Are you ready for the big switch?

IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition: BS 7671:2018+A2:2022
What does the 2nd Amendment mean for you? 

With Amendment 1 to the IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition: BS 7671 being withdrawn on 27th September 2022, it is vital that any new work from this date must conform to Amendment 2 which was published on 28th March 2022.

Clarification in terms of wording and a streamlined schedule of inspection – reduced from several pages to 14 simpler check boxes – mean that it’s easier than ever to demonstrate compliance.

Paul Wilson, Sales Manager, Martindale Electric comments; “When it comes to designing safe installations, BS7671 is one of the UK’s most important safety standards and is the authority in terms of promoting electrical safety.  This essential update to the new amendment will help electrical professionals remain current in terms of new technologies – while keeping us safe and compliant.  It’s vital that, as an industry, we are collectively ready to work to this new amendment before the current standard is withdrawn.  The new amendment will ensure that we all have the very latest knowledge in order to embrace progressive technologies safely and with confidence.  This is particularly important in helping us transition to renewable energy sources, with the introduction of a Prosumer Low Voltage Electrical Installations section.”

To ensure that electricians, contractors and installations are working in line with Amendment 2, we take a look at some of the key changes – and the products that will keep you safe and compliant.

Prosumer Electrical Installations

This latest addition is relevant to any entity or party which can be both a producer and consumer of electrical energy.

With demand in this area forecast to increase, part eight is brand new for this amendment and addresses Prosumer’s Electrical Installations (PEI), defined as follows:

“Low voltage electrical installations connected or not to a public distribution network that is able to operate with local power suppliers and / or with local storage units – that also monitors and controls energy from the connected sources, delivering it to current-using equipment and / or local storage units and / or the public distribution network.” (Source: IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition: BS 7671:2018+A2:2022)

PEI installations can draw supplies from the network and can also export energy back to the network – from onsite generation or battery storage, for example.  PEI installations may also work in islanding mode, when operating in isolation from the local or national electricity distribution network, requiring disconnection by way of earthing.

The need to provide an alternative and suitable means of earthing when local generation is deployed as an alternative to public supply also now needs to be tested.

Paul Wilson, Sales Manager, explains; “When a supply is available on site, an earth loop impedance tester can be used to verify the external earth loop impedance.  When there is no supply, an earth resistance test will need to be conducted using an earth resistance tester, test earth electrodes and a long lead set which will verify the earth resistance.

“Our range of Martindale multifunction testers – ET4500 with the ER2KIT/S accessory and ET4500 PRO – include all the tests required to verify the safety of electrical installations and to remain compliant with the latest Amendment, including the testing of the ground resistance value.

“Furthermore, this solution can help to ensure adherence to additional earth electrode requirements – Regulation 411.4.2 – recommending that an additional connection to earth, by means of an electrode, is provided within PME (Protective Multiple Earthing) systems.”

To learn more about staying safe and compliant, take a look at our solutions here