Sorry its been a while since we last posted on our blog, but in our defence its been a crazy time what with the Global Pandemic, various lockdowns, homeschooling, new family additions and life in general! Its been an experience that’s for sure but there is some light at the end of the tunnel now so hopefully we can get back to updating this more often now.

We wanted to share some good news with you to say that we recently passed our NICEIC audit for another year, which means that one thing you can guarantee at the moment is when you are looking for a registered electrician, you can be assured that we are Approved NICEIC contractors and Domestic Installers.

As we are on both of the NICEIC schemes, we can carry out works in residential and commercial properties. We can carry out Part P works of the Building Regs. Whatever you need, we are the electricians who can carry this out for you.

We are based in St. Albans but work all over Herts and parts of London so get in touch for a free, no obligation, quotation and see what a great service we can offer.

NICEIC Certificate – Censeo House

In these strange times, we are all spending a lot more time at home and in the garden (if we are lucky enough!)  So we thought we’d give you a mini guide to something we all have in our homes and probably take for granted that they’re keeping us safe.

Fuse Boxes – also known as Consumer Units – are used to control and distribute electricity around our homes.

You probably know where your fuse box is located in your home.  It is important in case we ever need to turn the electricity off in an emergency.

A fuse box contains three things:

1. Mains Switch

This allows you to turn off the electricity supply, and so should be easily accessible.  Some homes will have more than one mains switch if there is more than one fuse box.

2. Circuit Breakers or Fuses

Most homes built after 1960 will have circuit breakers. These are automatic protection devices that switch off a circuit if they detect a fault.  Despite being a similar size to fuses, they offer more precise protection.  If they “trip”, you can reset the switch after finding and correcting the fault.

Fuses have a piece of special fuse running between two screws.  If a fault occurs, or in the event of an overload, the fuse wire will become hot and melt.  The melted fuse then breaks the circuit, disconnecting it and keeping you safe.

3. RCDs

RCDs (residual current devices) are switches that trip a circuit under certain conditions and disconnect the electricity supply.  If it detects an imbalance in current, or electricity flowing down an unintended path, it will switch the circuit off, reducing the risk of death or serious injury from an electric shock.

If you have a wooden back on your fuse box, a mixture of fuses and circuit breakers, or no RCD protection, then you might benefit from upgrading to a new consumer unit that would offer you more protection.  It is also worth considering if you are planning an extension or an improvement project or your fuse box is overloaded.

A professionally installed consumer unit by a certified electrician will improve your electrical safety as well as put your mind at rest by checking the integrity of the existing circuits in your property.

Fulcher Edwards carries out all types of electrical services, including fuse box replacement in homes in and around St. Albans. Why not give us a call us today for a free quotation on 01923 616985 or drop us an email on our Contact Us Page.

We hope everyone is keeping safe and well during this lockdown period. We are still following Government Guidelines and our electricians only carrying out essential electrical works and maintenance mainly in and around the St. Albans area.

We wanted to share some happy news with you as some of our customers were aware that our Operations Manager Claire, (she’s the one you are likely to speak to first when you contact us!) was expecting a baby in April, well we are pleased to let you know that baby girl Darcy has now arrived safely and mother and baby are doing really well.

Of course the Coronavirus has made this a difficult time in terms of Darcy meeting her family for now and the team at Fulcher Edwards but we hope it won’t be long!!!

As we are a family business this time is still uncertain for us, like many small businesses, though we are hopeful that once the lockdown has been lifted we may get some enquiries that will keep us afloat. For now we will remain positive and will be enjoying our new family member even if it is mainly on FaceTime!

We are still monitoring emails and can assist with any emergency call outs you may have so feel free to contact us still via our website, call us on 01923 616985 or drop us an email at info@fulcheredwards.co.uk

Stay safe everyone!

Just before life got a little different for us all with the Coronavirus pandemic, Fulcher Edwards moved offices and we just wanted to inform you of our new contact details!

Don’t worry we are still in St. Albans but now in the town centre in a lovely building called Censeo House which is in St. Peters Street, not far from where the famous St. Albans market is held each week!

If we are your chosen electrical services and maintenance provider then please update your details to the following with regards to our correspondence address;

Censeo House

6 St. Peter’s Street

St. Albans

Herts AL1 3LF

All other details remain the same, so you can still contact us on 01923 616985 and our email is info@fulcheredwards.co.uk so if you need an electrician at your home or business in St. Albans or surrounding areas then please get in touch for a free quotation.  We are still operating though only for essential and emergency electrical works and of course working from homes whilst we are all isolating during the Coronavirus pandemic, but we are still taking calls and receiving emails so happy to discuss any plans you might be considering in the future.

Keep well, from all the team at FE.

Fulcher Edwards is proud to have a few accreditations against our name and one logo you may have noticed on our website is for TrustMark, but do you know what this logo stands for exactly?

TrustMark is a Government Endorsed Quality Scheme which covers work that consumers choose to have carried out in their home. This can be any trade but in our case it is electrical services.

TrustMark approved electricians like us have been thoroughly vetted to meet required standards set by the Government. This includes good customer service, technical competence and trading practices.

As a consumer you are always at risk of not getting what you asked for with trades people unfortunately and this scheme gives consumers increased confidence and choice. Also in the event that a problem did arise, you can get in touch with TrustMark who offers a range of remedies to give consumers further protection.

As an additional bonus you can find local TrustMark approved tradespeople on their website. You can find Fulcher Edwards on there to just by putting in our name and if you are based in St. Albans for example, you would put that in the address search.

If you are a St. Albans consumer looking for an approved electrician in St Albans, then why not get in touch today for a free quotation. We are not only TrustMark approved but also NICEIC and SafeContractor for added peace of mind.

Claire Fulcher-Powell

Fulcher Edwards Ltd prides itself on being a family business. Our director Michael Fulcher, operates the company alongside his wife and 2 daughters. His eldest daughter, Claire Fulcher-Powell celebrated her 10 years of service with the company on the 1st June! Therefore, in celebration of Claire’s long service with Fulcher Edwards Ltd we thought we would ask Claire a few questions about her time in the company:

Amy: ‘Congratulations on working at Fulcher Edwards for 10 years! What does your role entail?
Claire: ‘Thank you! I am the Operations Manager for the company. Therefore, I am in charge of booking in works, client liaison, ordering materials, and office management. However I am also responsible for all aspects of HR, Health and Safety, and audit management. Its a busy role for sure!’

Amy: ‘Wow it sounds it! What would you say the biggest challenge is of working for the family business?’
Claire: ‘One of the biggest challenge is trying to keep a healthy balance between family and work life. Its important to not always talk about work when spending time as a family! Also, there are higher expectations of you. I also find it difficult not to get emotionally involved with the company. As a family business, you have a personal attachment to it and therefore its hard not to take it personally if things go wrong which are sometimes out of your control.’

Amy: ‘That’s completely understandable. What would you say your greatest achievement has been in the last 10 years?’
Claire: ‘Due to the economic climate, there has been a lot of difficult changes which have happened over the past 10 years. We have lost big clients due to a change in their circumstances, which then massively impacted us! I’m proud to say though that we have always managed to pull through and keep the company running. Also, when I first joined the company I very much created the marketing role. I got Fulcher Edwards onto social media and started looking at ways to further advertise the business. We also got featured in a couple of magazine articles which I was pretty proud of!’

Amy: ‘Yes that is certainly something to be proud of! What is your favourite aspect of your role?’
Claire: ‘Most definitely winning a job and getting new clients! Also receiving positive feedback is really great. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.’

Amy: ‘Okay great. Finally, what’s next for Fulcher Edwards?’
Claire: ‘We’re not 100% sure what lies ahead at the moment, especially with Brexit on the horizon. We have already noticed a slight decline in work due to people being cautious with their money. For this year, I think we have to just batten down the hatches and see what the outcome of Brexit is. I would also like to keep slowly growing the business and gaining more clients in the Hertfordshire area.’

For all your electrical needs, please do not hesitate to contact us HERE.

Last Friday we saw students across the country take part in a global campaign for action on climate change. It was inspiring to see children of all ages walking the streets urging the government to declare a climate emergency. Equally, it’s disappointing that students feel they have to miss out on their education time in order for the government to take action. Especially as they are suffering for the previous generation’s mistake.

Despite the fact that majority of the harm has already been done, most of us are trying to take little steps forward to slow down the damage which is being done to our planet. Electric cars are all the rage with Audi most recently revealing their first electric model – the E-Tron. Within our homes we are reducing our plastic usage, using energy efficient lighting, and an initiative which has most recently come to my attention… Lot 20.

What is Lot 20?

As of January 2018, a new EU legislation was put into effect called Lot 20. Lot 20 aims to reduce energy which is produced from sources which use electricity, gas, or liquid fuels to heat our homes and work spaces. According to Ecodesign half of the energy used within a household goes towards heating the space and water. Therefore improving on energy efficiency within these areas should drastically reduce our carbon footprint.
Lot 20 will affect the following products:

1. Direct acting heaters
2. Radiant heaters
3. Storage heaters
4. Underfloor heating
5. Portable heaters
6. Gas fires
7. Electric fires
8. Infra-red heaters

Therefore as of January last year, manufactures will no longer be able to produce the above products if they do not meet the new energy efficient standards. Products produced before this time period will still be able to be sold and used. Eventually that stock will sell out and only new compliant models will be available.
According to Ecodesign, new compliant heaters will have the following smart technology built within them:

1. Electronic time and temperature controls
2. Open window sensing technology
3. Predictive start functionality
4. Remote app based control

I think it’s great to see that more and more companies are making changes to assist with carbon reduction and hitting energy targets. If you’re a supplier, installer, or customer you can check whether your product is compliant to Lot 20 HERE.

Please do not hesitate to contact us HERE for assistance with electric heater installation in St Albans, London and Hertfordshire, or any other electrical services which we provide.

In recent news, the Housing Minister has agreed to tighten up electrical safety rules in rental accommodation. These extra measures will provide greater protection to the tenants, but also to the Landlords.

Landlords have an obligation to ensure their rental accommodation is meeting electrical safety standards. The British Standards recommend that Landlords have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every 5 years OR at the change of tenancy. However up until now there has been no legal requirement to ensure that the inspectors they use for the EICRs have specific qualifications or a certain level of competence. Therefore, the Housing Ministers will also now be publishing guidance which highlights the minimum level of qualifications and competence required of the inspectors. This provides extra reassurance to both the Landlord and Tenants.

What is involved in an EICR?

An EICR involves a skilled person carrying out inspection and testing to ensure the installation is of a satisfactory condition. The process is mainly a visual inspection to ensure there are no exposed wires, damaged sockets etc. Electrical tests will also be carried out to confirm disconnection times in the event of an electric shock.  The main purpose of an EICR is to test the internal wiring of a building. The inspection should highlight any defects which could potentially cause a fire or affect the safety of persons.

At Fulcher Edwards we take pride in always providing a high standard of electrical safety. This is why each year we undergo rigorous audits to meet NICEIC, SafeContractor, and BAFE accreditations. However not all Electricians put the same level of importance on electrical safety and standards. Therefore these extra measures will provide assurance to the tenants that their home is safe, but also their will be a material improvement to the Landlords property. Failing to comply with these new measures will result in financial penalties for the Landlords.

If you are a Landlord or Tenant and would like to have an EICR carried out on your property. Please do not hesitate to contact us HERE.

The day of love is just around the corner, with teddy bears and chocolate covered hearts already filling the shelves. I am of course talking about Valentines Day! The day to show your partner, friends, or even family just how much they mean to you. If you prefer to keep your Valentines Day celebrations slightly more low-key and choose to avoid over-crowded restaurants with expensive set menus, then having a romantic meal for 2 at home is the best solution. However don’t let your passion ignite real flames in your home!

How To Prevent Fire Ruining Your Valentines Day

1. Candles are perfect for creating a romantic atmosphere, however they can often be a common fire hazard. Therefore its important to never leave a candle lit unattended. Always blow the candle out before leaving the room or house.
2. If you’re lucky enough to have a fire place in your house, what could be more romantic than snuggling up in front of the fire? However you need to be aware of the hazards of an open fire. Its always a good idea to have a fireguard. Furthermore, keep any flammable materials and pets away from the fire place.
3. If you like to treat your loved one to a home cooked meal then be sure not to spoil it by burning it! Consider using a timer so you cant forget about your meal in the heat of the moment. Remember to also make sure to turn off the stove/oven when you have finished using it. Also keep any tea towels and flammable material away from a hot stove.
4. If you want to spoil your partner with the latest gadget. Always buy a genuine product from a reputable retailer. This also includes buying a genuine charger. Many fires are caused by counterfeit/cheap products and chargers as they haven’t undergone thorough safety checks.

Finally, make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your property. Its best to test your smoke alarm weekly to make sure its working and will alert you if a fire occurs. Sometimes fires starting can be out of your control, but a working smoke alarm can be the difference between life and death.

Wishing everyone a lovely Valentines Day with their special someone! Please do not hesitate to contact us HERE for all your electrical needs.