The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018

ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) welcomes the announcement that the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) and the BSI (British Standards Institute) are finalising Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018, which will be known as the ‘orange book’.

The IET and BSI have today signed off the content for Amendment 4 (2026) to BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations).

Significant changes include:

• a new chapter on Stationary Secondary Batteries where the purpose is for electrical storage and supply of electrical installations.
• a new section on Functional earthing and functional equipotential bonding for information and communication technology (ICT) equipment and systems.
• a new section on Power over Ethernet (PoE).
• a major revision of Section 710 Medical Locations and the inclusion of a schedule of test results for recording the resistance of supplementary protective equipotential bonding conductors.

Amendment 4 can be implemented immediately when published on 15th April 2026 and the previous version, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024, will be withdrawn six months later.

This essential update to the IET Wiring Regulations will form the UK national standard for:

• all new low voltage electrical installations
• additions and alterations to existing installations
• periodic inspection and testing of existing 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 the inclusion of a new section on Stationary Secondary Batteries is an exciting step into the future of renewable sources of energy and their integration into our lives. Amendment 4 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UK and it is now imperative that the industry is ready to work to this amendment before BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024 is withdrawn.”

Further changes are included throughout all parts of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, including the incorporation of Amendment 3:2024 to BS 7671:2018 as part of the main document.

This Amendment sees the further adoption of CENELEC Harmonized Documents and IEC standards as the UK continues the inclusion of standards for new and developing technologies.

A dedicated Amendment 4 webpage will be published in April, which will include guidance from ECA plus other support materials.

Mike Smith, Director of Technical and Safety, Health & Environment at ECA, said:

“The latest update to the UK’s national electrical safety regulations brings several important changes designed to improve safety, reliability, and clarity for everyone who uses or manages electrical systems. These changes reflect the industry’s commitment to continual improvement and keeping pace with new technologies.”

Darren Crannis, Technical Manager at ECA said:

“New guidance and updated Standards improve electrical safety across multiple areas: battery storage systems must meet strict installation requirements; IT and communications equipment now benefit from better protection and reliability; clear advice is provided for safely using Power over Ethernet (PoE); and medical settings have enhanced rules, including recording of important safety tests, to ensure the highest levels of protection.”

“The ECA technical team are looking forward to helping Members understand the importance and impact of the changes and will be actively engaging with Members.”

This article appears on the ECA news and blog site as "IET & BSI publish Amendment 4 (2026) to BS 7671:2018 (IET Wiring Regulations)" dated 15 January, 2026.

--ECA

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