
product
boxes. Simply remove your B-Line Bucks from the box label and use them
to select from a wide assortment of gear in B-Line's Great Gear
catalog.
To obtain a catalog and order forms, see your local B-Line distributor
or visit our Web site at www.b-line.com
Web Exclusives
Business Brief
Grainger Presents Advance With Outstanding Supplier
Award
Grainger, Lake Forest, Ill., recently presented Rosemont, Ill.-based
Advance with its Partners in Performance Supplier Award for 2005 at
Grainger's recent Partners In Performance Supplier Conference held in
Itasca, Ill. Every year, Grainger presents the award, which recognizes
suppliers that achieve excellence in several categories, including
responsiveness, information integrity, on-time shipping, and order
fulfillment, to a select group of suppliers for outstanding performance
throughout the year.
For more Business Briefs, visit
EC&M's Web
site.
ADVERTISEMENT
 E-Mon D-Mon Submeters
The Contractor's Choice for More than 25 Years
Low cost, easy-to-install submetering solutions for commercial,
industrial, and multi-family applications.
Allocate energy costs to tenants, departments, or equipment.
Identify energy-saving opportunities and lower utility bills.
Create itemized usage statements and graphs for energy analysis via
RightEnergy™ meter-reading software.
For details, contact E-Mon at (800) 334-3666 or visit www.emon.com/ecm43.asp
Eye on Safety
Study Claims
BLS Underestimates Injuries/Illnesses
A study funded by the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that the current
national
system for calculating workplace injuries and illnesses "markedly
underestimates the magnitude of these conditions." The study, conducted
by researchers from Michigan State University, analyzed Michigan
workplace injury and illness data in five different databases,
including
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the years 1999, 2000, and 2001.
From
that analysis, the researchers concluded that the number of
work-related
injuries and illnesses in Michigan is three times greater than BLS
estimates. The findings lead the researchers to believe that BLS
significantly underestimates U.S. workplace injuries and
illnesses.
Currently, BLS comes up with its estimates of workplace injuries and
illnesses based on a sampling of employers, not a census of all
work-related injuries and illnesses. The annual BLS survey does not
include farms with fewer than 11 employees, private households, federal
government agencies, and, for national estimates, state, and local
government employees.
ADVERTISEMENT
 ClearTrax™ range-taking
connectors
feature easy lay-in installation of aluminum or copper conductors and
accommodate a wire range of 1000MCM - 2. Benefits are a faster and
safer
connection, resulting from reduced cable manipulation during
installation. Visit our Web site at www.ilsco.com for additional product
information.
Shows and Events
BattCon 2006
The 2006 International Stationary Battery Conference
and
Tradeshow will be held in Orlando from May 8-10. This year's three-day
technical symposium will feature papers and panels that address the
theme, "Managing Change -- or Coping with the Status Quo." Seminars on
battery basics as well as advanced topics in lead-acid batteries will
be
presented. For more information and to register, visit the BattCon 2006
Web site.
Northwest Facilities
Expo
The Northwest Facilities Expo will take place in
Portland, Ore., from May 10-11. Seminars featured in this year's event
include "How to Coordinate Emergency and Standby Systems in Compliance
with the NEC," "Infrared Technology -- for Electrical Applications and
Beyond," "The Oregon Energy Code," and "The 10 Steps of an Effective
Arc
Flash Hazard Safety Program." For more information and to register,
visit the Expo's Web
site.
BuilConn
BuilConn will be held in Palm Springs, Calif., from May
16-18. The focus of this year's event is the broad adoption of IP and
related technologies as the convergence with the IT world evolves.
Conference topics, such as strategies for building-IT convergence and
intelligent buildings adoption, selling and buying processes of IT and
enterprise building system solutions, new technologies and standards
for
tomorrow's building systems, and open roundtable discussions, workshops
and demonstrations of new and relevant technologies will be presented
at
the two-day conference. For more information or to register, visit the
BuilConn Web
site.
IEEE PES T&D Conference
& Expo
The 2005/2006 IEEE PES Transmission and Distribution
Conference & Expo will be held in Dallas from May 21-24. The technical
portion of the event will include seminars on overhead and underground
transmission and distribution systems; safety, maintenance, and
operation; distribution generation; power quality and grounding; FACTS
and HVDC; distribution systems and planning; transformers; and circuit
breakers. The Exposition features hands-on product demonstrations and
tutorials. For more information, visit IEEE's Web site.
Enlighten 2006
The International Association of Lighting Designers
(IALD) recently issued a call for speakers for its 6th annual Education
Conference to be held from Oct. 19-21 in San Diego. The organization
seeks experts in their fields to present workshops and seminars at the
conference. The deadline for submissions is May 5. For more
information,
visit the IALD Web site.
|
|
You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email#
For questions concerning delivery of this newsletter, please contact
our
Customer Service Department at:
Customer Service Department
EC&M
A Prism Business Media publication
US Toll Free: 866-505-7173
International: 847-763-9504
Email:ecmweb@pbinews.com
Prism Business Media
9800 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212
Copyright 2006, Prism Business Media. All rights reserved. This article
is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property
laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed,
re-disseminated,
transmitted,
displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any
medium
without the prior written permission of Prism Business Media.
|
|
