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
Featured articles and news
IHBC book review: Charles Barry’s monumental struggle to rebuild the Houses of Parliament.
Read about RSHP's British Museum extension which has been shortlisted for the 2017 Stirling Prize.
Read our introductory article to building a house extension.
More updates from DCMS about the large-scale testing of cladding systems and the number of buildings affected.
UandI secure resolution to grant planning consent for major new regeneration project.
Infrastructure and the historic environment
IHBC article considers how heritage is dealt with when infrastructure schemes are authorised.
It was the tallest structure in the world for 3,800 years, but to this day the exact construction techniques are a mystery.
Shortlist for the industry's most coveted award announced.
Government responds to Mark Farmer's review of industry, rejecting the call for a levy on clients.
Peter Hansford to examine what wider lessons can be learned from the fire.
Every project is subject to uncertainty. How can construction better understand uncertainty for performance improvement?
MAD Architects reveal their designs for a futuristic campus for electric car manufacturer.
Homebuyers could borrow more with better forecasting of energy bills, according to industry consortium's new report.
Grenfell Tower articles updated daily
