SELECT preparing key guidance for Members on Amendment 2 changes
Ahead of the publication of Amendment 2 to BS 7671, SELECT is now working hard behind the scenes to help Members understand and implement its much-anticipated changes.
The IET and BSI announced this week that they have signed off the content for Amendment 2 to BS 7671:2018, the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations.
As outlined by SELECT at last year’s AGM, this amendment introduces a new requirement for arc fault detection devices (AFDDs), updated requirements for the fire safety design for buildings and a new chapter which provides requirements for prosumer’s low voltage electrical installations.
Amendment 2 will now come into effect immediately when published on 28 March 2022 and the previous version – BS 7671:2018+A1:2020 – will be withdrawn six months later on 27 September.
Bob Cairney, Director of Technical Services, said: “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.
“SELECT is committed to helping Members become familiar with its most significant changes and understand its implications and impact. To do this, we will be carrying out a range of activity during 2022 that will include Toolbox Talks, CABLEtalk articles, videos, webinars and updated training courses.
“Full details of this activity will be outlined in the upcoming edition of CABLEtalk, which will be delivered to Members in mid-February.”
The changes contained in Amendment 2 include:
- A new requirement for AFDDs in some AC final circuits for installations in some types of higher risk residential buildings
- 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
- Method for determining the requirement to provide overvoltage protection
- Changes to identification, labels and notices, such as for consumer units, affecting how safety information is provided to the user of the electrical installation
- A chapter on prosumer’s low voltage electrical installations, in a new Part 8.
Further changes are also included, including the incorporation of Amendment 1:2020 to BS 7671:2018 as part of the main document.
Bob, pictured above, added: “BS 7671 is one of the UK’s most important standards and these changes will help our Members keep up to date with new and innovative technologies and ensure they have current knowledge about designing safe installations.
“As always, SELECT will be working hard to ensure our Members are ready to work to this amendment before BS 7671:2018+A1:2020 is withdrawn.”