Useful Information

More helpful information

Many times on our website you will find terms/expressions like: IP rating, the 17th edition, British Standard, fire alarms rules and regulations, etc. On this page you will find more relevant information about these things. For any other enquiries(if you would like to find out more about certain protocols/standards/things unclear), write to us an email at office @ sparksdirect. co. uk.

• The IP zoning - IP rating - bathroom IP zones
  What is IP zoning, especially for bathrooms? After the introductory word about the IP rating and IP significance in general, we would like illustrate the IP zoning regulations, where the bathroom is divided into areas or "zones", which are classified using the numbers 0, 1, 2. The bathroom lights are then assigned a certain “IP rating”(see the different IP ratings and what they represent) which indicates how much protection they provide against ingress of water and other particles. Each zone has a minimum IP requirement that must be met if a fitting is to be installed in this area.
  * Read more about the IP zoning and the IP ratings explained(the first and the second digit). See examples of IP rated Lights on our website.
• The 17th Edition rules and regulations
  • - The Wiring Regulations 17th Edition, BS7671: introduction to the IEE Wiring Regulations: The 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.
    * Read more about these rules here.
  • Short guide to the 17th edition of the Wiring regulations - main changes to the previous standards. The BS 7671:2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations was issued on 1st January 2008 and came into effect beginning on 1st July 2008. Installations designed after 30th June 2008 are to comply with BS 7671:2008. The Regulations apply to the design, erection and verification of electrical installations, also additions and alterations to existing installations.
    * Read more about the main changes made to the previous BS.
  • Hager guide: Hager Junction Box Guide to the 17th Edition. There are regulations concerning the connection of conductors relating to lighting and power final circuits. Read more about the Junction Box guide to the 17th edition(from Hager): Building Regulations; Requirements of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations; Downlighter Junction Box; Maintenance Free Connections; Traditional Junction Boxes; Conclusions; Product Selection Guide; Selection Chart. Consumer Unit guide to the 17th edition Wiring Regulations. Find out more about the Building Regulations(part P, part M), the regulations about the Socket Outlets, the cables buried in the wall, the locations contaning a bath or a shower, the BS 5839-6:2004, Fire detection and Fire alarm systems for buildings, etc.
    As for some practical consumer unit arrangements, there are 6 considered designs: 1 not permitted, and 5 permitted. Read more about the Consumer Unit arrangements, the Consumer Unit Guide to the 17th Edition part 2.
  • The 17th Edition Myth concerning the Fire, Smoke and Heat alarms is Exploded in this step-by-step guide from Aico.
• Fire/Smoke/Heat alarms rules, standards and regulations:
  • Frequently asked questions about the Aico Mains Powered Smoke, Heat and RF alarms - 34 questions about fire risk assessment, what sensors are available, what alarms to use and where, how often should we test the alarms, what is the radiation risk, how long the alarms last, etc - find their answer in the Aico Fire/Heat Alarms FAQ.
  • The myth about the 17th edition regulations related to the smoke, heat and fire alarms - unveiled and exploded, short guide.
  • Fire Design - Fire systems and fire safety design, the 7 recommended stages in fire design: short guide and advices for the do it yourself enthusiasts who are thinking of designing, siting, and even installing the fire alarms by themselves(or at least would like to know more about it):
    1. Initial design considerations,
    2. The siting of manual call points,
    3. Select the automatic detectors,
    4. The siting of the automatic detectors,
    5. The choice and siting of the alarm devices,
    6. The zoning of the building,
    7. The selection of control and indication equipment.
• About the fire-rated downlights, what is the technology behind it? Many of us have heard of the fire rated lights for ceilings, and we may have a lot of questions about them; in this article we have tried to answer some of them(including the standards that speak about them). Also, read about the key components of the fire rated ceiling lights, or the way they work if tested through fire.