BS 7671 - 18th Edition Widescreen PP Rev 4

BS 7671: Requirements for Electrical
Installations
The IET and the Proposed changes
What we know so far…
By Paul Meenan

PAUL MEENAN
• So why are you here?
• Who are The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)?
• History of BS 7671
• What are the wiring regulations to me?
• What are the duties under law?
• 18th Edition Draft for Public Comment (DPC), What do we know so far?
• Impacts of changes; Industry and the Client perspective!
• Next Steps!
Topics to Consider

PAUL MEENAN
• You are a duty holder and because ‘The ‘Wiring Regulations’, also known
as British Standard 7671 are being updated.
• As Duty Holders / Electricians etc. You want to discover how this ‘may’
impact your staff and the wider business.
• What as a business and individuals we need to do to prepare.
Why are you here?

• Originally called the Institute of Electrical
Engineers (IEE) formed in 1871.
• Then in 2006 the IEE merged with the Institute
of Incorporated Engineers (IIE).
• This formed the Institution of Engineering and
Technology (IET).
• The IET represents the engineering profession
in matters of public concern and assists
governments to make the public aware of
engineering and technological issues.
• It provides advice on all areas of engineering,
regularly advising Parliament and other
agencies.
Who are the IET?

• The Wiring Regulations were first issued in 1882 by the Society of Telegraph Engineers and of Electricians.
• Consisting of four pages and 21 regulations entitled - ‘Rules and Regulations for the Prevention of Fire Risks Arising from
Electric Lighting’; this is now referred to as the ‘first edition’.
History of BS 7671

• The first edition had requirements' for;
• Isolation, Regulation 7
• Mechanical protection and labelling, Regulation 17
• Periodic Inspection and Testing (now called EICR)
History of BS 7671

• The ‘rules’ document was updated many times until the 8th edition came out in 1924 where it was reprinted with the title
‘Regulations for the Electrical Equipment of Buildings’.
• It kept the name until 1981 when the ‘Fifteenth Edition’ was printed where it became known as the ‘Requirements for
Electrical Installations’.
• The ‘regs’, as they are known in the trade were again amended on numerous occasions until in 1991 they were re-
issued again under the title,
‘Requirements for Electrical Installations’ ~ IEE Wiring Regulations 16th Edition.
• In 1992 they gained the status of a British Standard and became know as BS 7671.
• They were amended three times, after which they were re-issued as BS 7671: 2001, after this two more amendments
(AMD) followed.
History of BS 7671

• There is a new edition out in 1st July 2018, This is to be called,
‘BS 7671: 2018 Requirements for Electrical Installations’ ~ IET Wiring Regulations Eighteenth Edition’
• Since the 15th edition the ‘regs’ have always been republished in a sequence of colour bound books;
Red, Green, Yellow, Blue, Brown.
History of BS 7671
1991
1994
1997
2001
2011
2015
2004
2008
2018

PAUL MEENAN
• They are defined as a Code of Practice, even though they are called ‘Regulations’ and are deemed a non-statutory
standard published by the BSi, they are used in the UK and across the world.
• The standard relates to design, selection and errection; and inspection and testing of electrical systems regardless of
whether the system is permanent or temporary.
• The regulations are the national standard used for electrical installations across the UK on voltages up to 1000V a.c. or
1500V d.c.
• Even though they are non-statutory, the have been referred to in extensive HSE/HSC guidance notes and the Electricity
Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 used by the electricity supply industry.
• You can be prosecuted for failure to comply under the Health and safety at work act section 17! It is universally accepted
that compliance with the document and its ‘requirements’ will enable you to comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations
1989.
What are theWiring Regulations to me?

What are duties under law?
• Legislation in layers!
• EAWR 1989, CDM 2015
• HSG Notes, memorandum on EAWR
• BS standards (7671)
• IET Guidance Notes 1-8

PAUL MEENAN
• In 1974 the Health and safety at Work Act etc. was published.
This imposes duties on employers and employees (Inc. self employed).
“It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health,
safety and welfare at work of all his employees”
• On April 1st 1990 The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 were published.
This imposed a duty on people or ‘duty holders’, in respects of work activities on or near, systems,
electrical equipment and conductors.

PAUL MEENAN
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
“ If a requirement of the regulation is
‘absolute’, for example if the
requirement is not qualified by the
words so far as is reasonably
practicable, the requirement must be
met regardless of cost or any other
consideration”.
Hence the use of the word shall!....
So what regulations are an absolute...?
• 4 Systems, activities and protective equipment
• 5 Strength and capability of electrical equipment
• 8 Earthing
• 9 Integrity of conductors
• 10 Connections
• 11 Means of Protecting from Excess Current
• 12 Means of cutting off the supply for isolation
• 13 Precautions for work on equipment made dead
• 14 Working on or near live conductors
• 15 Work space access and lighting
• 16 Person to be Competent to undertake works

PAUL MEENAN
EAWR – Regulation 29
• In any proceedings for an offence consisting of
a contravention of regulations 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, it shall be a defence for any
person to prove that he took all reasonable
steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid
the commission of that offence.
Also review
• The Engineering Council, Competence Criteria
E5 for professional registered engineers!
In most cases,
designers/electricians/engineers are
employed to take all reasonable steps!

PAUL MEENAN
What we know so far!
• The UK National Committee responsible for the Wiring Regulations is known as
JPEL 64
• CENELEC harmonisation mandates this committee to review and update BS 7671
accordingly to ensure alignment with the HD 60364 which is the EU version of IEC
60364.
• HD = Harmonised Documents
J Joint
P Power
EL Electrical
64 IEC designation for committees
dealing with low voltage
electrical installations

• Four panels inform the JPEL/64 board, who are the decision-making
committee of BS 7671:
Panel A –
Covers verification and inspection and testing (Part 6 and Appendix 6 of BS 7671) plus any work relating
to Parts 1, 2 and 3 of BS 7671.
Panel B –
Covers cable sizing and installation and related matters (some of Parts 4 and 5, Appendices 3 and 4
and some Part 7 items of BS 7671).
Panel C –
Covers earthing installations and related matters (some of Parts 4 and 5 and some Part 7 items of BS
7671).
Panel D –
Covers the remainder of Parts 4 and 5, some Part 7 items (and some Appendices of BS 7671).

PAUL MEENAN
Will Brexit effect the new version of the Regulations?

NO!
• CENELEC is a European organisation which has a membership of 33 European states.
• This is more than just the EU States and they all contribute to the CENELEC Standards.
• The consequences of Britain leaving the EU will not affect the UK membership of CENELEC,
subject to change! We Hope!
• While it is correct that the 18th Edition was being written and amended before the UK left the
European Union there is no significant indication at present that Brexit will change the
publication dates of the 18th Edition for July 2018 or the content of the new document.

18th Edition Draft for Public Comment
The Proposed changes

PAUL MEENAN
What we know so far
18th Edition
8 Chapters
886 Pages
New Definitions
New Regulations
17TH Edition
7 Chapters
496 Pages

PAUL MEENAN
Chapter 1 – Scope, Objectives and Fundamental Principles
• The use of the lower case a.c. & d.c.
• Now capitalised ‘AC & DC’ throughout the entire document!

PAUL MEENAN
• Regulation 133.1.3 has been added to.
• Where equipment is not in accordance with Regulation 133.1.1 or is
used outside the scope of its standard, the designer or other person
responsible for specifying the installation shall conform that the
equipment provides at least the same degree of safety as that
afforded by compliance with the Regulations.
Such use is to be noted on the Electrical Installation Certificate
specified in part 6.

PAUL MEENAN
• Regulation 110.11 - The long list of areas in scope now
includes onshore units for navigation vessels within scope.
• Regulation 120.3 – The list of chapters within the book now
includes first reference to a possible chapter 8 on energy
efficiency

PAUL MEENAN
Chapter 2 – Expanded and Modified Definitions
• Combined Short Circuit Current Capability – Maximum short circuit current
which can be handled by two short circuit protective devices in series.
Combined short circuit protection.
• Overcurrent Co-ordination – In short circuit conditions, of two OCPDs in series,
resulting in a combined short circuit current capability higher than one OCPD
alone.
• Discrimination, replaced by Selectivity – Co-ordination of the operating
characteristics' of two or more protective devices such that, on the incidence of
overcurrents’ or residual currents within stated limits, the device intended to
operate within these limits does so, while the other(s) does (do) not.

PAUL MEENAN
• Foundation Earth Electrode – ‘Conductive part buried in the soil under a
building foundation or, preferably embedded in concrete of a building
foundation, generally in the form of a closed loop’.
• Non Compliance – A non conformity that may give rise to danger.
• Bonding Conductor – ‘a protective conductor providing equipotential bonding’.
Now ‘a protective conductor providing equipotential bonding for the purpose of
equalising potential differences of exposed and extraneous conductive parts’.

PAUL MEENAN
• Departure – Deliberate decision to not fully comply with the
requirements' of this standard, for which the designer must declare
that the resultant degree of safety is not less than that achievable by
full compliance’.

PAUL MEENAN
Chapter 4 – Protection against electric shock
• Chapter 41 Lots of changes!
• RCDs – Regulation 411.3.3 The regulations requires RCD protection on all
socket outlets, risk assessment exemption is now deleted.
• RCDs – New Regulation 411.3.4 requires in domestic premises additional
protection by 30mA RCD for AC Final circuits supplying luminaires!
• Regulation 411.3.2.2 The maximum disconnection time shown in Table 41.1
now applies to circuits up to 63A with one or more socket outlets and 32A for
final circuits supplying fixed current using equipment. Used to be 32A
• TN 0.4s
• TT 0.2s

PAUL MEENAN
Chapter 4 – Protection against electric shock
• Regulation 411.3.1.2 List metallic items that are
to be equipotential bonded within an installation,
however it now adds/states;
‘Metallic pipes entering the building having an
insulating section at their point of entry need not be
connected to the protective equipotential bonding’.
SO NO BONDING WATER AND GAS PIPE IF
INSULATED!

• Chapter 42 New Technology!
• A new regulation 421.1.7 – ARC fault protection devices (AFDD) conforming to BS
EN 62606 may be used to provide additional protection against fire caused by arc
faults in AC final circuits’
This was due to concerns around protection relating to fire caused by electrical
equipment, RCDs cannot detect series or parallel arcing because these faults do not
result in leakage current to earth.
Chapter 4 – Protection against thermal effects

• Arc Fault Detection is known around the world as;
• AFD = Arc Fault Detection;
• AFDD = Arc Fault Detection Device;
• AFI = Arc Fault Interrupter;
• They are marketed as a Fire prevention device. They
are also seen as closing the gap in terms of electrical
protection, and can be used in domestic and non-
domestic installations.
• Made to standard BS EN 62606:2013
What is Arc Fault Detection?

What is Arc Fault Detection

• AFDD monitor three types of scenarios that could result in fire. They are;
1. Parallel arc detection, insulation between cores and phases cause a short circuit to weak
to be detected by a circuit breaker and with no earth leakage that would be picked up
by an RCD!
2. Series arc detection, a damaged conductor or connection that causes part of the current
to pass into its carbonized insulation due to temperature rise.
3. Overheating of electronic components in loads, when exposed to over voltage for
several seconds.
What is Arc Fault Detection?

PAUL MEENAN

PAUL MEENAN
Protection against overvoltages: will be changed fairly radically.
Clause 443
• Both IEC and CENELEC have published updates concerning overvoltage.
It is also apparent that protection against transient overvoltage will be
significantly changed in BS7671.
• AQ Criteria of App 5 is no longer needed (conditions of external influence
for lightning)
• Protection would have to be provided where the consequences affect
human life, public services and commercial &/or industrial activity.
• Risk assessment will need to be made as to whether protection is required
having considered the potential human and commercial consequences of
no protection.

PAUL MEENAN
Chapter 5 – Selection and Erection
• 17th edition Amd 3 introduced,
Regulation 521.11 – ‘wiring in escape routes shall be supported such that they will
not be liable to collapse in the event of fire’
• This is now replaced by a new regulation
521.10.202 - Wiring systems shall be supported such that they will not be liable to
premature collapse in the event of a fire.
• This is huge change and applies throughout the install not just escape routes.

PAUL MEENAN
• Bad Practice!
• Avoid please!

PAUL MEENAN
• Chapter 53 Protection, isolation, switching, control and monitoring, this has been
extensively rewritten. Not a worry it brings back old parts once removed.
• 531.3.2 – Unwanted Tripping; requires designer to limit amount of downstream
current to not more than 30% of the RCD rating! It asks us to subdivide circuits
to eliminate or avoid nuisance tripping.
• 30mA = 9mA
• 100mA = 30mA
• 300mA = 90mA

PAUL MEENAN
• Chapter 54 Earthing arrangements. MAJOR CHANGE!
• Regulation 542.1.201 states. ‘ The main earthing terminal shall be
connected with earth by one of the methods described in regulations 542.1
to 3.
• It then adds…
Additionally, there shall be an earth electrode, supplementing any earth
facility provided by the distributor, in accordance with requirements of
regulation 542.2.3, to prevent the appearance of dangerous step and touch
voltage in the event of the loss of the main connection to earth.

PAUL MEENAN
• So, a 100A TN-S supply has a maximum allowed Ze of 0.8Ω
230V = 2.3Ω
100A
• So any earth rods would need to be 2.3Ω or below to enable supply fuse disconnection.

PAUL MEENAN
Chapter 6 – Inspection and Testing
• Completely restructured to allow for CENELEC harmonisation!
• Chapters 61, 62, 63 have been deleted!
• Content of those chapters have been transferred into Chapters 64 and 65
• 64 - Initial Verification, 65 - Periodic Inspection and Testing.
• Regulation 641.5 For an addition or alteration to an existing installation, it shall
be verified that the addition or alteration complies with the regulations and does
not impair the safety of the existing installation. This links to 132.16!
• New requirement for polarity checks at origin of installation before energisation
required.

PAUL MEENAN
• Regulation 612.6 (17th edition) used to cover requirements for polarity testing,
• Regulation 643.6 add to this and states, Where relevant, the polarity of the supply at the
origin of the installation shall be verified before the installation is energised. Where single
pole switching devices are not permitted in the neutral conductor, a test shall be made to
verify that all such devices are connected in the line conductor(s) only. During the polarity
test, it should be verified that:

PAUL MEENAN
• New Regulations?
• 653.1 Upon completion of the periodic inspection and testing of an existing installation, an electrical
installation condition report shall be provided.
• 653.2 The report shall include the following:
• Details of those parts of the installation that have been inspected;
• Any limitations of the inspection and testing;
• Any damage, deterioration, defects or dangerous conditions;
• Schedules of inspection;
• Schedules of results of the appropriate test detailed in 643
• 653.3 The reports shall contain a recommendation for the interval until the next periodic inspection.
• 653.5 The report shall be compiled and signed or otherwise authenticated by one or more skilled
persons.
• 653.6 The report shall be given by a skilled person responsible for carrying out the inspection and
testing, or a skilled person authorised to act on their behalf, to the person ordering the inspection
and testing.

PAUL MEENAN
What we know so far! Chapter 6 – Enhanced Minor works form

PAUL MEENAN
Chapter 7 – Special Locations
Section 753
Electrical Embedded heating
• Section 753 will be extended to include embedded electrical heating systems
for surface heating, and will include de-icing and frost prevention systems.
• Revisions will include regulations relating to the protection against the effects of
overheating caused by electrical short-circuits in embedded units and relating
to harmful influence between the heating system and other electrical and non-
electrical installations.

PAUL MEENAN
NEW CHAPTER 8
Energy efficiency
• This will form Section 8 of the Regulations – there are currently 7
sections

NEW CHAPTER!
Energy efficiency
• The brand new section will also be covering various topics, such as: electric
vehicles, smart metering, lighting, cable losses (loss of energy through cable),
transformer losses (loss of energy through the transformer) and power-factor
correction (how efficient the power generated is being converted into useful
energy)
• It will also cover how installations will be awarded points for their “energy
efficiency performance levels”. The points are added up along with points for
“efficiency measures”, which the installer can then give the electrical installation
an overall efficiency class (EIEC0 to EIEC4).
PAUL MEENAN

PAUL MEENAN
NEW CHAPTER!
New Terminology
• Active electrical energy efficiency measures – measures for the optimisation of
electrical energy produced, supplied, flowing and consumed by an electrical
installation for the best permanent functionally equivalent service.
• Distribution system design. Design of cables and associated electrical equipment
for the distribution of electrical energy.
• Current using equipment – electrical equipment intended to convert electrical
energy into another form of energy, for example light, heat mechanical energy.

PAUL MEENAN
NEW CHAPTER 8
Energy efficiency
• Recent surveys have branded this section not required nor wanted from
the trade.
• Some think its….
• Fact is the regulations are about safety and not energy efficiency.

Final Thoughts, an Impact Assessment

PAUL MEENAN
Impact of Changes, Positive and negative
Ask yourself… what is a safe installation anymore!
• So now have to think to yourself; how does the changes effect me, my business?
• Ask yourself, why have the BSi and IET made the commenting system so difficult, when it was
more simple before! It is also less accessible by anyone who is not IT savvy!
• Who benefits from the changes proposed?
• Who has the time to read this, and then cross check between new and current editions to
understand the changes/Impacts before August deadline! Do clients, contractors?
• Does my installation now not comply? And does this mean I am in breach of the Electricity at
Work Regulations 1989….One would suggest NO!
• The next two slides are items you may wish to use to stimulate conversations' in your business.

PAUL MEENAN
Clients / Industry / Electricians / Manufacturers
• Costs for re-training; - individuals, employers, client cost impacts.
• Costs for new books will be? More no doubt.. plus 9 guidance notes? Who pays
• New standard must be reviewed against ISO 55000 standard as to impact on bringing
current asset portfolio into compliance.
• All installations ‘may’ fail EICRs! Insurers may demand compliance at client costs!
• Revise specifications to define departures from whole sections of the standard?
• Should we seek to attain compliance with past standards, BS 7671 16th or 17th edition?

PAUL MEENAN
Clients / Industry / Electricians / Manufacturers
• Should we seek to attain compliance with past standards, BS 7671 16th or 17th edition?
• New (possible sub-standard) products and points of failure being introduced.
• Manufacturers and governing bodies reputations’ could be being branded as self
perpetuating their own economy! Most committees are sat on by manufacturers.
• Designer has cart blanche to make decisions based on supply chain need and not clients
• Could have huge impact to Business Operations
• Huge confusion in supply chain as to CDM application as to design liability of roles!

PAUL MEENAN
Impact of Changes, positive and negative
• Seen to show lack of strong fundamental principles and being led by a lower standard, EU
driven mandate.
• BREXIT is also a mind-set! Users will push back post Brexit surely.
• Railways/Social Housing/Sectors will have to update standards, specifications and
guidance notes, who pays for that?
• Can be manipulated by suppliers, exemptions not checked, client may want full
compliance, designer may not have time!
• The current regulations are being breached by a weakened industry which is suffering with
competence issues, what makes these regs any better?
• How will these make the individuals better, hence improving the problem being seen
across the entire industry..

PAUL MEENAN
Impact of Changes, positive and negative
• Seen as sole opportunity to sell new products.
• Opportunity to import cheap products.
• Manufactures' can mark up new technology to cover cost of compliance testing.
• Industry will leave a huge gap between those trained on first principles!
• Possible rejection of the IET and Voluntary Regulatory bodies. Creation of unregulated
silos!
• Cause change fatigue across the industry!
• Reputational damage as new books will cost more!

PAUL MEENAN
So what Next
• Well lets hope the governing bodies are flat out trying to help all in the industry understand
and summarise the impacts so we may have a fair time to freely comment!
• Lets also hope all comments offered online are public for all to see and not censored nor
ignored.
• Look at your own businesses, finances and determine for yourself the impact..

18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations
PAUL MEENAN
Questions?
Paul Meenan
CEng FIET MIAM MILP PCQI
paulmeenan@me.com
#E5

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