Michael Coupland of Aico offers advice to ensure you’re not caught off-guard in the future. Even if you’re familiar with BS 7671 and the electrical wiring regulations, you might be missing a crucial detail lurking within its pages. This seemingly innocuous line tucked away at the back holds major implications for electricians – and your ...

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Section 443 of BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 contains requirements for protection against transient overvoltages either of atmospheric origin or due to switching. Where the application of overvoltage protection measures are required, regulation 443.1 specifies that any surge protective devices (SPDs) should be selected and erected in accordance with Section 534 of that standard. This article looks at ...

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Keith Willcock, Product Manager for Siemens Alpha Circuit Protection Products, reviews the implications for designers and installers of electrical installations from the latest requirements for additional protection for socket outlets in BS 7671, including Amendment 2. Regulation 411.3.3 Within Chapter 41 (protection against electric shock) Regulation 411.3.3 now tells us: ‘.. in AC systems additional ...

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This article from the experts at NICEIC discusses the purpose of carrying out protective equipotential bonding in commercial and/or industrial type properties, and how to verify the electrical continuity of protective bonding conductors in such a location. Introduction The majority of electrical installations typically use Automatic Disconnection of Supply (ADS) as the protective measure for ...

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It would appear that many people, including some whose work requires involvement with electrical installations, are not aware of the differences between earthing and bonding. This article outlines their different, but equally important, functions within an installation. In general, virtually all electrical installations will require both earthing and bonding in order to meet the requirements ...

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Frank Bertie, Chief Technical Officer at NAPIT, introduces the May 2023 Corrigendum. On 9th May 2023, IET and BSI announced the release of a Corrigendum to BS 7671:2018+A2:2022. The Corrigendum was published on 15th May 2023 and makes changes to six areas of BS 7671 that came into effect immediately. There is often a Corrigendum ...

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In this article, produced for PE before his recent passing, the late Paul Skyrme looks at the relationship between the Electricity at Work Regulations and BS 7671. This article intends to explain the inter-relationship between standards and legislation, using BS 7671 and the Electricity at Work Regulations as the reference point. Firstly, it should remembered ...

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BS 7671 permits the use of a range of supplies to equipment on construction sites. This article from the experts at NICEIC summarises the requirements in Section 704 for the use of reduced low voltage (RLV) supplies in such locations. When considering the use of RLV, it is important to meet the requirements of both ...

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Frank Bertie, Chief Technical Officer at NAPIT, looks into understanding the requirements for maximum demand. When carrying out any new work, whether it is a brand-new building or an addition to an existing installation, BS 7671 requires an assessment of the proposed installation works. This involves an assessment of the general characteristics of the installation ...

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The experts at NICEIC consider the effect of ambient conditions and installation methods when determining minimum live conductor sizes. BS 7671 often specifies a minimum cross-sectional area for live conductors and for the purposes of resistance to mechanical damage likely in a particular application or environment. In most cases, the limiting factor is current-carrying capacity. ...

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