Focus SB, which makes electrical accessories, has launched a new web site with simpler navigation, new project galleries and up-to-date stock checks ever half hour. The company’s large range is split into three sections — contractor, designer and luxury.

Commercial-property company Bruntwood chose AEI Cables’ enhanced Firetec to ensure the performance of the fire alarm-systems during the refurbishment of the 15-storey Plaza offices in Liverpool. The system was upgraded floor by floor, with existing alarms remaining in operation while the new system was installed. A further complication was that as a phased evacuation system, all new works had to use voice evacuation to comply with current Building Regulations.

Plug-and-play for power distribution systems in office saves time and cost at fit-out and during later re-organisations. Chris Scott shares his experiences.

As technical innovation and development speeds ahead, the demand for faster, more efficient and larger cabling networks escalates. Steve Davis discusses the importance of installing the right containment system.

Cablofil offers a junction box that connects firmly to steel-wire cable tray by being rotated 45° via the company’s patented Plexo connectors . These junction boxes are made from halogen-free, LSF polyamide and are available in 80 and 100 mm sizes.

Qubic has developed a system to automatically power down PCs and their peripherals, and restart them at a specified time. The schedule for PC Power Down is set by a network administrator to reduce electricity consumption and associated carbon emissions. There are two elements to the system — server/client software to schedule computers to shut down each day and a surge-protected smart power block that senses when a computer has powered down and switches off the power to connected peripherals such as monitors, printers etc.

MK Electric has extended its Echo range of self-powered switches with a combination switch receiver and repeater. The K5420R is designed mainly for installing in ceiling voids for wiring into the lighting circuit. It reduces the stock required to wire an installation because when installed and powered but not programmed with transmitters it will work as a repeater, so there is no need to stock separate repeaters.