SIM2202

Issued: 10 March 2022 – Review Date: 10 March 2023

The Institution of Engineering (IET) and BSI to publish Amendment 2 (2022) to BS 7671:2018 (IET Wiring Regulations) on 28 March 2022

Summary

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and BSI, have signed off the content for Amendment 2 to BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations), which introduces a new requirement for Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs), updated requirements for the fire safety design for buildings and a new chapter on Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations.

Amendment 2 comes into effect immediately when published on 28th March 2022 and the previous version, BS 7671:2018+A1:2020, will be withdrawn six months later.

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. The IET and BSI are now urging all electrical professionals to ensure they become familiar with the changes.

Action

Bring this notice to the attention of appropriate managers, staff and contractors.

Background

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and BSI, have signed off the content for Amendment 2 to BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations), which introduces a new requirement for Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs), updated requirements for the fire safety design for buildings and a new chapter on Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations.

Amendment 2 comes into effect immediately when published on 28th March 2022 and the previous version, BS 7671:2018+A1:2020, will be withdrawn six months later.

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. The IET and BSI are now urging all electrical professionals to ensure they become familiar with the changes.

Significant changes include:

• a new requirement for Arc Fault Detection Devices (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, Part 8.

The full IET BSI press release is available here

Suggested onward distribution

• Authorising Engineers (HV)
• Authorising Engineers (LV)
• Health and Safety
• Authorised Persons (HV)
• Authorised Persons (LV) Fire Safety Advisors
• Hard FM
• Relevant PFI / PPP staff Risk Management

Enquiries

Enquiries and adverse incident reports should be addressed to:

IRIC remit

General information about adverse incidents, safety alerts and IRIC’s role can be found in CEL 43 (2009), Safety of Health, Social Care, Estates and Facilities Equipment: NHS Board and Local Authority Responsibilities, issued 30 October 2009.

Report an incident

Information on how to report an adverse incident

NHS National Services Scotland is the common name for the Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service https://www.nss.nhs.scot/

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