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IET & BSI publish Amendment 2 to BS 7671:2018 Wiring Regulations
On Monday 24 January, The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and BSI signed off the content for Amendment 2 to BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations), which introduces a new requirement for Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs), updated requirements for the fire safety design for buildings and a new chapter on Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations.
A
mendment 2 comes into effect immediately when published on 28 March 2022 and the previous version, BS 7671:2018+A1:2020, will be withdrawn six months later.
This essential update to the IET Wiring Regulations will form the national standard to which all new electrical installations and additions, and alterations to existing electrical installations in the UK are to comply. The IET and BSI are urging all electrical professionals to ensure they become familiar with the changes.
Significant changes include l A new requirement for Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) in some AC final circuits for installations in some types of higher risk residential buildings;
l The requirement 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;
l Method for determining the requirement to provide overvoltage protection;
l Changes to identification, labels and notices, such as for consumer units, affecting how safety information is provided to the user of the electrical installation;
l A chapter on Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations, in a new part, Part 8.
Members of the committee responsible for the technical content of BS 7671, JPEL/64, are not permitted to release any further information before the publication date.
Dan Palmer, associate director of Committees at BSI, said: “BS 7671 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
22 | electrical wholesaler March 2022
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. “The Amendment continues the thread of embracing new technologies and Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations is an exciting step into the future of renewable sources of energy and their integration into our lives. Focussing on high risk environments with requirements for Arc Fault Detection Devices and the fire safety design of buildings is a major step in order to increase safety. “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+A1:2020 is withdrawn.” Further changes are included throughout all parts of BS 7671, including the incorporation of Amendment 1:2020 to BS 7671:2018 as part of the main document.
Post Brexit, this Amendment sees the further adoption of CENELEC Harmonized Documents as
the UK continues the inclusion of standards for new and developing technologies.
NAPIT resources
Frank Bertie, chief technical officer at accredited membership scheme operator NAPIT, JPEL/64 member and deputy chair of Sub Committee A, said: “This Amendment is an essential update and is the result of years of work by the JPEL/64 committee, the committee responsible for BS 7671, with which NAPIT have had strong representation on for over 20 years. It’s important that our electrical members keep up to date with the ever-changing technologies and ways of working to ensure they are working to the safest standards, and they can do that by viewing our webinars, attending our events and within our updated publications.” NAPIT has revamped the setup of its popular Expo this year to host a BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 CPD Masterclass at seven locations. Electrical contractors must be conversant with the new Regulations by September 2022 to ensure compliant electrical installations. The Expo events will begin with CPD awareness seminars covering the major changes to all parts of BS 7671, including the new Part 8 for prosumers electrical installations.
BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 is available for pre- order at
www.theiet.org/amendment2-wm
ewnews.co.uk
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