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ElectricalB usinessT H E A U T H O R I T A T I V E V O I C E O FCANADA’S ELECTRICAL INDUSTRYNovember/December 2007Volume 43 • Issue 10ElectricalELECTRICAL BUSINESS is the magazine of the Canadianelectrical industry. It reports on the news and publishesBarticles in a manner usinessthat is informative and constructive.EditorAnthony Capkun - acapkun@clbmedia.caT H E A U T H O R I T A T I V E V O I C E O FCANADA’S Publisher ELECTRICAL INDUSTRYJohn MacPherson - jmacpherson@clbmedia.caAccount ManagerScott Hoy - shoy@clbmedia.caEB Editorial Advisory BoardTom Crist, Kerry Heid, Ron Bergeron, Stephen Tatrallyay,Dan Mott, John Vickery, Ian Dempsey and Pierre DowdContributing Editor, Quebec ReportNormand Gosselin - ngosselin@clbmedia.caArt DirectorSvetlana Avrutin - savrutin@clbmedia.caProduction ManagerRobert Russell - rrussell@clbmedia.caCreative DirectorEinar Rice - erice@clbmedia.caManager, ProductionLisa Drummond - ldrummond@clbmedia.caSubscriber Customer Service RepresentativeKristen Schulz-Lacey - kschulz-lacey@clbmedia.caWhat about those other guys?You know... the distributorsHere in the pages of ElectricalBusiness we regularly publishinformation regarding apprenticeshipand apprentices in Canada,with a specific eye toward what’s happeningin the field of electrical work.By all accounts, electrical remains apopular choice among folks choosingto get into a skilled trade (it remains“glamorous” in the eyes of many, eventhough we all know it can be quite theopposite at times).So despite the inevitable poachingthat occurs across companies, and withseasoned veterans reaching retirementage (and, of course, retiring), electricalcontractors continue to enjoy a steadyflow of new blood into the industry.But what about those other guys? Youknow, the distributors?You will recall from our March 2007edition, Tom Crist (EECOL’s presidentand CEO) explained that—especiallyin hot economies like Alberta andBritish Columbia—poaching is a real▼ From the editorproblem. “In fact, I haven’t seen it thisbad in my 35 years in the industry,” hewent on to say. Distributors, too, facethe problem of veterans retiring fromthe business but, unlike the contractorsthey serve, they have a much toughertime attracting new blood.Perhaps working the counter doesn’tcome across as glamorous as beingan electrician, or perhaps it is seen asa dead-end job (which it shouldn’t,considering Crist started with EECOLas a warehouse person/truck driver),but whatever the real reason/reasons,distributors have a tough road aheadof them.This is why EB—along with oursponsoring partner, Osram Sylvania—launched a special column last monthentitled “Counter Intelligence”, in aneffort to help our industry’s distributorpartners with their Human Resourcesand business issues. (It continues inthis edition.)A strong distributor is a valued partner,as he provides the advice, thecredit, and the products and solutionselectrical contractors need to getthe job done. Sure, we live in “TheInformation Age”, where everythingwe could ever possibly want to know issupposedly located somewhere on thatthing called the Internet. And it’s true:the Internet does have a ton of information;in fact, more than we know whatto do with. It’s information overload,with a healthy dose of misinformationto boot.That’s why, time and again, we turnto our distributor partners for advice,guidance, suggestions and recommendations.They give us the informationwe need to know.And sure, sometimes we get ourwires crossed; other times we get madat each other. But it doesn’t change thefact that we need them as much as theyneed us.240 Edward Street, Aurora, ON L4G 3S9Tel: 905-727-0077 Fax: 905-727-0017PresidentStuart MorrisonVice President, Media, PublishingNiel HiscoxVice President, Finance/Corporate DevelopmentKent MilfordVice President, Human ResourcesSusan BishopVice President, IT and OperationsDavid OverallDirector, Sales and MarketingFrank ShonikerDirector, Editorial and ProductionJackie RothDirector, CirculationJames ZammitDirector, Facility Management and LogisticsSteve DaleDirector, Human ResourcesDenise DesrosiersDirector, ITPhillip DamianidisMember, CLB Media Management CommitteeNigel BishopSUBSCRIPTION RATES:Canada: Single issue $7.00 • Ten issues: $35.00(including tax)USA: $59.00 (US) and International: $75.00 (US) per yearUnited States Second Class Postage Paid at Lewiston, NY(USPS-741-470) US POSTMASTER: send address changes toELECTRICAL BUSINESS, P.O. Box 8145, Lewiston, NY 14092The contents of Electrical Business are copyright by ©2006CLB Media Inc. and may not be reproduced in whole or partwithout written consent. CLB Media Inc. disclaims any warrantyas to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contentsof this publication and disclaims all liability in respect ofthe results of any action taken or not taken in reliance uponinformation in this publication. REPRINTS: Contact The ReprintOutsource at (877) 394-7350.PAP Registration No. 10774Send address changes to:ELECTRICAL BUSINESS240 Edward Street, Aurora, ON L4G 3S9Return Postage GuaranteedCanada Post - Canadian Publications Mail Sales ProductsAgreement 40063602 ISSN 0013-4244Printed in CanadaCONTENTSFEATURESON THE COVER22 Converged communications demand new troubleshooting skillsWith the escalating move toward voice, data and video (VDV) convergence, today’s cablinginstallations are becoming increasingly sophisticated. These newer, high-performance Cat 5eand Cat 6 cabling systems must support faster data communication rates and more precisetiming of the delivery of VDV information. As a result, professionals must know how to testinstallations to the more complex performance specifications that have been developed toaddress higher bandwidth requirements. (Photo © Fluke Networks.)17 Protecting your power: specifying outdoorgenerator enclosuresAs emergency standby generators have become more vital to the continuation of businessso, too, have outdoor genset enclosures that are properly designed, ventilated,secured and located.24 Building permits slip, but construction still strongAs kids returned to school, the value of building permits slipped slightly in September—although they were still well above $6 billion as gains in the residential sector were morethan offset by declines in non-residential intentions. British Columbia’s non-residentialmarket gets hit hard, and Toronto comes out on top.32 Reduce system design time and costwith series-connected ratingsIt is important to know what equipment can be safely applied on systems with highavailable fault currents. While there are several systems of short-circuit current protectionavailable, a series-connected system might be right for you.REGIONAL FOCUS12 Quebec ReportAlthough wind power generation seems the ideal ‘green’ solution, and complementaryto the ‘blue’ source the world over, many groups in Quebec are strongly opposed to mostwind projects under development.30 Atlantic FocusBesides books, Nova Scotians can also borrow energy meters from their public andcommunity college libraries, and the Newfoundland & Labrador government ispleased with its apprenticeship numbers.DEPARTMENTS4 Industry News4 Personalities6 The Heritage “What Am I?”Photo Contest14 From the Legal DeskFurther confusing what work is lienable:Ontario Court of Appeal releases decisionupholding Kennedy v Dana15 Letters16 Mind your safetyA few extra minutes for your life23 Calendar25 Counter Intelligence27 Trucks for the Trade32 Products36 Product Showcase37 Marketplace38 Code FileConductors over or near buildings38 Code ConundrumNEW!page 24page 27www. mag.com • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 • 3