Vol. 1 No. 6

April 2006

In This Issue...

- Spring-cleaning Tips
- Creating a Material Declaration Standard
- Fluke adds Thermography Learning Module
- Coming Events
- Your May 2006 Electrical Business

SPRING CLEANING TIPS
Spring-cleaning season is here: a time for getting rid of the old and making way for the new. It's the perfect time to clear your toolbox of clutter and review the tools you do need.

Some tips for cleaning up
- Toss everything in your toolbox you don't use. Less mess allows for better organization and more room for the tools you actually use.
- Inspect power tools for frayed cords, broken plugs or cracked housings. If damaged, repair or replace them immediately.
- Give each hand tool a thorough cleaning. Adding a drop of oil at a tool's hinge extends its life and assures easier operation.
- A shot of compressed air is effective in cleaning out power tools, although major jobs, such as replacing motor bearings, should be done at a service centre. Always turn off and unplug a power tool before cleaning it.
- When placing cleaned hand tools back in your toolbox, put them in individual slots (where possible) rather than together where they can be nicked, scratched or broken.
- Protect yourself from electrical shock when using power tools by plugging them into a portable GFCI.
- Before working outdoors, ensure your power tools, temporary lighting and extension cords are marked for outdoor use.

Adapted from material provided by EGS Electrical Group (2006)

Creating a Material Declaration Standard
As regulations about the environment increase, so life becomes more difficult for the electrical and electronics industries because the amount of paperwork increases in the form of green procurement surveys or supply chain questionnaires. The regulations are often a list of what you cannot do, with varying criteria, creating a real Tower of Babel.
To help resolve the problem, the International Electrotechnical Commission has started work on a Material Declaration Standard for use worldwide.

Legal requirements and market demands oblige industry to track and disclose specific information about the material composition of its products. Having rules to promote environmental awareness for those who design electrical and electronic equipment makes sense, so a Material Declaration may well be the answer: one rule for all works out to be cheaper and safer.

Consistency is the key word and products approved under this standard reassure manufacturers that their products will conform to regulations about the environment. It would also help industry demonstrate it is being diligent and law-abiding and, most importantly, exhibiting a responsible attitude toward the environment.

The sticking point, however, is figuring out what to include in such a declaration. For example, should it cover end-of-life procedures?

Manufacturers need to obtain composition data, usually presented in the form of a questionnaire. The team working on IEC's Material Declaration plans to develop a single international passport for environmentally conscious design in products and sub-parts, making it the first International Standard for the declaration of materials for the electrical and electronics industries. More specifically, it is expected to give minimum requirements on what needs to be included, as well as criteria explaining which materials and substances must be disclosed.

Besides listing the 'what', the standard would also outline the 'how' by establishing consistent electronic data exchange formats to help with information exchange along the entire global supply chain.

Beyond satisfying legal and regulatory requirements, it is hoped that adherence to the Material Declaration will help stimulate improvements in product design and respond to enquiries from customers, product recyclers and other stakeholders.

Fluke adds Learning Module on Thermography
Fluke Electronics Canada has added a new module on thermography and thermal imaging applications to its Education Partnership Program. Free to educators, the module provides more than two dozen application notes, case studies and training articles, a PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes, and a poster illustrating common thermography measurements.

The Fluke Education Partnership Program combines educational materials and application information with product discounts. Modules available include:

- Thermography
- Insulation resistance testing
- Oscilloscope ABCs
- Motor troubleshooting and maintenance
- Power quality
- Electrical measurement safety
- Electrical measurements on adjustable-speed drives
- Basic electrical measurement
- Process instrument calibration and maintenance
- Harmonics
- Maintaining and troubleshooting HVAC/R systems

Entire modules or individual components can be selected from the Educators Portal 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or ordered on CD. Educators from accredited schools and apprenticeship programs who enroll in the program receive 25% off list price on Fluke tools for use in the classroom and labs. Educators may also order products for students. Orders may be placed through an authorized Fluke distributor using order forms posted on the Fluke Educator's website. Educators, click here to sign up.



COMING EVENTS

Canadian Electrical Code Essentials
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
April 18-19, Vancouver
May 4-5, Edmonton
May 8-9, London, Ont.
May 25-26, Montreal (English)
June 12-13, Red Deer, Alta.
June 26-27, Sudbury, Ont.
Visit
www.shopcsa.ca and click Seminars & Training

Arc Flash: Measures for Prevention and Control
Schneider Canada Services and CSA
May 3, Calgary, Alta.
May 5, Edmonton
May 24, Halifax, N.S.
May 26, Moncton, N.B.
May 29, Mississauga, Ont.
Call (800) 463-6727

CEC Bonding and Grounding Workshop
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
April 18, Mississauga, Ont.
May 11, Ottawa, Ont.
June 5, Richmond, B.C.
Visit
www.shopcsa.ca and click Seminars & Training

EMI: Electrical Disturbances Workshop
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
April 19, Mississauga, Ont.
May 12, Ottawa, Ont.
June 6, Richmond, B.C.
Visit
www.shopcsa.ca and click Seminars & Training

Fundamentals of Commercial and Industrial Lighting
GE Lighting Institute
April 19-21
Cleveland, Ohio
Call (800) 255-1200

Project Management Course
Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta (ECAA)
April 20-21
www.ecaa.ab.ca

Truck World
April 20-22
Toronto, Ont.
www.truckworld.ca


Leadership Skills for the Wholesale Branch Manager
Electro-Federation Canada (EFC)
April 21-22
Mississauga, Ont.
www.electrofed.com

Annual Meeting
National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED)
April 22-26
Orlando, Fla.
www.naed.org

Creating Market Value (Craig Zawada)
Electrical Equipment Manufacturers Association of Canada (EEMAC)
April 25
Brampton, Ont.
Call Deborah Preston at (905) 602-8877 ext. 220

All-Industry Dinner
Saskatchewan Electrical League (SEL)
April 26
Regina, Sask.
Call Jim Scott at (306) 352-7989, e-mail
alfa@alfaengltd.com or visit www.seleague.com

Static Grounding Training
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
April 26, Cambridge, Ont.
May 24, Brampton, Ont.
June 15, Sarnia, Ont.
Visit
www.shopcsa.ca and click Seminars & Training

Hospitality Lighting
GE Lighting Institute
April 26-27
Cleveland, Ohio
Call (800) 255-1200

Electrical Industry Conference
Ontario Electrical League (OEL)
April 27-29
Ottawa, Ont.
www.oel.org

2006 CEC/2005 NEC (A Comparison of Requirements)
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
May 2-3, Sarnia
June 7-8, Vancouver
Visit
www.shopcsa.ca and click Seminars & Training

Retail Lighting
GE Lighting Institute
May 2-3
Cleveland, Ohio
Call (800) 255-1200

MEET (Mechanical Electrical Electronic Technology) 2006
May 3-4
Moncton, N.B.
www.masterpromotions.ca/meet.asp


Computer Estimating Course
Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta (ECAA)
May 4-5
www.ecaa.ab.ca

Safety Principles Course
Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta (ECAA)
May 12-13
www.ecaa.ab.ca

Canadian Skills Competition
May 23-26
Halifax, N.S.
www.skillscanada.com

Annual Golf Tournament & General Meetings
Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta (ECAA)
May 26-28
www.ecaa.ab.ca

Lightfair 2006
Illuminating Engineering Society of North American (IESNA) and International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD)
May 30-June 1
Las Vegas, Nev.
www.lightfair.com


Annual Conference
S&D Council (EFC)
May 31-June 3
Banff, Alta.
www.electrofed.com


Want to see YOUR EVENT listed here?
Send information to the Editor at
acapkun@clbmedia.ca or fax (905) 727-0017.



ELECTRICAL BUSINESS, MAY 2006
The May issue of Electrical Business contains the first of two annual special lighting supplements, coinciding with Lightfair 2006-the pre-eminent North American lighting trade show and conference. In this issue, you'll find a ton of new lighting products for just about every application imaginable, a wrap-up of IESNA Toronto's 100th anniversary celebration, and be able to read about GE following its own good advice.

Don't forget to register for MEET 2006 in Moncton May 3-4. Discounted online registration is available. And while you're at the show, be sure to stop by booth 159A and visit Electrical Business (right next to EFC's booth).


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