Energy management specialist Marshall-Tufflex is launching the first voltage optimisation unit to comply with forthcoming changes to British Standards governing the performance of consumer units and switchgear assemblies in domestic properties.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has updated BS 7671:2008 to provide greater protection from fires started by loose connections within consumer units and switchgear assemblies. The new regulations, due for publication in January 2015 with full compliance required for installations designed after January 1, 2016, state these units must be made from non-combustible material or enclosed within a non-combustible box.
“We looked at the regulation change and decided to act immediately, even though the legislation doesn’t come into force until 2016,” said Jeremy Dodge, Marshall-Tufflex Head of Technical Services. “Voltis Home units should last well in excess of 20 years and we therefore felt that it was important for our customers to have the re-assurance that products they are installing now are in-line with the new regulations. New Voltis Home will not only be BS 7671:2008 Amendment 3 compliant thanks to its metal case and passive fire protection, it will also deliver higher savings and be lighter, quieter and easier to install.
“Marshall-Tufflex is the first domestic voltage optimisation manufacturer to offer a fully compliant domestic voltage optimiser to the market. It is important to note that having a metal cover alone is not sufficient to comply, all vents and openings within the unit need to be automatically sealed in the unlikely event of a fire,” added Mr Dodge.
New Voltis Home, to be launched in January, delivers market-leading savings via a 9% fixed voltage reduction and new toroidal transformer. The slimmed down and lighter metal unit now has an internal 100Amp main switch/Isolator meaning no additional installation costs and can be turned through 90° to allow for more flexible installation. All connections are made from the front. More robust packaging includes a template for wall fixing and units have a traffic light system (red, amber, green) to indicate mode of operation. Once installed the unit manages itself without the need for manual intervention and still offers the all-important built-in bypass facility. Operation is continuous at 60Amp loads (in save mode) on a 100Amp bypass circuit.