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Wiring Regulations 17th Edition, BS7671, introduction to the IEE Wiring Regulations

  2009-04-01         admin         Advice » Consumer Units Advice,   Safety » Electrical Safety
Wiring Regulations 17th EditionThe IET (The Institution of Engineering and Technology) put out some time ago the red-cover book containing the Wiring Regulations 17th Edition, BS 7671 (The IEE Wiring Regulations), which are the national standard to which all domestic and industrial wiring must conform (you can buy it online here). The 17th edition contains substantial changes to align with European documents. The IEE Wiring Regulations are produced by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (The IET). The IEE is an imprint of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and is used for all books related to the Wiring Regulations.

The IEE Wiring Regulations are of interest to all those concerned with the design, installation and maintenance of electric wiring in buildings. The market includes electricians, electrical contractors, consultants, Local Authorities, surveyors and architects. This book will also be of interest to professional engineers, as well as students at university and Further Education colleges.

The 17th Edition brings in significant changes to both the technical content and the structure of the book. Some of the key changes are:

  • A change allowing a socket outlet in bathrooms (if 3m from the edge of a bath or shower and rcd protected);
  • Extension of the Regulations to cover new ‘special locations’: exhibition shows, photovoltaic (pv) power supply systems, floor and heating systems, marinas and fairgrounds and amusements parks;
  • Re-numbering and re-structuring of chapters to align with international standards;
  • The Regulations move from being the 16th to the 17th edition – a major shift in name and perception of its contents. The 16th edition has been in place since 1991.
The major sections and an introductory word/explanation for each of the chapters of the book can be downloaded as a pdf file from the website. We would like to place here below some of the contents of these regulations.

Table of contents:

  • Introduction to BS 7671:2008
  • Notes on the plan of the 17th edition
  • Part 1 - Scope, object and fundamental principles - Chapter 11: Scope; - Chapter 12: Object and effects; - Chapter 13: Fundamental principles;
  • Part 2 - Definitions
  • Part 3 - Assessment of general characteristics - Chapter 31: Purpose, supplies and structure; - Chapter 32: Classification of external influences; - Chapter 33: Compatibility; - Chapter 34: Maintainability; - Chapter 35: Safety services; - Chapter 36: Continuity of service;
  • Part 4 - Protection for safety - Chapter 41: Protection against electric shock; - Chapter 42: Protection against thermal effects; - Chapter 43: Protection against overcurrent; - Chapter 44: Protection against voltage disturbances and electromagnetic disturbances;
  • Part 5 - Selection and erection of equipment - Chapter 51: Common rules; - Chapter 52: Selection and erection of wiring systems; - Chapter 53: Protection, isolation, switching, control and monitoring; - Chapter 54: Earthing arrangements and protective conductors; - Chapter 55: Other equipment; - Chapter 56: Safety services;
  • Part 6 - Inspection and testing - Chapter 61: Initial verification; - Chapter 62: Periodic inspection and testing; - Chapter 63: Certification and reporting;
  • Part 7 - Special installations or locations - Section 700: General; - Section 701: Locations containing a bath or shower; - Section 702: Swimming pools and other basins; - Section 703: Rooms and cabins containing sauna heaters; - Section 704: Construction and demolition site installations; - Section 705: Agricultural and horticultural premises; - Section 706: Conducting locations with restricted movement; - Section 708: Electrical installations in caravan / camping parks and similar locations; - Section 709: Marinas and similar locations; - Section 711: Exhibitions, shows and stands; - Section 712: Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems; - Section 717: Mobile or transportable units; - Section 721: Electrical installations in caravans and motor caravans; - Section 740: Temporary electrical installations for structures, amusement devices and booths at fairgrounds, amusement parks and circuses; - Section 753: Floor and ceiling heating systems;
  • Appendices #1. British Standards to which reference is made in the Regulations; #2. Statutory regulations and associated memoranda; #3. Time/current characteristics of overcurrent protective devices and rcds; #4. Current-carrying capacity and voltage drop for cables and flexible cords; #5. Classification of external influences; #6. Model forms for certification and reporting; #7. Harmonized cable core colours; #8. Current-carrying capacity and voltage drop for busbar trunking and powertrack systems; #9. Definitions – multiple source, d.c. and other systems; #10. Protection of conductors in parallel against overcurrent; #11. Effect of harmonic currents on balanced three-phase systems; #12. Voltage drop in consumers’ installations; #13. Methods for measuring the insulation resistance/impedance of floors and walls to Earth or to the protective conductor system; #14. Measurement of earth fault loop impedance: consideration of the increase of the resistance of conductors with increase of temperature; #15. Ring and radial final circuit arrangements, Regulation 433.1.
This British Standard(the 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations) is published under the direction of the British Electrotechnical Committee (BEC) and The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Following a full review, this Standard replaced the 16th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations BS 7671:2001 as amended. Copyright is held jointly by The IET and BSI. Technical authority for this Standard is vested in the Joint IET/BSI Technical Committee JPEL/64. This Joint Technical Committee, which is responsible for the work previously undertaken by the IEE Wiring Regulations Committee and the BSI Technical Committee PEL/64, meets the constitutional and operational requirements of both parent bodies. JPEL/64 has the responsibility for the content of this British Standard under the joint authority of the IET and the BSI Standards Board. All references in this text to the Wiring Regulations or the Regulation(s), where not otherwise specifically identified, shall be taken to refer to BS 7671:2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations.

Continue to read the second part of this short guide to the 17th edition of the Wiring regulations - main changes to the previous standards(read more here). On our website, you can purchase 17th edition consumer units, 17th edition Multi-tester, and 17th edition junction boxes(17th edition compliant consumer units and junction boxes). Watch the Consumer Unit 17th Edition regulations movie from Hager for more details about the 17th edition consumer units.