Electrical Installation Work: Level 3

EAL Edition

Trevor Linsley

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9780429515194
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Civil Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Updated in line with the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations and written specifically for the EAL Diploma in Electrical Installation, this book has a chapter dedicated to each unit of the EAL syllabus, allowing you to master each topic before moving on to the next. This new edition also includes a section on LED lighting. End of chapter revision questions help you to check your understanding and consolidate the key concepts learned in each chapter. A must have for all learners working towards EAL electrical installations qualifications.

CHAPTER 1

EAL Unit QELTK3/002

Understand environmental legislation, working practices and the principles of environmental technology systems

Learning outcomes

When you have completed this chapter you should:

1. Understand the environmental legislation, working practices and principles that are relevant to work activities.

2. Understand how work methods and procedures can reduce material wastage and impact on the environment.

3. Understand how and where environmental technology systems can be applied.

Assessment criteria 1.1

Specify the current, relevant legislation for processing waste

Assessment criteria 1.2

Describe what is meant by the term environment

Environmental laws and regulations

The environment describes the world in which we live, work and play; it relates to our neighbourhood and surroundings and the situation in which we find ourselves.

Definition

The environment describes the world in which we live, work and play. It relates to our neighbourhood, surroundings and the situation in which we find ourselves.

Environmental laws protect the natural environment in which we all live, including: plants, forests and mountains among other elements.

If an offence is identified in the area in which we now think of as ‘environmental’ it can be of two kinds:

1 An offence in common law, which means damage to property, nuisance or negligence leading to a claim for damages.

2 A statutory offence against one of the laws dealing with the protection of the environment. These offences are nearly always ‘crimes’ and punished by fines or imprisonment rather than by compensating any individual.

Built environment

Everything we do affects other people or other elements, for instance creating new houses creates jobs but this also impacts the environment given the new amount of materials that have to be provided. We therefore define the materials and resources we use to build things that impact on the environment as the ‘built environment’.

Figure 1.1 Eco buildings such as this one are becoming more and more common today.

However, we also impact on the environment in other ways, which is why we have developed laws and legislation to deal with the environment but devolving responsibility for each part such as: air, water, land noise, radioactive substances. Where organizations’ activities impact upon the environmental laws they are increasingly adopting environmental management systems that comply with ISO 14001. Let us now look at some of the regulations and try to see the present picture at the beginning of the new millennium.

Environmental Protection Act 1990

In the context of environmental law, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 was a major piece of legislation. The main sections of the Act are:

Table 1.1 The Environmental Protection Act ensures that companies set up an effective environmental management system

Part 1	Integrated pollution control by HM Inspectorate of Pollution, and air pollution control by Local Authorities
Part 2	Wastes on land
Part 3	Statutory nuisances and clean air
Part 4	Litter
Part 5	Radioactive Substances Act 1960
Part 6	Genetically modified organisms
Part 7	Nature conservation
Part 8	Miscellaneous, including contaminated land

The Royal Commission of 1976 identified that a reduction of pollutant to one medium, air, water or land, then led to an increase of pollutant in another. The need to take an integrated approach to pollution control is therefore stressed.

The processes subject to an integrated pollution control are:

• Air emissions.

• Processes that give rise to significant quantities of special waste, that is, waste defined in law in terms of its toxicity or flammability.

• Processes giving rise to emissions to sewers or ‘Red List’ substances. These are 23 substances including mercury, cadmium and many pesticides that are subject to discharge consent to the satisfaction of the Environment Agency.

The Inspectorate is empowered to set conditions to ensure that the best practicable environmental option (BPEO) is employed to control pollution. This is the cornerstone of the Environmental Protection Act.

Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005

New Hazardous Waste Regulations were introduced in July 2005 and under these regulations electric discharge lamps and tubes such as fluorescent, sodium, metal halide and mercury vapour are classified as hazardous waste. While each lamp only contains a very small amount of mercury, vast numbers are used and disposed of each year, resulting in a significant environmental threat. The environmentally responsible way to dispose of lamps and tubes is to recycle them and this process is now available through electrical wholesalers. Electrical companies produce relatively small amounts of waste and even smaller amounts of special waste. Most companies buy in the expertise of specialist waste companies these days and build these costs into the contract.

Safety first

Disposal of batteries and old fluorescent tubes is regulated through the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.

Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000

The system of Pollution Prevention and Control replaced that of Integrated Pollution Control established by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, thus bringing environmental law into the new millennium and implementing the European Directive (EC/96/61) on integrated pollution prevention and control. The new system was fully implemented in 2007.

Pollution Prevention and Control is a regime for controlling pollution from certain industrial activities. This regime introduces the concept of Best Available Technique (BAT) for reducing and preventing pollution to an acceptable level. Industrial activities are graded according to their potential to pollute the environment:

Definition

Remember that there are two basic forms of plastic: thermoplastic and thermosetting. Only thermoplastic can be reheated and reshaped.

• A(1) installations are regulated by the Environment Agency.

• A(2) installations are regulated by Local Authorities.

• Part B installations are also regulated by Local Authorities.

All three systems require the operators of certain industrial installations to obtain a permit to operate. Once an operator has submitted a permit application, the regulator then decides whether to issue a permit. If one is issued it will include conditions aimed at reducing and preventing pollution to acceptable levels. A(1) installations are generally perceived as having the greatest potential to pollute the environment. A(2) installations and Part B installations would have the least potential to pollute.

The industries affected by these regulations are those dealing with petrol vapour recovery, incineration of waste, mercury emissions from crematoria, animal rendering, non-ferrous foundry processes, surface treating of metals and plastic materials by powder coating, galvanizing of metals and the manufacture of certain specified composite wood-based boards.

Definition

Burning waste material on site could contravene ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Chapter 1 EAL Unit QELTK3/002: Understand environmental legislation, working practices and the principles of environmental technology systems
• Chapter 2 EAL Unit QELTK3/003: Understanding the practices and procedures for overseeing and organizing the work environment (electrical installation)
• Chapter 3 EAL Unit ELEC3/04a: Electrical installation planning, preparing and designing
• Chapter 4 EAL Unit QELTK3/006: Understanding the principles, practices and legislation for the inspection, testing, commissioning and certification of electrotechnical systems
• Chapter 5 EAL Unit QELTK3/007: Understanding the principles, practices and legislation for diagnosing and correcting electrical faults in electro technical systems and equipment in buildings, structures and the environment
• Chapter 6 EAL Unit ELEC3/008: Principles of electrical science
• Answers to ‘Test your knowledge’ questions
• Answers to classroom activities
• Answers to design activities and design exercise
• Appendix A: Abbreviations, symbols and codes
• Appendix B: Formulas for electrical principles
• Glossary of terms
• Index