Electricians, or anyone responsible for electrical installations in the UK, have to comply with national standards when designing or altering electrics in any building.

The 18th Edition contains the standards that electricians, site managers and health and safety officers must be compliant with. 

This article refers to BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, published on 28 March 2022. 

What is the 18th Edition?

The 18th Edition - often referred to as ‘The Regs’- is the current version of British Standard BS 7671 - Electrical Requirements for Electrical Installations, The IET Wiring Regulations. 

Officially titled as BS 7671:201+A2:2022, the 18th Edition is jointly published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the British Standards Institution (BSI). 

It is called the 18th Edition because it is the 18th version of the standards published since 1882 - when the very first rules came into force. The first 18th Edition was published in July 2018 and came into effect in January 2019. 

The standards are important for many reasons. When they were first published, reducing the risk of fire was the authors’ main concern. Now, the focus is on ensuring product and installation safety, consistency across the UK and compatibility between products. 

The 18th Edition provides electrical professionals with a single point of reference for domestic and commercial electrical installations, and also helps them stay up to date with new technologies.  

When was the 18th Edition last updated?

The latest update to the 18th Edition was published in March 2022, and came into effect on 28 March 2022. It is known as BS 7671:2018+A2:2022.

The previous version, BS 7671:2018+A1:2020, will be withdrawn on 27 September 2022. 

All new and altered electrical installations from 27 September 2022 have to conform to the regulations and requirements set out in BS 7671:2018+A2:2022.

Why has the 18th Edition been updated?

The regulations have been amended to improve fire safety, safety for end-users and to increase sustainability. They’ve been updated following requirements in European and international standards. They have also had input from UK regulators including the Health & Safety Executive.

What has changed in the 18th Edition?

The changes to the 18th Edition include updated requirements for the fire safety design for buildings, new requirements for Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) and new information on prosumer low voltage electrical installations. 

 

Below is an overview of the new requirements. For full details, please download the latest version of the 18th Edition. 

• New Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDD) requirements - There is a new requirement for AFDDs in some AC final circuits in some types of higher risk residential buildings.

• New documentation of fire safety design of buildings - There is a requirement for the fire safety design of buildings to include where specific conditions of external influence exist, for example protected escape routes and locations at risk of fire.

• Protection against transient overvoltage  - A risk assessment must be performed to see if it’s necessary to have protection against transient overvoltages.

• Changes to labelling - Changes to identification, labels and notices, such as for consumer units, affecting how safety information is provided to the end-user.

• New requirements for managing prosumer low voltage electrical installations - There is a new chapter on Prosumer’s Low Voltage Electrical Installations (PEI) which includes energy efficiency measures, the management of renewable sources of electricity and more. 

Which cable ties and fixings are compliant with the 18th Edition?

There is a requirement in clause 521.10.202 for cables to be supported in all areas of an installation. It says: ‘Wiring systems shall be supported such that they will not be liable to premature collapse in the event of a fire’.

We sell a range of cable ties, cable management products and fixings which can be used to support cables. They are all 18th Edition compliant. They include: 

• Stainless Steel Cable Ties - Manufactured from marine grade 316 stainless steel, these cable ties have a working temperature of up to +540°C and can be used in and around safety routes. 

• Metal Flame Retardant Cable Clips - Make it easy to secure cables with these high quality steel clips. They have a zinc-plated carbon steel pin and are suitable for use with twin and earth cables.

• Black Rubber Lined Stainless Steel P Clips - These stainless steel P clips are ideal for clamping electrical cables. They are lined with TPE black rubber and come in packs of 25.

• Self-Drill Metal Plasterboard Fixings and Screws - Secure electrical sockets and light switches to plasterboard with these steel 32mm anchors and 35mm screws. 

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the 18th Edition or any products in our range, please drop us a message on live chat, call us on 01246 386126 or email us at sales@gtse.co.uk.