Help & Advice

The Energy-related Product Directive (ErP) is a wide ranging piece of EU legislation that aims to reduce emissions in Europe through improving the labelling and efficiency of a wide range of appliances from lighting to refrigerators. It has now been in force for a number of years having first been passed in 2009 but various provisions have come into force at later dates. These include Regulation 813/2013 that sets out requirements for the eco design of space heaters and combination heaters.

Studies suggest that low cost fixes - particularly to do with more efficient use of energy - can save up to 20% of operating costs in electrical installations and production facilities. Regular monitoring and analysis of bills and overall consumption can help highlight when there is a problem but unfortunately do not isolate the source of wastage. Power and energy loggers provide one of the most convenient and accurate way of measuring electricity use, thus locating malfunctioning processes within an installation which can then be remedied.

One of the quickest ways to assess the performance of building insulation and identify problem areas in walls is an outdoor thermographic inspection using a thermal imaging camera. However, there are several precautions that need to be taken in order avoid inaccurate results and ensure that the observer gains as much information as possible out of the inspection.

One of the first things that everyone will notice about our thermal imaging cameras and infrared thermometers is that the emissivity capabilities are defined for every single product. Emissivity is either fixed - typically at 0.95 - or adjustable at varying increments between 0.1 and 1 in most thermal imaging cameras. This article aims to explain what emissivity is, how it is determined, and the practical challenges it presents for thermographers and technicians.

For many years, Residual Current Devices or RCDs have been commonplace in the vast majority of electrical installations.

RCDs provide additional protection against electric shock by constantly monitoring the current flowing through Line and Neutral conductors within a circuit, or an individual item of electrical equipment. Under usual circumstances, the current flowing within the two conductors is equal.

One of the most useful applications of thermal imaging for heating engineers solves one of the most frustrating problems associated with flue gas analysis. Concealed boiler flues can often be difficult to trace across interior walls in properties and it is sometimes difficult to see whether flues have been well maintained or even correctly installed. Thermal imaging provides a helpful aid when inspecting these flue runs, thus saving time and money.

The 18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS7671:2018) come into force on 1st January 2019 having been published in July earlier this year. There have been several changes to the regulations that affect various aspects of electrical installations. However, this does not necessarily mean that wholesale change is required in terms of test equipment for electrical contractors so it is important to carefully consider before making any purchases.

Cleaning radiators is an important part of maintaining an efficient, reliable central heating system and power flushing provides a speedy, thorough method of clearing out corrosion and other debris from the system. Part L of the UK Building Regulations even requires that systems are cleaned and flushed before adding anti-corrosion chemicals during commissioning whilst the warranty of new boilers often depends on correct cleaning and flushing. Thermal imaging provides a great, quantitative method of checking the performance of a heating system before and after flushing, thereby confirming the efficacy of the flushing process and visualising the results for the customer.

Test-Meter.co.uk currently stocks a wide range of Kane Flue Gas Analysers suitable for use on a variety of different combustion systems including boilers, flueless appliances and professional catering appliances. With several different measurement functions available and compatibility with various fuel types, this post aims to explain the different options and help gas engineers select the right instrument for them.

More and more properties now have underfloor heating installed as the most efficient way of providing consistent heat throughout a dwelling or commercial premises. As the pipes are hidden beneath flooring rather than exposed like radiators, one of the best ways of verifying the performance of an underfloor heating system is by using thermal imaging technology. A thermal imaging camera can detect heat patterns through flooring, thereby showing where a system is effective. This is particularly useful when tracing systems in a property, checking newly installed underfloor heating, and detecting problems in existing systems.