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What is BS 7430 - Code of practice for protective earthing of electrical installations about?
BS 7430:2026 is a code of practice for the protective earthing of electrical installations. It provides recommendations and guidance to help ensure electrical earthing systems are designed, installed, inspected, tested and maintained safely in and around buildings in the UK.
The standard clarifies what is meant by “earthing” and sets out good practice to reduce the risk of electric shock and other safety hazards. It also addresses modern electrical environments, including renewable energy systems, standby generation, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and electric vehicle (EV) charging installations.
Who is BS 7430 - Code of practice for protective earthing of electrical installations for?
BS 7430:2026 is intended for professionals involved in the design, specification, installation, inspection and maintenance of electrical earthing systems, including:
- Electricians and electrical engineers.
- Designers, specifiers and installers of earthing and lightning protection systems.
- Inspection and testing engineers.
- Built environment professionals such as architects, surveyors, contractors and construction product providers.
- EV charging equipment suppliers and installers.
- Facility managers, local authorities, housing associations and other bodies responsible for electrical safety.
- Education and training providers supporting electrical engineering and installation programmes.
- Manufacturers of electrical, electronic and ICT equipment.
It is particularly relevant to the electrical installation, construction, power generation and transport sectors.
What does BS 7430 - Code of practice for protective earthing of electrical installations cover?
BS 7430:2026 covers earthing system design parameters and selection considerations for structures, electrical equipment and systems. It includes guidance on:
- Protective earthing of low voltage installations.
- Interfaces between low and high voltage substations within buildings.
- Earthing arrangements for standby generators, renewable energy sources and UPS systems.
- Earthing and interface coordination for EV charging installations.
- Earthing arrangements where equipment operates at different voltages within a prosumer built environment.
- Earthing guidance for AC and DC systems, including electrostatic environments.
- Consideration of site conditions such as soil composition and soil resistivity.
The standard focuses on earthing provided for safety purposes, particularly to protect people from the risk of electric shock. It does not apply to specialist areas such as medical equipment, offshore installations, aircraft, or the internal earthing of equipment.
Why should you use BS 7430 - Code of practice for protective earthing of electrical installations?
BS 7430:2026 provides a single, authoritative source of up‑to‑date earthing guidance, helping users:
- Comply with legislative and regulatory requirements, including electricity and health and safety regulations.
- Apply consistent and recognized safety principles across different types of electrical installations.
- Reduce confusion caused by guidance being spread across multiple documents and sources.
- Manage risk and help prevent unsafe or hazardous electrical conditions.
Address the growing complexity of modern installations, particularly those involving renewable energy systems, heat pumps and EV charging infrastructure.
By consolidating essential earthing guidance into one coherent document, the standard supports safer design and installation practices and helps build trust in electrical infrastructure.
What’s changed?
BS 7340:2026 is a major revision, superseding BS 7430:2011+A1:2015. The updated standard addresses the fact that the previous version had become outdated.
Key changes include:
- Updated references to current British and international standards that have replaced superseded documents.
- Improved alignment with other national low voltage earthing standards.
- New and expanded guidance on earthing arrangements for electric vehicle charging installations.
- Updated recommendations for renewable energy systems, including battery storage and photovoltaic installations.
- Clearer definitions of “earthing” and updated guidance for electrostatic, AC and DC systems.
- Resolution of known anomalies and gaps in earlier guidance, particularly in relation to modern electrical technologies.
These changes ensure the standard reflects current industry practice, emerging technologies and today’s regulatory environment.