The 17th edition of BS7671:2008 wiring regulations finally came into publication on the 21st of January 2008, the first amendment was added in 2011. Any installation will have to comply with the 17th edition of BS7671:2008 Including amendment No 1 :2011, if it is designed constructed or tested from the 1st January 2012.
BS7671:2008 17th Edition with amendment 1, 2011
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 Requirements
for Electrical Installations: BS 7671:2008 Incorporating Amendment No
1: 2011: IET Wiring Regulations
Changes that occurred when the 16th edition changed into the 17th 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)
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
Chapter 44 Protection against Voltage disturbances and electromagnetic disturbances
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
Periodic inspection reports now called Electrical installation condition report, some small changed made to the layout and fault codes changed.
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
710 Medical locations
711 Exhibitions
712 Solar power systems
717 Mobile units
729 Operating and Maintenance gangways
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 with amendment No 1: 2011, is due to come into affect form January 1st 2012, any circuit designed after that should comply to the 17th version of BS 7671:2011