Amendment 3 BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations IET Wiring Regulations
The British Standards Institution (BSI) publishes standards and provides a range of books, self-assessment tools, conferences and training services. It also represents UK economic and social interests in European and international standards organisations.
BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations, sets the standards for electrical installations in the UK. It is published by BSI and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
On January 1 2015, BS 7671:2008+A3:2015, Amendment No. 3 to the 17th Edition was published. It included changes relating to:
- Consumer units.
- Wiring in escape routes.
- Changes to earth fault loop impedances for all protective devices.
- Updated EIC and EICR forms.
- Changes to definitions.
Amendment 3 came into effect on 1 July 2015, however, the changes in relation to consumer units did not come into effect until 1 January 2016.
From this point, consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies have to comply with BS EN 61439-3 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. Distribution boards intended to be operated by ordinary persons (DBO).
Consumer units are pieces of equipment located where the incoming mains supply is fed to the individual domestic circuits. It typically includes protection and isolation hardware.
The amendment in relation to consumer units has been made in response to the increase in the number of fires which are thought to have involved consumer units with thermoplastic enclosures in which arcing on cables due to poor electrical connections caused overheating.
The amendment requires that consumer units contain fires, either being constructed using a non-combustible material or being contained within a cabinet constructed using a non-combustible material. It applies to consumer units and similar switchgear assemblies inside domestic premises. It does not apply to non-domestic installations or to outside installations.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Desgining Buildings Wiki
- British Board of Agrément.
- British Standards Institution BSI.
- CE mark.
- Glossary of electrical terms.
- Institution of Engineering and Technology.
- International Organisation for Standardisation.
- Kitemark.
- Protected circuit.
- Publicly available specification.
- The Future of Electricity in Domestic Buildings.
Featured articles and news
New BRE book considers the progression from project-based knowledge creation to whole-life urban knowledge management.
This CIOB article explores the concept of value in building design and construction.
BREEAM and Measurabl announce integration to improve the financial performance of commercial real estate.
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' release new images of soon-to-open 3WTC tower in New York.
A document can be called a bond or a guarantee. Does the name matter and what is the difference between them?
New briefing note is launched focusing on increasing knowledge of housing that promotes health and wellbeing.
Arbitration is a private, contractual form of dispute resolution used in the construction industry.
The European Parliament has approved a revised Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
One in six MPs supports the ring-fencing of retentions as proposed in the 'Aldous Bill'.
A stakeholder is anyone who has an interest in the process or outcome of a construction project.
BRE launches online self-assessment tool for ethical labour sourcing.