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Course overview

The 18th Edition Course went live in July 2018.  Since January 2019, the design of new electrical installations has been required to comply with the 18th Edition (BS 7671:2018). This means that, as an electrician working in the UK, you should be up to speed with this latest changes to the IEE wiring regulations. Our 18th Edition Course will help you to achieve this in just three days.

If you have passed your 17th edition since the last amendment was published and only need the 1-day 18th Edition Update Course, click here.

Modules breakdown

The 18th Edition course is an update from 17th Edition, so lots of the content is similar.

The main thing to remember about the 18th Edition Course is that you won’t be trained on every regulation in the manual. The course is largely focused on referencing the regulations.

The key topics we cover on the course will include:

  1. Scope, object and fundamental principles
  2. Definitions
  3. Assessment of general characteristics
  4. Protection for safety
  5. Selection and erection of equipment
  6. Inspection and testing
  7. Special installations or locations
  8. Appendices

Very positive feedback from all staff who were on the training, great trainers and they made the topic interesting and easy to understand.

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Some of our clients who trust us with their training:

Our trainer, Glenn Wilson.

Do I need this course?

If you are undertaking electrical installations, it is important that you are designing and installing in line with the latest wiring regulations. As a result, it’s now mandatory for practising electricians to be trained in the 18th Edition.  For those registering with a competent persons scheme, in-depth knowledge of the 18th Edition is essential, even if you have a Level 3 NVQ.

Key changes to the 18th Edition

Key changes to the 18th edition are:

  • Protection against overvoltages, with a revision of Clause 443.
  • Protection against fire – Chapter 42 has been revised with additional information on arc fault detection.
  • Electrical Embedded heating – Section 753 has been expanded to include embedded electrical heating systems for surface heating and now includes de-icing and frost prevention systems.
  • Energy efficiency – There is a brand-new section covering energy efficiency

As described above, our course is not intended to cover every regulation in the book. It’s going to teach you how to apply your book to the circumstances you’re going to encounter in your working life.

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Our laptops we use for 18th edition courses

Other Information

Training manuals

The 18th Edition BS7671:2018 book will be available for you to use when undertaking your course but is not included in the cost of your course.

If you want your own copy, you can purchase a copy of the BS7671:2018 book by clicking on the link below.

BS 7671:2018 – Requirements for Electrical Installations, IET Wiring Regulations (New 18th Edition)

18th Edition course exams & assessment

You’ll undertake a 2-hour online multiple-choice test. The assessment is open book and you’ll be able to take your 18th Edition Regs book into the assessment. You will have two minutes per question to complete your assessments, so a sound understanding of the manual is required.

Please note that you must provide a form of photographic ID such as a passport or a driving license at least 5 working days before the course start date. We need this to register you for your electronic assessment.

How do I book?

Call our office on 0808 164 2780 and speak to one of our friendly customer service team. They will discuss dates and availability and can take payment by debit or credit card to confirm your place.

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Locations

We deliver 18th edition courses in the below areas, but we also deliver training on-site, nationwide.

18th Edition Training Courses in Glasgow

18th Edition Training Courses in Edinburgh

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you deliver 18th Edition training?

In short, anywhere. We have two training centres in Paisley, next to Glasgow Airport & Dalgety Bay, Fife. We can deliver courses nationwide on your premises for class sizes of 6+ students.

Do you provide volume discounts?

If you are booking in multiple learners, please contact our customer service team on 0808 164 2780 and we can arrange volume discounts.

What if your start dates don't suit my availability?

Please contact our customer service team on 0808 164 2780 and we will try our best to accommodate you.

Can you manage our training diary?

For large organisations, we can manage your training diary, booking in courses and delivering the training nationwide at your outlets. We deliver a range of heating, electrical, first aid and health & safety courses, so are well equipped to offer a full training delivery service. For courses that we don't deliver, we can source reputable providers nationwide.

How do I book a course?

Call our customer service team on 0808 164 2780 or click book now and submit your details online and we will contact you to process your booking.

What Is The 18th Edition?

All electricians in the UK must follow the guidelines set out in the IET Wiring regulations when installing wiring of any kind. This document is regarded as a vital requirement for electricians operating in Britain, so it’s important that you know it inside out. The regulations cover the erection of any new electrical appliances, as well as the maintenance of existing ones, including any additions or alterations that may be made.

The 18th edition of the wiring regulations (BS 7671:2018) was published in 2018 by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), and they replace the previous edition that was first published back in 2008 before being updated in 2015. The 18th edition includes some new and revised rules, as well as changes to the structure of the document. The rules and regulations set out in the 18th edition came into effect in January 2019, so if you are still unsure about the guidelines, you may be working outside of the strict guidelines.

These wiring regulations have been an important part of an electrician’s job since they were first published way back in 1882. They are regularly updated to adapt to new technologies and safety practices, so it’s important for electricians to be up to date with the 18th edition.

Many people think that these guidelines are a legal document but that is not actually the case. The BS 7671, or 18th edition, is not a legal document in itself. However, it does outline all of the rules and guidelines that must be followed during any electrical installation in order to comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations. So, even though it is not technically a legal document, the 18th edition is treated as one and the industry recognises it as an authority that needs to be followed to the letter.

Do You Need The 18th Edition?

Some people are unsure about whether the 18th edition applies to them or not. If you work in electrical installation in any capacity, you need to follow the guidelines set out in the 18th edition. They are designed to ensure that all people, livestock, and property are protected and that any electrical fixtures that you design or install are perfectly safe. They also ensure that the electrical installations function properly. Although electricians are the most common group that need the 18th edition, other professions, like engineers also need it.

What Are The Main Changes In The 18th Edition?

You may be wondering how different the new versions of the regulations are, and whether you really need to take an 18th edition course or not. But the regulations are very different in the 18th edition so you need to stay up to date. Some of the most notable changes include:

Protection against electric shock – Chapter 41
There are a number of significant changes to this chapter, mainly to do with metallic pipes entering the building.

Selection and Erection of Wiring Systems – Chapter 52
There is one significant change in this chapter. Regulation 521.10.202 now requires all cables to be supported against collapse in the event of a fire. Previous regulations only required cables to be supported in escape routes, but the new version states that this must be the case throughout the installation.

Electric vehicle charging installation – section 772
Regulation 722.411.4.1, which deals with the use of a PME supply has been changed significantly. The rules around external influences, RCDs, socket outlets and connectors have all been changed.

Energy Efficiency – Appendix 17
This new appendix provides a lot of guidelines and suggestions for energy efficiency when designing and erecting electrical installations.
These are just some of the many significant changes that have been made in the 18th edition.

What Courses Are Available?

If you do not already have an 18th edition qualification, we deliver a comprehensive 3 day course to give you all of the information that you need. The course is open to anybody that has a working knowledge of electrical installations but is primarily aimed at practising electricians, even those that have a level 3 NVQ. The course covers the basic definitions of the terms set out in the 18th edition, including an assessment of general characteristics. After these introductory sections, there will be a more in-depth look at the different sections of the 18th edition, including the erection of electrical equipment, protection for safety, inspection and testing, and special installations and locations.

If you have recently been awarded your 17th edition 3rd amendment certification, you may not need to take the full 3 day course. Instead, you can take a 1 day update course. If you have taken the 3rd amendment course, there are fewer changes that you need to be aware of. The topics covered are similar to those covered in the full 3 day course, but there are fewer changes that you need to learn about, so it is a shorter course.

If you are a practising electrician, it is vital that you have an 18th edition qualification. If you do not, you will be barred from registering with certain schemes and a lot of larger clients will not work with you.

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