News Briefs

Jun 1, 2000 12:00 PM, By EC&M Staff

Internet Jobline for Electricians
Mr. Electric, Waco, Texas, recently launched the site jobs.mrelectric.com to help electricians nationwide investigate career opportunities in its existing locations and expanding territories. All inquiries will be forwarded to the appropriate locations and responded to on an individual basis, if an employment opportunity exists.

ASHRAE Publishes Energy Manual
To determine compliance with ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, ASHRAE recently published a user’s manual as a companion document to the standard. The manual explains the standard and provides sample calculations, reference material, and guidance on usage and compliance. The cost is $75. To order, call ASHRAE at (800) 5-ASHRAE.

GE Industrial Launches Web Site
GE’s has recently introduced EliteNet, a Web community that connects GE Industrial Systems’ preferred customers with critical information, resources, and management tools. Through membership in EliteNet, you receive 24-hr access through a secure extranet site to online order management, industry news, updates, e-learning, e-business updates, and detailed product specifications.

What’s New from EC&M Seminars?
This September, EC&M Seminars will unveil a new series of conferences on the most talked about topics in the industry: hazardous locations, power quality, and grounding and bonding.

Kicking off this new series, the two-day “Hazardous Location Wiring Conference” is presented by James Stallcup, EC&M Contributing Editor and former Chief Electrical Inspector. Stallcup will bring you up-to-date on the latest NEC, UL, and OSHA requirements.

Presented in conjunction with ATMS Training, the “Power Quality Maintenance Workshop” features three days of intensive hands-on instruction—where you’ll learn to identify power problems, use test equipment, and follow installation guidelines.

Industry NEC expert and EC&M NEC Consultant Mike Holt will present “Grounding and Bonding for Safety & Power Quality.” Holt will lead you through the grounding and bonding requirements of the NEC, including all significant Code changes.

Attendees will receive continuous education units (CEUs), continental breakfast and lunch each day, and reference materials and workbooks. For dates, locations, and prices for any of the above seminars, call (800) 453-9621.

EPRI Launches Power Delivery Program
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) recently launched the Reliability Initiative, a two-year program designed to study the causes of recent power outages and identify ways to reduce the risk of future problems. Although deregulation of the electric power industry has brought many economic benefits, the transition to a more competitive electricity market has led to an upsurge in reliability problems in the U.S.

A number of utility CEOs, the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), and the IEEE asked EPRI to assess this situation on behalf of the United States electric power industry. Three major trade associations, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), American Public Power Association (APPA), and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) endorse and support the initiative.

By this summer, EPRI expects the program to develop interim results that can immediately help reduce the risk of outages. Over the next two years, the organization plans to conduct a detailed assessment of the three North American interconnections and provide guidance for reliability enhancement.

Free Access to NEMA Industrial Control, Automation Standard
The Industrial Automation Control Products and Systems Section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is sponsoring a one-year test to evaluate a program to provide free access to industry standards over the Internet.

Throughout 2000, users can visit NEMA’s Web site to view or download automation and control standards. Many of these are closely aligned with the standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), but have the advantage of being specifically developed to reflect requirements of the U.S. electrical system.

NEMA industrial automation and control standards are now available in .pdf format at www.nema.org/engineering/icsstandards.html. During that time, both electronic and hard copies of the standards will continue to be sold through Global Engineering Documents at (800) 854-7179.

Global B2B Vertical Exchange Unveiled
Electricalweb.com, the world’s first independent electrical products exchange, launched its first phase of global electronic marketplace: electricalweb.Com.

Electricalweb.com is a vertical marketplace that provides an online hub for trading among electrical supply chain participants. According to its developers, it creates value by aggregating buyers and suppliers, creating market place liquidity, and reducing transaction costs. The site matches buyers and suppliers, consummates the transaction online, offers integration into back-end systems, supports workflow, and offers other advanced functionality to users.

Cooper Industries Acquires B-Line
In a Cooper Industries, Inc. and Sigma-Aldrich Corp. agreement, Cooper will acquire Sigma’s B-Line Systems business for $425 million. B-Line Systems manufactures and markets a complete line of metal products, used in the installation and retrofitting of various electrical, mechanical, and telecommunications applications.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter. B-Line’s principal products include electrical enclosures, cable trays, bolted framing, and fasteners.