Established in 1983, Harrington Electrical Services are leading electrical contractors serving the forecourt and retail sectors. The Dublin-based company is also engaged in the burgeoning EV charging sector as founder and managing director Eugene Harrington explains.
For the past 15 years, Harrington Electrical Services has provided forecourt electrical services to Applegreen’s ever-expanding network of service stations across the 32 counties. Through its association with Applegreen, the contractor has also become a major installer of EV (electric vehicle) charging units not just for Applegreen, but for An Post, who are rolling out 3,000 EV charging points at 115 sites nationwide.
It is the biggest single EV charging point rollout in Europe at the moment and comes after An Post became the first Irish logistics company to join EV 100, a global initiative made up of leading international businesses dedicated to accelerating the move to electric vehicles worldwide.
“While we’re synonymous with the forecourt and retail sector, and have been providing electrical installation and maintenance to the petroleum retail market for many years, we’ve pivoted into electric vehicle charging units with the help of Applegreen who are the biggest Tesla EV recharging company in the UK,” Eugene says.
“It’s a growing area for us and we were delighted to be chosen by An Post to carry out the installation of their charging units. Similar to An Post, we’re committed to doing our bit for the environment by reducing carbon emissions. To this end, the management uses electric bikes to get to and from work, while our vans are also energy-efficient. Our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in the near future.”
Applegreen is one of several clients Harrington Electrical Services have developed excellent relationships with over the years. The company also provides electrical services to Centric Health, Texaco, Sam McCauley Chemists and the Musgrave Group (SuperValu, Centra and Daybreak) to name but a few.
“We have extensive knowledge of the petroleum retail sector and deliver a first-class service our clients expect from a national maintenance provider,” Eugene continues.
“Installation, testing and certification of forecourt and retail has been our core business for a long time. But also have many long-term clients in the supermarket and pharmacy sectors who use our services time and time again. Our customers can be assured that they will receive a professional, efficient and consistent service regardless of the size of the project.
“As a company which is constantly evolving and embracing change, we are geared towards dealing with the growing demand for EV charging points. It’s estimated that one million domestic EV chargers will be needed in Ireland in the next seven years.”
Harrington Electrical Services were the first CompEX 07/08 contractors in the Republic of Ireland. CompEX 07/08 is the recognised Global Competency Scheme of choice for the major oil, gas and chemical users who want to protect both their workers and capital assets.
Eugene, who is a member of the NSAI / ETC / TC O2 / Working Group 3, welcomes the new Statutory Instruments regarding forecourt and bulk storage maintenance and construction which came into effect on April 1 last.
“It was a long overdue update to the 1979 DSA (Dangerous Substance Act), the big change for our business being that it is recognised and enshrined in the law ‘The Blue Book’ or, to give it its exact title ‘Guidance for Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations Fourth Edition’. This is a petrol station-specific manual based on EN60079,” he explains.
“It means that anyone carrying out electrical work of any type on a forecourt must demonstrate ‘core competence’ to do so. From the electrical perspective, our qualifications CompEX 07/08 are the gold standard in that competence. Legally, you must have CompEX 07/08. It is a massive change and hasn’t really sunk in with some in the industry yet.”
Harrington Electrical Services are certified to the highest ETCI industry standards and specialise in the following: Design and Build Electrical Installations; Periodic Inspections; Preventative Maintenance; EV Charging Unit Installation; Retail Electrical and Lighting; LED Lighting; DSA Licence Inspection and Certification; Emergency Lighting Commissioning; Testing to IS3217 (2013); Fire Alarm Systems; 24-hour Callout for Registered Clients.
As a one-stop shop for DSA Licensing, the contractor caters for the following: initial electrical DSA inspection; initial Mechanical DSA inspection; any remedial works required; DSA certification; all necessary paperwork for your application; submission of application; any required follow ups. They will even remind you when your licence is due for renewal so you will have everything in order when the fire officer comes calling.
Based in Deansgrange, Co. Dublin, Harrington Electrical Services continues to go from strength to strength almost 40 years since its inception. Eugene is joined in the business by his wife Tina Harrington and Jody (Joseph) Kennedy, who are also company directors. With 70 years’ combined experience, Eugene and Jody lead a team of highly-skilled and dedicated professionals who fully understand your requirements.
“We’ve grown by providing a top-class, value-for-money and friendly service, whilst always carrying out our work to the highest standards. We employ 10 people directly and use the same tried and trusted sub-contractors. Our work is impeccable and we’re always willing to go the extra mile for our customers.”
Eugene would like to take this opportunity to thank his clients and suppliers for their continued support.
Harrington Electrical Services
DMG House,
Deansgrange Business Park,
Deansgrange,
Co. Dublin.
A94 A4A6.
Telephone: +353 (0)86 2553408 / +353 (0)86 2503939
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.hes.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, January 2022, Vol 8 No 1
Harrington Electrical Services
