A new version of the Wiring Regulations will come into effect on the 1st January 2019…
The 18th Edition of BS7671:2018 Requirements for Electrical Installations (to give it its full title) introduces some significant changes to the previous 17th Edition of BS7671.
This new book if all goes according to plan with the IET will be available from the 1st July 2018 onwards and as I said the actual 18th Edition Wiring Regulations will apply from the 1st January 2019. This means that any ongoing or future building projects that were started or designed before this date will need only to comply with the current 17th Edition.
This means that the 17th Edition may still be relevant for years to come. So, there’s no need to dash off and pass the 18th Edition on the 1st of January 2019, although it’s always a good idea to be ahead of the curve when it comes to job hunting, promotion etc. I’m also pretty sure that the likes of the NICEIC etc will insist that QS’s will be 18th Edition qualified as soon as possible.
Going off the draft version of the 18th Edition there could be more than 250 additional pages. Giving the 18th more than seven hundred ‘fun filled’ pages with many alterations and additions to get your head around.
Briefly as I’m going to go into more detail in later posts we have…
Minor changes within Part 1 Scope, object and fundamental principles and within Part 2 Definitions there will also be some modifications.
Part 4 Protection for safety sees some major and small alterations within key Chapters. Table 41.1 for example ‘disconnections times’ gets an upgrade, as do many other important areas. There’s also a surprise coming as far as equipotential bonding is concerned and there’s a new addition to Part 4, Chapter 46 Devices for isolation and switching
Part 5 Selection and erection of equipment also has many changes and new regulations within its individual Chapters, but no new Chapter.
They have been tinkering with the numbering system in Part 6 Inspection and testing by deleting and moving things around just because they can.
In Part 7 Special installations and locations many of the important Sections have suffered minor changes and there is a bit of a rethink regarding the use of PME supplies in Section 722 Electric vehicle charging installations. There’s also a new Section 730 Onshore units of electrical connections for inland navigation vessels.
We have a whole brand new Part 8 Energy efficiency as we now have to consider how installations perform as far as consumption of energy is concerned and whether and how it can be reduced.
Six Appendices have had alterations with a big chunk from Appendix 14 Determination of prospective fault current being moved to Appendix 3 Time/current characteristics of overcurrent protective devices and RCDs.
So all in the 18th Edition looks like fun. Don’t forget to have a look at our Wiring Regulations online training options including the new 18th Edition online course.
Early Bird 18th and Study Plus Combo “Pay once Pass TWICE!”: Details
More soon….