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Message From The Editor
Codes, Standards & Safety
Once again in line with our monthly product focus, this issue focuses on safety. In his monthly series, Bill Burr looks at Section 34 – Signs and Outline Lighting of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1. Also find some guidance on working in confined spaces as well as the importance of maintaining vigilance as vaccinations begin to ramp up. Building permits issued in Canada continue to rise on a record pace, marking a surge in the residential building sector, which bodes well for local contractors. For EFC members, the EFC scholarship program is accepting applications until May 31st. Made up of 52 scholarship opportunities the program aims to give a boost to the industry by supporting post-secondary students pursuing a career in the electrical industry. Good Reading!
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Changing Scene
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2021 Canadian Electrical Code Impact Assessment
Technical Safety BC has reviewed the 2021 Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code) to assess the impacts of the Code changes for the province of BC, and has drafted a recommendation to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on its suitability for provincial adoption. Before submitting our recommendation, they are consulting with industry and anyone with an interest to ensure they have accurately assessed the impacts of these changes, and to gather any additional feedback on the changes that should be considered.
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The Government of Canada Providing Close to $5 million to the National Electrical Trade Council
The Government of Canada is providing close to $5 million, over five years, to the National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO) for the project Online Apprentice Support Initiatives for Success (OASIS) under the Innovation in Apprenticeship Stream of the Union Training and Innovation Program. This funding is part of the Government of Canada’s $62 million investment over five years to help develop a highly qualified skilled trades workforce and prepare Canadians to fill available jobs as the economy restarts.
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EFC Scholarship Program Application Deadline May 31
Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) and its members are proud to support the next generation of leaders who will power a changing world in the Canadian Electrical industry. This industry is made up of inventors, creators and visionaries who are creating new approaches to how electrical products are used by Canadians at home, work and play.
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ECAA Annual Training Day & Annual General Meeting
The ECAA Annual Training Day & AGM hybrid event will take place May 27th – May 29th. At this time Training Day and all AGM’s, Awards Luncheon and Gala will be delivered virtually. Should AHS restrictions and guidelines allow for a hybrid event to include in person, a room block has been secured at the Pomeroy Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis.
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Codes & Standards
Guide to the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I*
By William (Bill) Burr
Section 34 – Signs and Outline Lighting, as outlined in Rule 34-000 Scope, is a supplementary or amendatory section of the code and applies to incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, high-voltage luminous discharge (cold-cathode or neon) tubes, high-intensity discharge lamps and other light-emitting sources such as LEDs. The CEC Handbook has a good diagram of a typical sign installation.
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Safety
12 Tips on Working Safely in Confined Spaces During the Pandemic
Working in confined spaces during the pandemic adds a new dimension of risk to a high-stakes activity. These workers already face possible exposure to toxic substances, shock and electrocution, explosions, asphyxiation, and other hazards. If something goes wrong, the consequences for these workers and their rescuers are often greater than in regular workspaces. An estimated 60% of fatalities involve would-be rescuers. Throughout the pandemic, Chad Kavanaugh, a confined space expert with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), has been helping workplaces ensure confined space work proceeds safely. EIN reached out to Chad for tips on what these workplaces need to know and do.
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AD Member Spotlight
Claudia Bissonnette, Tradelco
Tradelco is a distributor of quality electrical and industrial automation products with an extensive network, efficient, flexible delivery service, and professional staff. The company also stands out for its long-term vision and commitment to its team and community. Not to mention the scale of its membership in Canada's largest independent distributor group, AD (Affiliated Distributors). The 3rd generation family business founded in Granby in May 1961 is proud of its thriving history of growth, expansion, and collaboration in its quest for quality and excellence. With 39 employees who ensure outstanding service and their AD membership that gives it strong purchasing power, Tradelco is well positioned to offer a level of quality that lives up to its customers' expectations and at a competitive price.
Read More:
BC,
AB,
ON,
ATL,
QC
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Safety
4 Reasons to Remain Vigilant as Vaccinations Begin
“Don’t wait for the availability of COVID-19 vaccines to figure out how they may affect your workplace,” advises Wagish Yajaman, a certified industrial hygienist and Canadian Registered Safety Professional with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS). “While vaccines are widely seen as our best chance to end the pandemic and revitalize the economy, they may present challenges that workplaces need to prepare for.” Topping the list: ensuring people continue following pandemic precautions. “We still need to maintain vigilance,” asserts Wagish. Here are four reasons why.
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Human Resources
Hiring — Connecting the Dots
By Michelle Branigan
A career seeker looking for a job. An HR manager looking to hire. Both are looking to fill a need quickly, effectively and as cost efficiently as possible. The career seeker needs to pay their rent or mortgage, and the HR manager knows the cost to the business of the wrong hire. This is where the need for a well-written job description comes in. All too often job descriptions are outdated, listing requirements that are no longer valid, or failing to accurately portray a clear description of the role and employer expectations. Job descriptions serve an important organizational function and it is critical that they are kept up to date, or evergreen. This ensures that they take account of industry changes and the subsequent impact on skills requirements.
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Changing Scene
- AEA and ENGWORKS Offering Hazardous Location Course
The Hazardous Locations Fundamentals course will provide you with a solid foundation in the design, selection, installation, and inspection of electrical equipment intended for use in hazardous locations. The course is based on Canadian Electrical Code requirements and is continually updated with new CEC changes. It covers the various explosion protection concepts, discusses intrinsic safety and the use of gas detection for equipment protection. Wiring and sealing methods are also discussed all in the context of the new 2021 Canadian Electrical Code.
- Littelfuse Launches Interactive Surge Protective Device (SPD) Sizing Selection Guide
Littelfuse has announced the launch of a surge protective device (SPD) selection guide that sizes SPDs to achieve the best level of protection for a system based on specifications provided. Surge protective devices need to be sized correctly. If they are sized too low, the system could be susceptible to temporary overvoltages as well as cause a decrease in the life expectancy of the SPD. If they are sized too high, it could damage the equipment.
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Changing Scene
- Canadian Building Permits for March Rose 5.7%
March 2021 marked the third consecutive month of record-setting numbers as building permits rose 5.7% to $10.9 billion, reflecting a booming residential sector. Constant dollar estimates are available, for the first time, for the building-permit series dating back to 2011. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), building permits increased by 4.0% to $8.1 billion, a number only surpassed by the April 2019 value of $8.2 billion.
- Virtual Skills Ontario Competition and Career Exploration Showcase – May 12, 2021
The annual Skills Ontario Competition and Career Exploration Showcase will run VIRTUALLY on the VFairs platform from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm (EST) and will be set up to replicate the experience of the Toronto Congress Center event as closely as possible, but without the need to travel! You will have the opportunity to view contests, join conferences and explore potential career opportunities with Skills Ontario partners! Skills Ontario will be streaming the Closing Ceremony on May 13th.
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Changing Scene
- Skills Ontario and Indigenous Owned ORIGIN Introduce “Trade Up! Be Proud, Be Skilled” Virtual Reality Careers Campaign
Skills Ontario and Indigenous owned VR Production company, Origin, have teamed up to develop 25 virtual reality “career tour” experiences as part of Skills Ontario’s “Trade Up!” campaign. Designed to inspire youth to pursue rewarding careers in skilled trades and technologies, the videos will provide a 360 immersive look at a variety of careers.
- ABB Canada Supports Efforts to Help Roll Out Vaccination Program
ABB Canada has become one of the first companies to offer employee support for the Industry for Vaccination (IFV) - a collaborative initiative between government and the private sector that aims to accelerate the countrywide vaccination rollout. Across Canada, as IFV sites ramp up their services, ABB will be supporting centers with staffing resources and financial support. Designated IFV vaccination sites in Quebec launched on May 3…
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Changing Scene
- Brampton Launches World's Largest Fleet of Interoperable Battery Electric Buses
The Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) congratulates Brampton Transit on the deployment of the world’s largest fleet of interoperable and standardized battery electric buses (BEBs). The eight BEBs from Nova Bus and New Flyer charge completely in less than 10 minutes using four 450-kilowatt overhead pantograph stations provided by ABB Inc. and Siemens Canada Ltd. The system is part of CUTRIC’s Pan-Canadian Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial…
- New Electric Vehicle Chargers Coming to Saanich
The federal government announced a $110,000 investment to the District of Saanich to install 22 Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at municipally owned sites. The District of Saanich is matching the federal contribution, bringing the total project cost to $220,000. The investment supports the municipality's own vehicle fleet and encourages adoption of zero-emission vehicles by giving British Columbians more options to charge and drive their vehicles where they live, work and play.
- Gerrie Electric Burlington Distribution Centre Nearing Completion
Gerrie recently provided an update on their new Burlington Distribution Centre is almost complete: "We are excited to share updated progress photos of our new 76,000 sq foot Distribution Centre in Burlington! We have invested in an innovative automated storage and retrieval system, conveyors and streamlined processes to quickly and efficiently get products to market. This technology will be driving even greater productivity to support new and growing sales while enhancing job satisfaction, and increased skills and technical capabilities."
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Survey Says
Residential Electricians Pay by Experience Level
Among respondents, residential electricians with less than one year earn $16/hour. Electricians with 1-4 years earn $23, while those with 20+ years earn $33.
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Pay by Experience Level for Electrical Foremen
Early in their careers electrical foremen earn an average of about $35/hour, eventually rising to $42/hour. The national average of those surveyed is $37/hour or $85,000/year.
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Product Focus
WWG Fire Resistant Hooded Sweatshirt
Front pouch pocket; 1x1 rib waistband and cuffs; Cotton drawstring in hood.Colour: Navy, Orange. Fabric: Westex Ultra Soft®, 11oz Fleece: Arc Rating calories/cm2 = 21.8 (Ebt); HRC - 2. Compliant with CSA Z462-12, ASTM F 1506-10a, NFPA 70E.
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3-Watt Rechargeable Flashlight
The F4P ProSeries 3 Watt Rechargeable Flashlight offers a sleek and unique ergonomic design to make the temporary illumination of spaces completely feasible.
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Megger Solar Clamp Meter
Measuring up to 2000 V DC and 1500 V AC (using the PVHV Leads), as well as 1500 A AC or DC, the DCM1500S solar clamp meter is ideal for use in the installation, maintenance, monitoring and testing of photovoltaic systems as well standard AC or DC electrical equipment. It has a large clear backlit display and an automatic torch in the jaw to assist use in poorly lit areas. Using the free Megger Link App, the measurement value can be remotely monitored on a smart device using the built-in Bluetooth®. This will give a live trend graph and offer the ability to sample and log the values for later analysis.
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New Arlington Zinc MC Cable Fittings
Arlington's low cot MC cable fittings in a variety of sizes, are super convenient and cost-effective. Each fitting has a built-in end stop, but also comes with additional end stop bushings that accomodate different size cable bundles. ONE trade size fits several cable sizes.
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Incito 4" LED Direct-Indirect Wall Mount Cylinder
Gotham has released its Incito™ 4” Direct-Indirect Wall Mount Cylinder luminaire. The new cylinder represents the first direct-indirect luminaire in the Incito™ family. Combined with new accessory options, the line facilitates grazing, creating contrast, and bringing depth to vertical surfaces to achieve desired lighting designs.
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MaxLite Controls Ready LED Wall Pack
MaxLite introduces the next generation of WallMax Open Face LED Wall Packs with field-selectable CCTs, wattages and field-installable controls as a flexible and future ready outdoor lighting solution for electrical distributors and contractors.
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The Electrical Stock Market
Track the stock market performance of 25 publicly traded electrical equipment suppliers and electrical wholesalers. Updated weekly.
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Current Copper Prices
Monitor daily and 6-month $US prices for copper — the preferred electrical conductor for most categories of electrical wiring.
View Current
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