The 17th edition of BS7671:2008 wiring regulations finally came into publication on the 21st of January 2008. Any installation will have to comply with the 17th edition of BS7671 if it is designed constructed or tested from the 1st July 2008.

BS7671:2008 17th Edition

Copies of the 17th edition are available from Amazon, who are retailing the 17th edition at around £5 cheaper than the IEE. This is the cheapest way to purchase the 17th edition even considering the book is actually published by the IEE!

The Wiring Regulations are the national standard to which all domestic and industrial wiring must conform it contains 7 sections dealing with all electrical installation design issues. This is a must for the C&G 2381/82 exam and the C&G 2391. 

To buy please click here 17th edition BS7671, wiring regulations
A draft copy of a 17th edition C&G 2382 course is available from here.

17th edition's updates on the 16th edition

These are only a general observation of the changes and are not complete nothing to major apart from perhaps
Regulation 132.13 (drawings for all installations)
Chapter 41 RCD (required for sockets for general use as well as mobile equipment )
Section 701 (Bathrooms Each circuit to require a 30mA RCD)

More changes

Chapter 1 Regulation 131.6 Requirements added to protect against voltage disturbances, electromagnetic forces are the focus.
Comment mostly affecting the equipment connected that it connected to the installation so CE mark on it should and I repeat should mean the equipments meets guidelines

Regulation 132.13 Documentation for every installation as per chapter 51 and part 6.
Think this may mean old installations require the documentation as well as new, only time will tell

Chapter 35 Draws attention to other statutory requirement such as building regulations and others affecting amongst others fire escapes, extraction, emergency lighting.
Could mean a nervous few months as installations will be considered with regulations other than outlined in BS 7671, should have always, but now it seems fresh impedance will put on this.

Chapter 36 Requires consideration of the life of each to be took into consideration.
Not to sure what this means apart from the obvious.

Chapter 41 Direct contact now refers to basic protection and indirect contact is called fault protection

RCD required for sockets for general use as well as mobile equipment
Looks like RCD required on all the sockets in a dwelling not just the downstairs

New tables based on nominal voltage of 230 volts rather than 240 volts
new tables on RCD BS EN 61008 and BS EN 61009

Chapter 54 Allows the use of metallic pipe as an earth electrode provided precautions against removal are in place
Could be useful

Chapter 56 Inspection and testing and periodic inspections changed for safety service such as emergency lighting
Part 6 insulation resistance measurements changed for SELV and PELV circuits

Part 7

Section 701 Bathrooms, Each circuit to require a 30mA RCD

1.Changes in zone definitions for swimming pools and other basis and sauna ZONES A B C are changed for zones 0, 1 ,2,3 respectively.

New special location added
709 Marinas
711 Exhibitions
712 Solar power systems
717 Mobile units
740 temporary installations for fair ground rides, circuses
753 Floor and ceiling heating systems

These are only a general observation of the changes and are not complete nothing to major apart from perhaps
Regulation 132.13 (drawings for all installations)
Chapter 41 RCD (required for sockets for general use as well as mobile equipment )
Section 701 (Bathrooms Each circuit to require a 30mA RCD)

17th edition is due to come into affect form June 1st 2008 so any circuit designed after that should comply to the 17th version of BS 7671