The 17th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations came into effect this year. Neil Harrison of RS Components explains why getting up-to-date with the new requirements will be more than worth the effort for those working in the electrical or building services industries.

• What forms of training and support are available regarding the new edition of the regulations?
• What are some of the key points outlined in the new edition?

It may seem like the recently introduced 17th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations are asking a lot for electrical contractors to absorb and be aware of, but the time and effort expended in getting clued up on the requirements should be more than balanced out by the intended reduction in the thousands of avoidable accidents suffered every year by electrical workers.

The website of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) states that electrical workers suffer approximately 1,000 accidents and 25 deaths every year.

It is estimated that a significant number of these mishaps could have been avoided through more stringent observation of safety practices and legislation. What is even more worrying than the figure itself is the seeming acceptance of this risk by some workers as 'part of the job', as though it is inevitable at some point.

In the 'frequently asked questions' section of the HSE website, one question reads: "Everyone gets a 'belt' from electricity every now and then, don't they?"

This attitude is a strange one to adopt, considering that this needn't be the case at all. Occupational shocks shouldn't be seen as an acceptable risk, or 'part of the job', especially when there are already guides in place that, if followed correctly, should help to dramatically reduce the risk of such 'belts' occurring.

Access to such information needs to be widespread and publicised.

Of particular recent relevance, the new edition of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Wiring Regulations has recently been published.

These regulations came into effect from 1 July 2008. Since that date, all commercial, domestic and industrial wiring installations have been required to be designed to comply with the new regulations.

As well as changing the design, specification and terminology of electrical installations, the 17th Edition also means changes to inspection and testing methods and requirements.

Electrical contractors and other workers in the electrical or building services industries will need to demonstrate that they are up-to-date with the requirements of BS 7671:2008.  

As is often the case with such newly introduced or altered legislation, several training courses have been introduced to assist individual workers in learning or understanding the changes outlined in the 17th Edition.

A number of City & Guilds accredited programmes have been set up, and the NICEIC has been particularly active in providing further assistance for electrical workers that will be affected by the new regulations.

In addition to setting up further training courses and over 60 free seminars nationwide, it also took steps to update all of its user guides and DVDs to include the new regulations.

A separately produced DVD was also created for distribution amongst colleges and other training institutions, focusing specifically on highlighting the changes introduced by the 17th Edition.

At the start of the year, continuing through until March, the NICEIC conducted a series of free roadshows, with the objective of helping to further raise awareness.

These took in over 60 venues throughout the country, presenting to some 30,000 NICEIC members and helped equip attendees with the knowledge required prior to the introduction date of the new regulations.

The committee in charge of the preparation and updating of the regulations is the national organisation JPEL/64, which is managed by the IET and provides and publishes extensive guidance upon the standard as well as related codes of practice.

Throughout 2008 the committee has been working to update the Guidance Notes and the On Site Guide so that both will align with the 17th Edition's new requirements.

While there is plenty of accessible information and assistance available to those affected by the changes in the regulations, many may be less aware what the changes entail and why they have been deemed necessary to introduce.

Aside from the aforementioned need to reduce the number of accidents and casualties for electrical workers, an update was overdue in order to bring regulations into line with the requirements of modern building and installation services.

In actual fact, there have only been three editions of the Wiring Regulations since the 14th Edition was published way back in 1966.

The 14th Edition was reprinted seven times, the last time being in 1976, which was then followed by the 15th Edition in 1981.

This was reprinted five times, while the 16th Edition was issued in 1991 and reprinted four times, for the last time in 2004.

Although the IET has published wiring regulations in the UK since 1882, ever since the 15th edition was published, the regulations have also closely followed the corresponding international standard International Electro-technical Committee (IEC) 60364.

Nowadays, these are mainly based on European CENELEC harmonisation documents, meaning they are therefore technically similar to the current wiring regulations of other European countries.

In 1992, the IET Wiring Regulations became British Standard BS 7671 and is now treated similarly to other British Standards.

Although the IET and BSI are non-governmental organisations and the Wiring Regulations are non-statutory, they are referenced in several UK statutory instruments.

Changes outlined in the revised standard include details of the alterations necessary to maintain technical alignment with European Harmonisation Documents. It's important to note that all the regulations have been renumbered to align with the IEC numbering system.

This has also involved partial restructuring of the standard with Part 6 becoming Part 7 and vice-versa.

There are several key points outlined in the document, which include:

• Additional regulations relating to requirements to protect against voltage disturbances and to implement measures against electromagnetic influences;
• A number of significant new and amended definitions;
• New requirements on safety services and continuity of service considered necessary during the intended life of the installation are addressed;
• In Part 4, 'Protection for Safety', while the fundamental principles of shock protection remain the same, changes to definitions such as basic protection for direct contact and fault protection for indirect contact, means that those workers currently familiar with the 16th Edition will have to familiarise themselves with the revised Part 4 section;
• Much speculation prior to the publication of the 17th regs surrounded Section 701, which refers to locations containing a bathtub or shower basin. This has now been altered to permit RCD-protected socket outlets up to 3m from the bath or shower.
• Of key note is that 30 mA RCDs will be required for socket outlets used by ordinary persons and intended for general use. This will improve the level of protection against electrical shock in the UK to a level comparable to that in other EU countries.