Knowledge (XXG)

BS 7671

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594: 911:("Requirements for Electrical Installations") comes into force, covering legal requirements for electrical installations in England and Wales. The guidance in the Approved Documents refers to BS 7671 as being one way to achieve compliance. The version in force when the law came into effect was the 16th edition, BS 7671:2001, as amended in 2002 and 2004 Amendment 2 (change of phase colours) . 569:. In 1992, the IEE Wiring Regulations became British Standard BS 7671 so that the legal enforcement of their requirements was easier both with regard to the Electricity at Work regulations and from an international point of view. They are now treated similar to other British Standards. BS 7671 has converged towards (and is largely based on) the 561:
The first edition was published in 1882 as the "Rules and Regulations for the Prevention of Fire Risks arising from Electric Lighting." The title became "General Rules recommended for Wiring for the Supply of Electrical Energy" with the third edition in 1897, "Wiring Rules" with the fifth edition of
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The 17th edition, released in January 2008 and amended in 2011 ("Amendment 1"), 2013 ("Amendment 2") and January 2015 ("Amendment 3") became effective for all installations designed after 1 July 2008. One of the more significant changes is (chapter 41) that 30 mA
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The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 require consumers' electrical installations incorporating generators operating in parallel with the grid, or as a switched alternative to the grid, to conform to BS 7671 (Regulations 21 and 22)
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The current version is BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 (the 18th Edition) issued in 2022, and came into effect from 28 March 2022 (the previous version BS 7671:2018+A1:2020 being withdrawn on 27 September 2022). BS 7671 is also used as a national standard by
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Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations. Revised in 1943, reprint with minor amendments in 1945, supplement in 1946, further revised in 1948 last edition to allow sockets in a bathroom. 3 phase colours red, white and blue, Black for neutral or earth.
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will be required for socket outlets that are for use by ordinary persons and are intended for general use. This improves the level of protection against electrical shock in the UK to a level comparable to that in other EU countries, where the
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Those aspects of Lift Installations covered by relevant parts of BS 5655 and BS EN 81 and those aspects of escalator or moving walkway installations covered by relevant parts of BS 5656 and BS EN 115.
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Voltage, nominal (U0). The voltage by which an installation (or part of an installation) is designated and the following ranges of nominal voltage (rms values for AC) are defined
224: 585:"Rules and Regulations for the Prevention of Fire Risks arising from Electric Lighting." - Two core cable, line and neutral, no earth. The protection was a re-wirable fuse. 833:
Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations. (adds earthing on lighting circuits) Reprinted in 1968, 1969, 1969 again (metric units), 1970 (in metric units), 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976
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The standard is maintained by the Joint IET/BSI Technical Committee JPEL/64, the UK National Committee for Wiring Regulations, and published jointly by the
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temporary installations for structures, amusement devices/booths at fairgrounds, amusement parks, circuses and professional stage and broadcast applications
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Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations. (Possibly reprinted 1983, 1984, 1986 amendment to remove voltage operated earth leakage circuit breakers), 1987, 1988?)
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The DC side of cathodic protection systems complying with the relevant part(s) of BS EN 12696, BS EN 12954, BS EN ISO 13174, BS EN 13636 and BS EN 14505.
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Equipment of motor vehicles, except those to which the requirements of the Regulations concerning caravans or other types of mobile unit are applicable.
542:) and BSI. Although the IET and BSI are non-governmental organisations and the Wiring Regulations are non-statutory, they are referenced in several UK 1130: 1100: 535: 217: 43: 1050: 539: 482:
until after the publication of the 16th edition in 1992. The standard takes account of the technical substance of agreements reached in
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Titled ‘Rules and Regulations for the prevention of Fire Risks Arising from Electric Lighting’, and known as the "Wiring Rules"
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is usually found in the main- or group central. The 17th edition and its amendments incorporated new sections relating to
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The regulations in BS7671 applies to the design, selection, erection and verification of electrical installations within;
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documents, and therefore is technically very similar to the current wiring regulations of other European countries.
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systems for the distribution of electricity to the public other than prosumer's installations covered by Chapter 82
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Since the 15th edition (1981), these regulations have closely followed the corresponding international standard
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1907, and settled at "Regulations for the Electrical Equipment of Buildings" with the eighth edition in 1924.
553:) publishes numerous titles concerning acceptable standards of design/safety/quality across different fields. 624: 608: 603: 546:, and in most cases, for practical purposes, have legal force as the appropriate method of electric wiring. 371:
Radio interference suppression equipment, except so far as it affects safety of the electrical installation.
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Amendment 2 highlights - electric vehicle charging added, earlier change incorporated for medical locations
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Electrician's guide to the 17th edition of the IEE wiring regulations. 3rd edition pub 2012 John Whitfield
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3 phase colours red white and blue, Black for neutral or earth in fixed wiring. Green earth in flex.
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Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations 3 phase colours red, white and green, neutral or earth black.
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Equipment on board ships covered by BS 8450, BS EN 60092-507, BS EN ISO 13297 or BS EN ISO 10133
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Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations. Reprinted with amendments 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004
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Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations ‘Regulations for the Electrical Equipment of Buildings’
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only covers electrical systems that the IET defines as those covered by the following.
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Incorporated into the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance for building regulations
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Titled ‘General Rules recommended for Wiring for the Supply of Electrical Energy’
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Lightning protection systems for buildings and structures covered by BS EN 62305.
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Amended February 2020 ("Amendment no. 1") Changes to rules on car charging.
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onshore units of electrical shore connections for inland navigation vessels.
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Amended March 2022 ("Amendment no. 2") Current standard as of March 2022
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Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations. Supplement issued 1954 First mention of
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Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations. Reprinted in 1958, 1961, 1962, 1964
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Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems (Domestic and commercial)
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As originally published highlights - RCDs required for most outlets
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Amendment 3 highlights - non-combustible consumer units/enclosures
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Railway traction equipment, rolling stock and signalling equipment
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Circuits supplied at a nominal voltage up to, but not exceeding
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Electricity at Work Regulations come fully into effect in
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issued as IEE Wiring Regulations, called ‘Wiring Rules’
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Electrical equipment of machines covered by BS EN 60204.
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Amended 2015 ("Amendment no. 3") metal consumer units.
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Amendment 1 highlights - high resilience consumer units
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European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
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Those aspects of mines covered by Statutory Regulations
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Exclusions from the scope of BS 7671 are the following
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Titled 'Wiring Rules & Regulations in Buildings
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Equipment of mobile or fixed offshore installations.
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Voltages that normally exceed those of Low voltage.
408:For AC the preferred frequencies of the supply are 427:the voltages covered by BS7671 are defined thus. 1093:"IET launches Amendment to Wiring Regulations" 451:Exceeding extra-low voltage but not exceeding 251:for electrical installation and the safety of 892:Mandated in legislation for specific purposes 218: 8: 631:(including high resilience breaker layout). 597:A bookstore selling the 17th Edition in 2008 557:History of BS 7671 and predecessor standards 383:Electric fences covered by BS EN 60335-2-76 303:caravan/camping parks and similar locations 1068:"IET launches Amendment 3 to BS 7671:2008" 225: 211: 20: 661: 1191:Electrical safety in the United Kingdom 995: 300:agricultural and horticultural premises 140: 84: 51: 30: 23: 285:highway equipment and street furniture 53:Regulation of electrical installations 445:, whether between conductors or Earth 288:locations containing a bath or shower 7: 291:rooms or cabins that contain a sauna 67:IEC 60364 IEC international standard 31:Wiring practice by region or country 247:, is the national standard in the 108:Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable 77:U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC) 1123:"BS 7671: the 18th Edition report" 1057:. IEE Wiring Matters, Summer 2007. 1048:The 17th edition: a brief overview 937:performance levels and the use of 866:Wiring Regulations adopted by the 333:operating and maintenance gangways 72:Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code) 14: 770:Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations 748:Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations 737:Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations 726:Issued as IEE Wiring Regulations 336:floor and ceiling heating systems 297:construction and demolition sites 500:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 141:Switching and protection devices 478:It did not become a recognized 294:swimming pools and other basins 365:Equipment within and aircraft. 324:mobile and transportable units 318:outdoor lighting installations 1: 467:between conductors and Earth. 312:exhibitions, shows and stands 306:marinas and similar locations 62:BS 7671 UK wiring regulations 133:Thermoplastic-sheathed cable 943:arc fault detection devices 868:British Standards Institute 551:British Standards Institute 530:Compilation and publication 327:caravans and motor caravans 282:low voltage generating sets 1217: 617:solar photovoltaic systems 321:extra-low voltage lighting 93:AC power plugs and sockets 1022:"Regulatory Requirements" 1002:BS7671 chapter 11 - scope 118:Steel wire armoured cable 1121:Whitton, Nicole (2016). 1053:3 September 2014 at the 939:surge protection devices 863:BSI adopts as a standard 609:residual current breaker 159:Electrical busbar system 25:Electrical installations 179:Residual-current device 85:Cabling and accessories 44:United Kingdom practice 39:North American practice 974:Electrical wiring (UK) 598: 459:between conductors or 279:prefabricated building 267:residential properties 1160:The 17th Edition Exam 1127:electrical.theiet.org 596: 544:statutory instruments 270:commercial properties 1196:Electrical standards 1169:28 July 2020 at the 909:Building Regulations 425:Part 2 - Definitions 16:Electrical apparatus 516:Trinidad and Tobago 443:120V ripple free DC 276:industrial premises 1155:Wiring Regulations 808:insulated cables. 619:, non-combustible 599: 184:Distribution board 113:Multiway switching 103:Electrical conduit 1201:Electrical wiring 1186:British Standards 969:Electrical wiring 964:British Standards 955: 954: 935:energy efficiency 309:medical locations 253:electrical wiring 235: 234: 194:Electrical switch 1208: 1142: 1141: 1139: 1137: 1118: 1112: 1111: 1109: 1107: 1089: 1083: 1082: 1080: 1078: 1064: 1058: 1046:Geoff Cronshaw: 1044: 1038: 1035: 1029: 1028: 1026: 1018: 1012: 1009: 1003: 1000: 883:Northern Ireland 668:Edition / change 662: 480:British Standard 259:SCOPE of BS 7671 238:British Standard 227: 220: 213: 199:Earthing systems 164:Circuit breakers 21: 1216: 1215: 1211: 1210: 1209: 1207: 1206: 1205: 1176: 1175: 1171:Wayback Machine 1151: 1146: 1145: 1135: 1133: 1120: 1119: 1115: 1105: 1103: 1091: 1090: 1086: 1076: 1074: 1066: 1065: 1061: 1055:Wayback Machine 1045: 1041: 1036: 1032: 1024: 1020: 1019: 1015: 1011:BS7671: Preface 1010: 1006: 1001: 997: 992: 984:Earthing system 960: 660: 655: 613:microgeneration 591: 583: 559: 532: 477: 273:public premises 231: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1214: 1212: 1204: 1203: 1198: 1193: 1188: 1178: 1177: 1174: 1173: 1162: 1157: 1150: 1149:External links 1147: 1144: 1143: 1131:IET Electrical 1113: 1097:www.theiet.org 1084: 1059: 1039: 1030: 1013: 1004: 994: 993: 991: 988: 987: 986: 981: 976: 971: 966: 959: 956: 953: 952: 931: 928: 924: 923: 920: 917: 913: 912: 907:Part P of the 905: 902: 898: 897: 893: 890: 886: 885: 879: 876: 872: 871: 864: 861: 857: 856: 853: 850: 846: 845: 842: 839: 835: 834: 831: 828: 824: 823: 820: 817: 813: 812: 802: 799: 795: 794: 790: 787: 783: 782: 779: 776: 772: 771: 768: 765: 761: 760: 757: 754: 750: 749: 746: 743: 739: 738: 735: 732: 728: 727: 724: 721: 717: 716: 713: 710: 706: 705: 702: 699: 695: 694: 691: 688: 684: 683: 680: 677: 673: 672: 669: 666: 659: 656: 654: 651: 650: 649: 648: 647: 644: 641: 638: 621:consumer units 590: 587: 582: 579: 558: 555: 531: 528: 475: 474: 468: 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Index

Electrical installations
North American practice
United Kingdom practice
Regulation of electrical installations
BS 7671 UK wiring regulations
IEC 60364 IEC international standard
Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code)
U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC)
AC power plugs and sockets
Cable tray
Electrical conduit
Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable
Multiway switching
Steel wire armoured cable
Ring main unit
Ring circuit
Thermoplastic-sheathed cable
AFCI
ELCB
Electrical busbar system
Circuit breakers
Disconnector
Fuse
Residual-current device
Distribution board
Consumer unit
Electrical switch
Earthing systems
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