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WIMES or Water Industry Mechanical and Electrical Specifications, defines the requirements for a variety of mechanical and electrical equipment used in the UK water industry.
WIMES (Water Industry Mechanical and Electrical Specifications) is a Pump Centre collaborative project aimed at providing common mechanical and electrical specifications for the UK water industry. All of the UK’s major water companies are actively involved in the WIMES initiative, with key goals including:
The provision of specifications that will allow them to purchase plant and power supply equipment that is fit for purpose and gives the lowest whole life cost at a competitive initial purchase price.
The provision of specifications that are unambiguous and allows individual manufacturers and suppliers to compete on an equal footing.
The provision of specifications that will determine not only the initial purchase price of power supply equipment but the subsequent operating and maintenance expenditure too.
The WIMES have been produced with the co-operation and approval of the following water companies:
Affinity Water | Northumbrian Water | United Utilities |
Anglian Water | Scottish Water | Veolia Water |
Bristol Water | Severn Trent Water | Welsh Water |
Cambridge Water Company | South East Water | Wessex Water |
Irish Water | South West Water | Yorkshire Water |
Northern Ireland Water | Thames Water |
Together, WIMES defines the requirements for a variety of mechanical and electrical equipment used in the UK water industry. The specifications comprise descriptive text clauses and data sheets, all of which can be found on the ‘WIMES Document Area’.
WIMES can be downloaded in PDF format by Level 1 and Level 3 Pump Centre members and may also be downloaded in both PDF and MS Word format by WIMES Recipients (chosen water company employees). Following registration, permission will be granted to download the relevant files by the WIMES Co-ordinator, according to your membership status.
When it comes to the Water Industry Mechanical & Electrical Specifications, there are approximately 72 specifications, associated data sheets and 6 LCC models available for download. The WIMES data sheets (MS Word format) and WIMES LCC models (MS Excel format) (and associated guidance notes) may be downloaded for free by anyone visiting Pump Centre’s website, irrespective of membership status.
There are 9 WIMES specification groups: 1.0 – Pumps; 2.0 – Process treatment; 3.0 – Electrical; 4.0 – Paints & Coatings; 5.0 – Screens; 6.0 – Screenings handling; 7.0 – Sludge treatment; 8.0 – Miscellaneous; 9.0 – CHP Installations. Each WIMES specification has associated data sheets which guide water industry businesses with their business practices and processes. For example, ‘3.0 – Electrical’ has 14 associated data sheets, which include:
3.01: Low Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies
3.02: Low Voltage Electrical Installations
3.02(A): Profibus Networks
3.03: LV 3 Phase AC TEFC Motors
3.04: Low Voltage Electrical Specification for Package Plant
3.05: Electrical Components (For Use in LV Assemblies)
3.06: Diesel Powered Generator Sets and Installations
3.07: Uninterruptible Power Supplies
3.08: Electric Valve Actuators
3.09: MV Ring Main Units (1-22 kV)
3.10: MV Distribution Switchgear Assemblies (1-22 kV)
3.11: MV Distribution and Power Transformers (1-22 kV)
3.12: MV Motor Starter Assemblies (1-7.2 kV)
3.13: MV Electrical Installations (1-22 kV)
WIMES 3.07 relates to uninterruptible power supplies and covers areas such as operating environment, electrical supply characteristics, status indications and noise levels, as well as battery characteristics and input protection. Along with output characteristics such as rated output voltage, rated output frequency and overload capability, WIMES 3.07 can ensure your UPS systems are up to water industry standards.
The need to meet WIMES compliance requirements is more prevalent than ever, and should you find you’re in need of new UPS and/or diesel generators, then we here at Dale can help. Serving water companies and water sites across the UK – in areas including York, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Scarborough – we have the technical expertise to advise on the right power products for your business, and supply, install and maintain them for you if you so wish. To learn more about us and how we can help you, please contact us today.