The 'Eureka!' moment

You would expect contractors to jump at any opportunity to cut installation time and costs. However, as our feature on ‘Modular Wiring Systems’ shows, the attitude of ‘if it works, don’t bother to fix it’ has resulted in a slow uptake of this technology in the electrical contracting industry.

A modular wiring system is prefabricated off-site, and runs the gamut from pre-wired lighting units to power connection systems, floor boxes or even desk units. The beauty of such an approach is that it reduces the work on-site. This, in turn, improves quality and health and safety.

“Modular systems really do have the ability to relieve some of the time pressure from on-site work, and make installing the electrical infrastructure easier and quicker. There is a ‘Eureka!’ moment when specifiers realise the huge potential such systems offer,” says Marshall-Tufflex international sales director Tracy Masters.

So what is the problem? It is that old bugbear, perceived cost. The cost of a modular system may appear higher when compared with a hard-wired system. Thus there is a great temptation to value engineer a product like modular wiring out without looking at the whole life-costing implication of such a decision.

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However, in these tough times of curtailed business opportunities and rising costs, it is important that contractors take full advantage of the opportunities available. Here are some of the many benefits of modular wiring systems:

• Infinite flexibility: the system simply plugs together without any hardwired connections. Changes can be made easily and quickly.
• Simple to design: modular wiring becomes the circuit lines of a traditional scheme.
• Keeps ceiling voids to a minimum: all cables fit into the lighting zone.
• Factory-guaranteed installation: the complete system is manufactured off-site in a factory-controlled environment, thus eliminating the potential risks of on-site conditions.
• Maintenance-free: no screw connections are employed within the system on the basis that connections are generally where faults occur.
• Minimises labour requirements: labour can be reduced by up to 75%.
• No wastage: eliminates on-site cutting and fabrication.
• Reduces on-site storage: a ‘just-in-time’ approach allows materials to be called off on a floor-by-floor basis, and being delivered to the working area directly.
• Limits testing: testing and fault-finding are minimised due to factory testing.
• Programme accelerator: an installation can be undertaken up to 90% quicker than traditional methods.

“There is no doubt that, for modern commercial projects and buildings with common footprints, such systems provide massive benefits,” argues Masters. “They also have much to offer across the entire electrical installation sector,” she concludes.

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