Following last year’s launch of the UK’s only training campus dedicated to the principles of BMS electrical installations, we talk to Charlie Butler, Co-Founder of BMS Electrical Training, to learn more about how the training centre is helping professionals to take ‘control’ of their BMS knowledge.
When we look back at many of the stories we’ve written about new inventions and genuine ideas that can improve the lives of electrical professionals, the vast majority of tales start from the same place: a front-line electrician or engineer who has encountered an issue in their career and, after discovering that an existing solution doesn’t exist, have sought to fill this particular gap in the market.
Charlie Butler is no exception. The Essex-based electrician entered the industry as an apprentice at the age of 16, progressing to the stage where he now runs his own electrical firm, alongside his business partner, Paul Wooster. This year, Charlie and Paul added another accolade to their respective CVs after becoming co-owners of BMS Electrical Training.
Explaining more about the inspiration behind the training centre launch, Charlie says: “A few years ago I was offered some work in the BMS sector, and was told that my existing skill set would allow me to do a competent job. I’ll be honest and admit that I didn’t have a clue about BMS systems at the time so I went about researching what type of specialist training was available in this area – there was nothing.
“There are no standards and regulations that fundamentally govern the BMS industry, so you’ve essentially got an un-regulated industry with very little capability for professionals to improve their knowledge and skills because of the lack of training on offer. With the launch of BMS Electrical Training, we hope to fill some of the void.”
Four years in the making, the BMS Electrical Training campus officially opened in February of last year. Housed at a 500 sq.ft facility in Writtle, Essex, the centre enables delegates to arrive with limited knowledge and leave with the confidence that they can translate drawings, understand the devices used and the positions of such devices, and have a broader understanding of general best practice for quality BMS installations.
Charlie says: “Electricians will look at a panel drawing, but may have no clue as to what it might mean and how different elements can affect an installation. “Delegates are taught how to read panel drawings, the role of different accessories, and how to expertly wire and install all devices on an air handling unit, for example.”
He continues: “In our workshop, which is fitted out as a fully working plant room, we have the luxury of being able to simulate site conditions to aid our training. We will walk trainees through how to locally isolate a piece of plant, and prove it is safe to work on. We also have the ability, with the aid of our fully working BMS panel, to explain to trainees how to test if the panel is energised, and demonstrate that some circuits remain energised, even when the panel isolator is switched off.”
Although the team at BMS Electrical Training plans to add extra modules and courses to enrichen its offering over time, two fundamental courses have been the bedrock behind the centre’s first year in business: a one-day safe isolation course and a three-day advanced course. A further feather in the cap comes with the news that both courses have recently achieved City & Guilds Approval, which adds more validation and credibility to the offering.
1. Safe isolation within the BMS industry
This course will teach trainees how to test circuits and panels safely, to identify if they are energised, or safe to work on, providing them with the necessary skills to understand and implement safe isolation procedures. From a practical perspective, delegates are shown how to isolate, test and lock off:
● a device (such as a boiler, pump or a fan)
● a circuit emanating from a BMS panel
● a BMS panel.
Three-day BMS electrical training
On this more advanced course trainees will discuss what BMS is, be shown various control cables, and learn about pipework to understand how to identify the correct BMS devices. They will gain an understanding of the role and typical components of a BMS, the fundamentals of control theory, and how BMS can be used to optimise building performance. Attendees will be taught where each device on a typical Air Handling Unit should be fitted, which cable would suit the installation best, how the device should be installed, and what each device actually does.
BMS – a bright and profitable future
Both courses have proved popular since launch, with over 100 delegates having undertaken the three-day course to date and electricians, commissioners and apprentices coming from far and wide to take advantage of training expertise that simply wasn’t available previously. Having added Jon Ruscoe to the business as the lead instructor, BMS Electrical Training and its delegates now have over 30 years of BMS experience to call upon.
Interestingly, although we’ve stated earlier that BMS remains a largely unregulated sector, strict statutory guidance dictates that all new and renovated buildings require an intelligent BMS system – proof, if any were required, that this is a healthy and future-proof area that can be very rewarding for professionals with the correct skills.
Charlie reaffirms: “There’s an endless opportunity moving forwards. Refurbished new builds all have a management system of some sort, so that makes BMS skills and understanding all the more relevant.
“We’ve strived to offer a brand-new syllabus to the industry – one that we believe has been needed for some time. With our mixture of classroom learning and a fully functional plant room, we offer something unique. Our courses have been designed to aid engineers already working in the BMS industry, as well as giving those that might be new to the sector a head start.”
He concludes: “It’s not a dark art. Education should be available to everyone. The skill set is there within electrical professionals, it’s all about individuals now being given the tools to learn correctly.”
Find out more about training course details and dates from BMS Electrical Training here
