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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.
What is 18th Edition course for?
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.