Calling all those involved with electrical installations, all your electrical installations must comply with BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 from 28 September 2022. Developed in partnership with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), this 2nd Amendment marks an essential update to the IET Wiring Regulations. It forms the national standard to which all new electrical installations and additions, and alterations to existing electrical installations in the UK are to comply.

First adopted as a standard by BSI in 1992, BS 7671 is primarily a safety standard that provides a framework for the electrical industry in the UK and many other countries that have adopted its requirements.

BS 7671 applies to the design, erection, and verification of electrical installations, also additions and alterations to existing installations. It provides a single reference point for almost all domestic and similar electrical installations.

The previous version of this standard, BS 7671:2018+A1:2020 is being withdrawn on 27 September 2022. As this standard is the most widely accepted way to demonstrate compliance with the applicable legislation, if you are an electrical professional, you need to ensure that you are now working to the new changes introduced inBS 7671:2018+A2:2022.

Safety and sustainability: What are the new changes to BS 7671?

Whether you are already a user of BS 7671 or looking to adopt this standard, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 includes several new updates that are considered essential for anyone engaged in electrical installation activities.

The main changes fall into three categories: changes to general safety, changes to fire safety, and changes to sustainability.

General Safety

All electrical systems have the potential to cause harm and so it is vital for those involved in their design and installation to be up to date with current industry knowledge on designing safe installations. These changes reflect the latest industry safety best practices.

Protection Against Transient Overvoltages

BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 deals with the protection of electrical installations against transient overvoltages of atmospheric origin transmitted by the supply distribution system, and against switching overvoltages generated by the equipment within the installation. A risk assessment now must be performed to determine if protection against transient overvoltages is required.

Changes to Identification, Labels, and Notices

The ways how safety information is provided to the user of the electrical installation has been updated inBS 7671:2018+A2:2022 to reflect current industry best practices.

Fire Safety

Protection against fire resulting from the electrical installation and the use of the electrical installation has been necessary ever since electricity was first introduced into buildings. These changes represent a major step in order to increase safety by reducing fire risks.

A New Requirement for Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs)

BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 includes requirements for the protection of persons, livestock, and property against fire caused by electrical equipment, against burns, and against overheating, together with precautions where particular risks of fire exist. It is now a necessity (rather than a recommendation as it was in previous editions) to protect final circuits supplying socket-outlets and fixed current-using equipment with a rated current not exceeding 32 A by Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs).

Updated Requirements for the Fire Safety Design for Buildings

BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 introduces requirements for the fire safety design of buildings to be documented where specific conditions of external influence exist, such as protected escape routes and locations with risk of fire.

Sustainability

For most electrical professionals, the world of work will have changed considerably over the last few years. Sustainability is now at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

There are several reasons for this: the global climate crisis, Net Zero 2050 targets written into law, new energy efficiency legislation, not to mention rapid advances in technology. This change to the Wiring Regulations is an exciting step into the future of managing renewable sources of energy and their integration into our lives.

A New Chapter on Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations

BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 introduces a new chapter on Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations (PEI) which covers energy efficiency measures, the interface with the flexible grid, the management of electricity consumption through an electrical energy management system (EEMS), the management of renewable sources of electricity, and energy storage.

The concept of the PEI has been developed to answer the end-user's needs. For example, where a PEI has a storage capability, the user could take advantage of low demand to store energy when its price may be lower. With active energy management, the end-user should be able to permanently monitor and control his or her own electricity consumption and production.

To learn more about how standards are supporting the development of the flexible grid, visit our Flexible Grid Topic Page.

Sparking change: What do the experts say?

BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 is the result of years of work by the JPEL/64 committee, the committee responsible forBS 7671, taking on board requirements from international and European standards, as well as input from organizations such as the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the findings of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety (2018).

Dan Palmer, Associate Director of Committees at BSI said: “BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 is one of the UK’s most important standards, providing authoritative requirements to promote electrical safety. The changes introduced in this new amendment will help electrical professionals keep up to date with new and innovative technologies, as well as ensuring they have current knowledge about designing safe installations.”

Mark Coles, Head of Technical Regulations at the IET, said: “The IET is the authority for electrical installations in the UK and ensures that the National Wiring Regulations Committee carefully considers all necessary updates to the Regulations to ensure they best meet the needs of the industry.

Amendment 2 is an essential update to provide for the safety of electrical installations in the UK and it is now imperative that the industry is ready to work to this amendment before BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 is withdrawn.”

Do not get left behind. Ensure you are up to date, safe and compliant with the latest requirements of BS 7671 IET Wiring Regulations, by buying BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 today. You can also download the 2024 amendment to the IET Wiring Regulations - BS 7671:2018/A3:2024 - free of charge here.

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