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Part Two: Smart Home Technology Trends for Contractors

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In our previous article, we covered the top three technology trends and applicable building codes for new smart homes. Today, we’ll discuss additional smart technologies that are trending with home buyers.

Renewable Energy

Distribution and storage components for a new solar roof fall under the domain of interconnected electric power production sources. Such equipment isn’t necessarily connected to the electric grid, but it does operate in parallel with it.

Article 705 of the 2020 NFPA® National Electric Code® (NEC®) details how to make safe interconnections of grid and off-grid equipment. Article 706 subsequently defines classifications for renewable energy storage systems, where they are to be located, and how they are to be used. For a smart home to be made ready for renewable energy, local inspection authorities also need to see that its service/bus ratings are sized accordingly.

Entertainment Systems

Most existing homes have smart products that fall into this category. For example, there is a proliferation of smart TVs, smart speakers, and gaming consoles — all which can be programmed to their users’ specific preferences.

Category 5e and Category 6 are often used for audio and video applications, while 16 AWG, 4-conductor cables are used to connect smart speakers and other audio applications. As of now, no building codes apply to this category, but UL® tests smart entertainment products so they connect seamlessly, perform as featured, and function safely.

Kitchen and Laundry Appliances

Although available, smart home appliances have not seen widespread adoption as originally anticipated. For example, only 1 percent of U.S. consumers have a smart refrigerator and just
5 percent of U.S. consumers say they plan to buy one.

The smart appliance market appears to have stalled partly due to price. A high-end, Internet-enabled refrigerator costs two to three times that of a standard unit, not counting its wiring. Another, and arguably the biggest, reason why there isn’t a strong demand for smart appliances is that they don’t live up to expectations of integration with other smart devices. Furthermore, they only seem to add another screen to peoples’ homes.

Despite there being a small niche market for smart appliances, their product standards are expected to evolve and adhere to California Title 20, ENERGY STAR ratings, and UL tests for product interoperability and cybersecurity. As with entertainment systems, building codes do not apply to this category.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Systems

Beginning in 2015, California Title 24 required all new home construction to be wired for Level 2 vehicle chargers. By ensuring new home starts come prewired for EV charging, the code streamlines the process of installing a charging station at a later date.

In many areas, contractors are required to submit a site plan for permit approval prior to installing a charging station. Contractors must also comply with state and national codes and regulations that cover safety requirements for charging stations, specifically the 2019 update to Title 24 and Article 625 of the 2020 NEC.

Whole-House Surge Protection

Often overlooked by smart home buyers is whole-house surge protection — and this technology is something all homeowners, even those with existing homes, should consider purchasing.

Whole-house surge protection safeguards all electrical devices from surges caused by nearby lightning strikes, motors (HVAC equipment, appliances, garage door openers), and lights switching on and off. Article 230.67 of the 2020 NEC requires that all new homes (smart or otherwise) have a Type 1 or Type 2 surge product installed to protect sensitive electronics and safety devices like hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Type 1 surge products are permanently connected devices installed before a main disconnect
and can withstand higher surge currents up to 200 kA. Type 2 surge products are permanently connected devices installed after a main disconnect and are used in combination with breakers and fuses. Type 2 surge products are capable of withstanding surge currents up to 108 kA.

We’re Your Home for Smart Home Products and Support

Cable Plus understands your business, which is why we maintain a deep inventory of cabling, cabinets and racks, power solutions, and more to support your smart home jobs. At Cable Plus, we get what you need. More importantly, you get what you need from us.

Part One: Smart Home Technology Trends for Contractors

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According to Mordor Intelligence, the smart home market will grow to an estimated $313.95 billion by 2026. It also includes a projected 1.134 million single-family housing starts by the end of 2021, 1.165 million starts for 2022, and 1.210 million starts in 2023.

With 81% of all home buyers saying they are more likely to purchase a new home with smart products installed — and 60% willing to pay more for smart features — here’s an overview of the top three technologies in demand and applicable building code updates for smart home construction.

HVAC and Climate Control Systems

In recent years, HVAC has become the most-requested technology in the smart home market, surpassing even home security. Buyers want smart climate control systems that maintain comfortable humidity levels, mitigate the spread of viruses, and improve energy efficiency.

To meet this demand, contractors will need to brush up on the requirements spelled out in the 2019 California Title 24, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IEEC), and the federal government’s ENERGY STAR® program.

Title 24, the law of the land in California, is a de facto standard for many contractors in all 50 states. Its most recent update pertinent to smart home climate control involves duct testing, HVAC sizing, and thermostats. In addition, the 2021 IEEC provides the latest compliance approaches to achieving residential energy efficiency, especially with mechanical and water heating systems. Lastly, contractors must ensure new single-family homes are up to date meeting energy-efficiency requirements so those dwellings can earn ENERGY STAR certification.

Security and Surveillance

Previously, this was the leading category on smart home wish lists, with more than 60% of home buyers wanting smart locks and alarms, video doorbells, surveillance cameras, and the ability to monitor their house via their smart phone.

Although there are no pertinent building codes for this category, there may be codes developed in the near feature that consider egress options — like smart locks, garage door openers, and video doorbells — from a cybersecurity perspective.

Security applications most often use 22 AWG, 4-conductor cable. In addition, shielded RG59 coaxial cable commonly connects surveillance cameras to a digital video recorder.

Lighting and Window Coverings

Almost always near the top of every home buyer’s list is smart lighting technology. It enables homeowners to program lights and window shades to automatically adjust at scheduled times, either by phone app or proprietary keypads.

Driving this part of the industry is the 2019 California Title 24. This update made major changes to light source markings and JA8 performance requirements, new exterior and interior light source categories and compliances, and language clarification for interior switching devices
and controls. 

In part two, we’ll cover additional smart technology categories, including one that all new and existing homes should have!

Part Two: The Connectivity of the Supply Chain

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In our previous article, we covered how the global pandemic has affected manufacturers and shipping firms in Asia. Today, we’ll discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on the domestic supply chain.

Destination Frustration

Shipping problems are not unique to Asian markets. Here in the United States, the coronavirus has reduced the number of longshoremen, truck drivers, and rail workers. Between the shortage in American personnel and the volume of imports coming into Los Angeles and Long Beach, cargo ships often have to anchor for a week or more off the coast before they can come into either port and unload.

A lack of longshoremen at destination ports means vessels cannot be unloaded in a timely manner, and it’s forcing some operations to cancel voyages. In turn, this means empty cargo containers cannot be cycled back into the shipping chain, making the container shortage even worse.

Could shipping firms reroute their vessels to ports besides Los Angeles and Long Beach? Yes. However, dock workers are already overwhelmed in other ports and a change in destination would increase ocean transit delays.

Fewer Truckers

There are about 80,000 fewer truckers this year compared to 2020. While COVID-19 has been a contributing factor to the drop-off, many truckers are also leaving the workforce because the U.S. Department of Transportation set the maximum number of hours that truckers can work per week. Since drivers are usually paid by the mile, they cannot earn as much as before. Thus, they’ve either left for greener pastures or retired.

The trucker shortage, however, is likely to deepen. Almost 60% of all current drivers are 45 or older, and nearly a quarter of truckers are over 55. Prior to the coronavirus, there were 14 million job openings for drivers, but only 1.9 million hires were made in 2019. Since March 2020, there has been a 40% decrease in driver training because of smaller classes or commercial driver’s licensing schools have closed.

Fewer drivers means fewer goods moving overland to warehouses and store shelves. In other words, lead times stretch out longer and shortages continue.

Lean Weakness

Many Lean Six Sigma black belt types who mastered “just in time” supply chain management have seen their training and certifications upended by the coronavirus.

This is leading to a rethinking of lean inventory. For instance, manufacturers of computing equipment may keep a higher stock of chips in reserve. This change would build resiliency into their organizations and lessen the effects of a future shortage. Companies would spend more on inventory, but then again, lean supply works only if manufactured products and their components are readily available. 

Strengthening the Chain

Cable Plus has taken steps to improve our supply chain and shipping services. While there will continue to be disruptions to the overall supply chain for some time, we want to assure you that Cable Plus will continue to provide you with the right solutions at the right price — right away.

Part One: The Connectivity of the Supply Chain

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The global pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of daily lives, from how we interact with others on a personal basis to how we conduct commerce.

Cable Plus has faced the same challenges as other businesses in that the coronavirus has interrupted our supply chain from time to time. While we continue to go above and beyond to help you get the solutions you need to connect your networks, we thought discussing how the world is linked together via supply chains will provide a better perspective on today’s shipping and inventory challenges.

Production Problems

For decades, American businesses have off-shored production for cost-savings. And the nations that we’ve outsourced to have themselves sent production to southeast Asian factories, where various parts and components can be made for less.

That’s just good business sense, right? Well, it was before the pandemic, and it might be once again when COVID-19 is in our rear-view mirror. But for now, factories and exporters in Indonesia and Vietnam are struggling to contain the delta variant and manage production slowdowns, which both have an adverse impact on the supply chain.

There has also been a pair of factory fires in Japan that directly impacts the connected world. One factory makes advanced sensing devices and the other manufactures fiberglass used in circuit boards. The result is shortages, which aren’t just for toilet paper anymore.

For instance, consider semiconductor chips. With lead times about a year out, the high demand for chips could see shortages last well into 2023 and beyond. This affects the production of computing and networking devices, vehicles, smart home devices, gaming consoles, and many other goods.

Companies have always focused on having greater access to supplies — and at lower costs — over their direct competitors. Now, companies across multiple industries are in an overheated competition for the same supplies, such as chips.

Shipping Difficulties

Production slowdowns caused by COVID-19 and resultant shortages don’t exist in a vacuum. They also affect shipping, which is where the supply chain experiences all kinds of disruptions.

To begin, China recently shut down the ports of Shenzhen and Ningbo due to virus outbreaks. China is
so determined to stamp out the virus that Ningbo, the world’s third-busiest container port, was closed for two weeks — after only one dockworker tested positive.

Next, ocean cargo prices have increased by a factor of six, with the median cost of shipping a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles skyrocketing from $1300 in February 2020 to nearly $7800 in August 2021. There are also bidding wars to secure space on cargo ships. With shipping prices rising, some exporters have decided to cancel shipments altogether.

What caused the spike in shipping prices? A shortage of another kind. There just aren’t enough shipping containers to go around for lucrative North American and European routes.

Currently, there is a glut of empty containers sitting in South American and African ports and rail yards. But they’re not being picked up because COVID-19 has caused labor shortages across all industries, with shipping being no exception.

A shortage of containers in Asia, North America, and Europe further delays companies from getting their goods on board a vessel. In addition, cargo ships are leaving port much later than normal and losing their docking slots at destination ports.

Will shipping firms pick up empty containers from these less profitable destinations when the world bounces back from the pandemic? Stay tuned!

Now Hiring Assistant Controller

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Cable Plus, a leading distributor of wire & cable products, based in Naperville, Illinois, is looking for an assistant controller to manage all aspects of trial balance and general ledger and financial reporting.

Responsibilities:

  • Handle Monthly General Ledger Closing and Financial Statement Preparation.
  • Reconcile All Balance Sheet Accounts Monthly.
  • Maintain Control Over All Financial Transactions. 
  • Monthly State Sales Tax Prep.
  • Assist With Preparations For Annual Third Party Review of Financials and State & Federal Tax Return Preparation.

If interested, please send your resume to jmarsden@cableplusinc.com.

A Knowledgeable Distributor Can Save You Big

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Without the materials you need, where, and when you need them, your project grinds to a halt. This is the primary job of any distributor and a basic expectation. The real difference in distribution boils down to their knowledge, inventory, and services. In this post, we’re focusing on knowledge.

Product Knowledge

Do you need to give your account manager or sales representative a part number each time you order or ask about a product set? When you’re preparing a bill of materials, there are many parts to consider. A knowledgeable distributor knows the solutions, the manufacturers, and can help you select options that work best for your job and budget. They can even catch missing components and identify errors that could waste time on the job site.

Company Knowledge

How well does your distributor know your business and the customers you serve? Your distributor should be able to help ensure your bill of materials is appropriate for the environments you support as well as make recommendations that are standards-compliant.

Trusted Advice

When your distributor demonstrates expertise, they gain your trust. When you trust your distributor’s recommendation, you’re open to trying products that can save you time or perform just as well at a lower cost. With access to a variety of suppliers, and experience with the quality, differences, and similarities between the solutions, they can give you sound guidance.

At Cable Plus, we are passionate about providing great service and pride ourselves on our product knowledge and experience. Our knowledge helps us provide faster support, prevent mistakes, and improve your bottom line. We never try to sell you something you don’t need and make recommendations based on years of experience. Try the Cable Plus experience today and test our knowledge. Contact us here.