Iet

Impact of the 17TH Edition
from a designers point of view.
Presentation by:
Geoff Cronshaw
Chief Engineer
Standards and Compliance,
IET
Structure of the 17th Edition
Part Title
1. Scope, Object and Fundamental Principles

2. Definitions
3. Assessment of General Characteristics
4. Protection for Safety
5. Selection and Erection of Equipment
6. Inspection and Testing
7. Special Installations and Locations
Appendices 1-15
PART 1
Scope, Object and Fundamental Principles
Before work is undertaken

Fundamental Principles
131.8 No addition or alteration, temporary or permanent, shall

be made to an existing installation, unlessthe rating
and the condition of any existing equipment, including
that of the distributor, will be adequate. the earthing
and bonding arrangements, if necessary for the protective
measure applied for the safety of the addition or
alteration, shall be adequate.
(was 130-07-01 of BS 7671:2001(2004), The 16th Edition)

Object and Effects
120.3 This Standard sets out technical requirements
Any intended departurerequires special consideration

by the designerThe resulting degree of safety of the
installation shall be not less than that obtained by
compliance with the Regulations.
This information should added to the Electrical Installation

Certificate.
BS 7671:2008
Intended departures
from BS 7671 to be
recorded on the
Electrical Installation
Certificate
Part 3
Assessment of General
Characteristics
Part 3 is the starting point for:
designing a new installation

a major addition, or
alteration to an existing installation
Part 3
Assessment of General Characteristics
Section 314 Division of an Installation

This Section is renamed Division of Installation, which
emphasizes the need to split an installation into a suitable
number and arrangement of circuits.
Thanks to MK for the image

BS 7671:2008
PART 4
PROTECTION FOR SAFETY

New terms in chapter 41
include:
Basic Protection
Basic protection replaces
the term Direct Contact
Fault Protection
Fault protection replaces
the term Indirect Contact
410.3.3 In each part of an installation
one or more protective measures shall
be applied
The following protective measures generally are

permitted:
(i) automatic disconnection of supply

(ii) double or reinforced insulation
(iii) electrical separation for supply to one item
of current-using equipment
(iv) extra-low voltage (SELV and PELV)
Not for general application:
417 Obstacles and placing out of reach

418 Protective measures where
installation is controlled or under
supervision
418.1 Non-conducting location
418.2 Earth-free local equipotential bonding
418.3 Electrical separation for supply to more than one

item of current-using equipment
The requirements for these measures are

virtually unchanged.
PART 4 - Protection for Safety
Chapter 41 - Protection for against electric shock
411 Protective Measure Automatic disconnection of supply.
411.1 Automatic disconnection of supply is a

protective measure in which:
(i) basic protection is provided by basic insulation of live parts or by barriers or

enclosures
(ii) fault protection is provided by protective earthing, protective equipotential

bonding and automatic disconnection in case of a fault
411 Protective Measure Automatic disconnection of supply
Fault Protection (Regulation 411.3)
Three components (similar to EEBADS of the 16th Edition)
(a) Protective earthing
(b) Protective equipotential bonding
(c) Automatic disconnection in case of a fault

Proposed changes use of
RCDs 411.3.3
Additional protection by means

of a 30 mA RCD shall be
provided for socket-outlets with
a rated current not exceeding
20A that are for use by ordinary
persons.
Certain exceptions are
permitted.
Use of RCDs
RCD under
fault conditions
411.3.3 additional protection by a RCD must be

provided in every circuit likely to supply
portable equipment for use outdoors.
411 Protective Measure Automatic disconnection of supply
Disconnection times
411.3.2.2 TABLE 41.1 (part of) maximum disconnection times for

final circuits not exceeding 32A
120V < Uo 230V (s)
System a.c. d.c.
TN 0.4 5
TT 0.2 0.4
Chapter 52 use of RCDs
It is now required to protect cables
concealed in a wall or partition (at a
depth of less than 50mm) by a 30 mA
RCD where the installation is not
intended to be under the supervision of
a skilled or instructed person, if the
normal methods of protection including
use of cables with an earthed metallic
covering, earthed conduit/trunking or
mechanical protection cannot be
employed.
Chapter 52 use of RCDs
Irrespective of
the depth, a
cable in a
partition where
the
construction
includes
metallic parts
other than
fixings shall be
protected by a
30mA RCD.
Chapter 52
Part 5 Selection and Erection of Equipment
Chapter 52 - Selection and Erection of Wiring Systems
525 Voltage Drop in Consumers Installations
The requirements are deemed to be satisfied if the voltage drop

between the origin of the installation (usually the supply terminals)
and any socket-outlet or the terminals of fixed current-using
equipment does not exceed that stated in Appendix 12.
Chapter 53 Protection, isolation,
switching, control and
monitoring
46, 476 and 537 are now in this

single Chapter 53 of the 17th
edition.
new Section 532 Erection of
surge protection devices
new Section 538 Monitoring
devices.
Chapter 54 Earthing
arrangements and protective
conductors
other metallic water supply pipework
shall not be used as an earth electrode
unless precautions are taken against its
removal and it has been considered for
such a use.
An example of other metallic water
supply pipework could be a privately
owned water supply network.
Chapter 54 Proposed changes
earthing
Section 607 of BS 7671: 2001 relating to high
protective conductor currents has been incorporated
into chapter 54.
MET
Ring final circuit supplying equipment
with high protective conductor current
with ends of each section of protective
conductor separately terminated
Earthing
conductor
Means of Accessories must have two terminals for protective conductors.

earthing One terminal to be used for each protective conductor.
Chapter 55 Other equipment
Section 551 Low voltage
generating sets
now includes additional requirements
contained in Regulation 551.2 to ensure the
safe connection of low-voltage generating
sets including small scale embedded
generators.
551.4.2 states: the generating set shall be
connected so that any provision within the
installation for protection by RCDs in
accordance with Chapter 41 remains effective
for every intended combination of sources of
supply.
551 Low voltage generating sets
two connection options: (i) connection

into a separate dedicated circuit. (ii)
connection into an existing final circuit.
Connection into a dedicated circuit is
preferred.
Section 559 Luminaires and
lighting installations
559.1 Scope
This section applies to the selection and erection

of
luminaires and lighting installations intended to be
part of the fixed installation and to highway power
supplies and street furniture.
Particular requirements are given for:

(i) fixed outdoor lighting installations
(ii) extra-low voltage lighting installations
supplied from a
source of maximum rated voltage of 50V a.c
or 120V d.c
(iii) lighting for display stands
Section 559 Luminaires
and lighting installations
559.3 Outdoor Lighting Installations
An outdoor lighting installation comprises one or more

luminaires, a wiring system and accessories.
The following are included:
(i) lighting installations such as those for roads, parks, car

parks, gardens, places open to the public, sporting areas,
illumination of monuments and floodlighting
(ii) other lighting arrangements in places such as telephone

kiosks, bus shelters, advertising panels and town plans
(iii) road signs and road traffic signal systems.

Section 559 Luminaires and
lighting installations
559.4 General Requirements for Installations
559.5 Protection Against Fire
559.6 Wiring Systems
559.7 Independent lamp controlgear
559.8 Compensation Capacitors
559.9 Stroboscopic Effect
559.10 Requirements for Outdoor Lighting Installations, Highway

Power Supplies and Street Furniture
559.11 Requirements for Extra-low Voltage Lighting Installations

Chapter 56 Safety services
Chapter 56 is retained and expanded

with a few editorial and technical
changes.
Part 7
Special Installations or
Locations
Part 7 Special Installations
or Locations
There are fourteen Special Installations or Locations in Part 7:
701 Locations containing a bath or shower

702 Swimming pools and other basins
703 Rooms and cabins containing sauna heaters
704 Construction and demolition site installations
705 Agricultural and horticultural premises
706 Conducting locations with restricted movement
707 Not used (was Section 607, now in Chapter 54)
708 Electrical installations in caravan / camping parks
and similar locations
Part 7 Special Installations or
Locations
Part 7 Special Installations or Locations
There are fourteen Special Installations or Locations in Part 7:
709 Marinas and similar locations

710 Medical locations, reserved for future use
711 Exhibitions, shows and stands
712 Solar photovoltaic (pv) power supply systems
717 Mobile or transportable units
721 Electrical installations in caravans and motor caravans
740 Temporary electrical installations for structures,
amusement devices and booths at fairgrounds,
amusement parks and circuses
753 Floor and ceiling heating systems
Description of Zones
No Zone 3 No Zone 2 for showers

without basins
Additional protection by RCDs
701.411.3.3
Additional protection shall be provided for all

circuits of the location, by the use of one or more
RCDs rated at 30 mA
Supplementary equipotential bonding
701.415.2 Supplementary bonding in the location may

be omitted providing:
(i) All final circuits comply with the requirements

for automatic disconnection,
(ii) all final circuits have additional protection by

means of a 30 mA RCD, and
(iii) all extraneous-conductive-parts of the location

are effectively connected to the protective
equipotential bonding.
Socket outlets
701.512.3 (part of)
Socket-outlets other than SELV sockets or shaver supply units

are prohibited within a distance of 3m horizontally from the
boundary of zone 1.
Zoning arrangements
Zones are now defined using numbers, rather than letters:

702.55.4 Special requirements for the installation of electrical
equipment in zone 1 of swimming pools and other basins
Subject to all the following requirements being met:
(i) located inside a Class II enclosure, and
(ii) accessible via a hatch by key or a tool. Opening the

hatch will disconnect all live conductors, and
(iii) the supply circuit of the equipment shall be protected

by:
SELV (25 V a.c. rms or 60 V d.c.), or
an RCD rated at 30 mA
electrical separation.
702.55.4 Special requirements for the installation of

electrical equipment in zone 1 of swimming pools
and other basins
cont
Where there is no zone 2, lighting other than a

SELV source may be installed in zone 1 provided
that the following requirements are fulfilled:
- the circuit is protected by automatic
disconnection of the
supply, and
- additional protection is provided by
an RCD rated at 30 mA, and
- the height from the floor is at least 2
m above the lower limit of zone 1.
In addition, every luminaire shall have an enclosure

providing Class II.
703 Rooms and Cabins Containing Sauna Heaters
Zones now numeric
703.411.3.3 Additional protection by RCDs
Additional protection shall be provided for all circuits of the

sauna, by means of one or more 30 mA RCDs.
RCD protection need not be provided for the sauna heater

unless such protection is recommended by the manufacturer.
704 Construction and demolition sites
General requirements
704.410.3.10 A circuit supplying a socket-outlet

with a rated current up to and including 32 A
and any other circuit supplying hand-held
electrical equipment with a rated current up to
and including 32A shall be protected by:
(i) reduced low voltage (110v, i.e. 55-0-

55), or
(ii) automatic disconnection of supply by a

30 mA RCD, or
(iii) electrical separation, or
(iv) SELV or PELV

704 Construction and demolition sites
704.411.3.1.2
A TN-C-S system shall not be used for the supply to a

construction site, except for the supply to a fixed building of the
construction site.
705 Agricultural and horticultural premises
705.411.1 In circuits, whatever the type of

earthing system, the following
disconnection devices shall be provided:
(i) socket-outlets up to 32 A, a 30 mA
RCD
(ii) socket-outlets over 32A, a 100 mA

RCD
(iii) all other circuits, a 300 mA RCD.

706 Conducting Locations with Restricted Movement
706.410.3.10 The following protective measures apply to circuits

supplying the following current-using equipment:
(i) supply to a hand-held tool or an item of mobile equipment:
a) electrical separation, or
b) SELV
(ii) SELV for the supply to handlamps
(iii) for the supply to fixed equipment:
a) automatic disconnection with supplementary
equipotential bonding
b) by use of Class II equipment and additional protection
by the use of RCDs at 30 mA
c) electrical separation, or
d) SELV, or
e) PELV
708 Caravan/Camping Parks and Similar Locations
708.411.4 TN-C-S shall not be used other than for

supplies to permanent buildings
708.521.1.1 Underground cables shall be at least 0.6 m
below ground
708.553.1.9 Socket-outlet mounting height to be 0.5 m to
1.5 m above ground
708.553.1.13 Each socket-outlet shall be protected
individually by
a 30 mA
709 Marinas and Similar Locations
709.1 Scope - Applies only to circuits intended to supply

pleasure craft or houseboats in marinas
and similar locations
Does not apply to:
houseboats directly
supplied from the public
network
internal electrical
installations of pleasure
craft or houseboats
711.1 Scope: Applies to temporary electrical installations in

exhibitions, shows and stands, including mobile
and portable displays and equipment
Does not apply to:
the building in which the event is occurring

electrical systems used in structures, sets, etc., of
production and similar
activities of the
entertainment industry
the exhibits themselves
711.410.3.4 Supply cable protected at its origin by a 300 mA RCD
711.411.3.1.2 Protective bonding of all metallic structural parts
711.411.3.3 Additional protection is required for all final circuits and

socket-outlets up to 32 A by a 30 mA RCD
711 Solar Photovoltaic (pv) Power Supply Systems
712.1 Scope - Applies to the electrical installations of PV power

supply systems including systems with a.c. modules.
712.410.3 PV equipment on the d.c. side shall be considered

energized, even when the system is disconnected from the a.c.
side.
712.411.3.2.1.1 On the a.c. side,

the PV supply cable shall be
connected to the supply side of
the device supplying current-using
equipment.
717.1 Scope: The particular requirements of this section apply to

mobile or transportable units
Units are either mobile vehicles (self-propelled or towed), or

transportable (containers or cabins)
Examples include:
outside broadcast trucks

medical services
fire fighting appliances
717.411.1 Automatic disconnection shall be by RCD
717.411.3.1.2 Accessible conductive parts of the unit to be

connected through the main equipotential bonding to the main
earth terminal within the unit.
717.514 Identification adjacent to the supply inlet:
(i) the type of supply which may be connected

(ii) the voltage rating of the unit
(iii) the number of phases and their configuration
(iv) the on-board earthing
arrangements
(v) the maximum power
required by the unit.
740 Temporary Electrical Installations for Structures,
Amusement Devices and Booths at Fairgrounds,
Amusement Parks and Circuses
740.1.1 Scope - This section specifies the minimum electrical

installation requirements to facilitate the safe design, installation
and operation of temporarily erected mobile or transportable
electrical machines and structures which incorporate electrical
equipment
intended to be installed
repeatedly, without loss of
safety, temporarily, at
fairgrounds, amusement
parks and similar places
753.1 Scope: This section applies to the installation of electric

floor and ceiling heating systems,
either thermal storage or direct
heating systems
It does not apply to wall heating

or outdoor heating systems
The risk is one of penetration of

the element
753.411.3.2 30 mA RCDs shall be used for automatic

disconnection of supply.
Heating units manufactured

without exposed conductive-parts
shall be provided on site with a
grid with spacing of not more than
30 mm, or other suitable
conductive covering above the
floor heating or below the ceiling
heating and connected to the
protective conductor of the
installation.
BS 7671:2008
Appendices
The number of Appendices has been more than doubled

- from 7 to 15.
Seven existing Appendices are retained:
1. British Standards to which reference is made in the Regulations

2. Statutory regulations and associated memoranda
3. Time/current characteristics of overcurrent protective devices
4. Current carrying capacity and voltage drop for cables and flexible
cords
5. Classification of external influences
6. Model forms for certification and reporting
7. Harmonized cable core colours
cont.
Appendices
Eight new Appendices are added:
8. Current-carrying capacity and voltage drop for busbar trunking

and powertrack systems
9. Definitions multiple source, d.c. and other systems
10. Protection of conductors in parallel against overcurrent
11. Harmonic currents in three-phase systems
12. Voltage drop in consumers installations
13. Methods for measuring insulation resistance of floors and walls
14. Measurement of fault loop impedance: increase of resistance of
conductors with temperature
15. Radial and ring circuit arrangements
CONCLUSION
We have come a long way in over 100 years,
From: 4 pages and 21 Regulations
To 17th edition:
due 2008
Thank you for listening
and
have you
any questions?

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Impact of the 17TH Edition

from a designers point of view.

1. Scope, Object and Fundamental Principles

Before work is undertaken

131.8 No addition or alteration, temporary or permanent, shall

(was 130-07-01 of BS 7671:2001(2004), The 16th Edition)

120.3 This Standard sets out technical requirements

Any intended departurerequires special consideration

This information should added to the Electrical Installation

Part 3 is the starting point for:

designing a new installation

Section 314 Division of an Installation

Thanks to MK for the image

PROTECTION FOR SAFETY

The following protective measures generally are

(i) automatic disconnection of supply

417 Obstacles and placing out of reach

418.1 Non-conducting location

418.2 Earth-free local equipotential bonding

418.3 Electrical separation for supply to more than one

The requirements for these measures are

411.1 Automatic disconnection of supply is a

(i) basic protection is provided by basic insulation of live parts or by barriers or

(ii) fault protection is provided by protective earthing, protective equipotential

Fault Protection (Regulation 411.3)

Three components (similar to EEBADS of the 16th Edition)

(a) Protective earthing

(b) Protective equipotential bonding

(c) Automatic disconnection in case of a fault

Additional protection by means

411.3.3 additional protection by a RCD must be

411.3.2.2 TABLE 41.1 (part of) maximum disconnection times for

120V < Uo 230V (s)

System a.c. d.c.

The requirements are deemed to be satisfied if the voltage drop

46, 476 and 537 are now in this

Means of Accessories must have two terminals for protective conductors.

two connection options: (i) connection

This section applies to the selection and erection

Particular requirements are given for:

An outdoor lighting installation comprises one or more

The following are included:

(i) lighting installations such as those for roads, parks, car

(ii) other lighting arrangements in places such as telephone

(iii) road signs and road traffic signal systems.

559.5 Protection Against Fire

559.6 Wiring Systems

559.7 Independent lamp controlgear

559.8 Compensation Capacitors

559.9 Stroboscopic Effect

559.10 Requirements for Outdoor Lighting Installations, Highway

559.11 Requirements for Extra-low Voltage Lighting Installations

Chapter 56 is retained and expanded

701 Locations containing a bath or shower

There are fourteen Special Installations or Locations in Part 7:

709 Marinas and similar locations

No Zone 3 No Zone 2 for showers

Additional protection by RCDs

Additional protection shall be provided for all

701.415.2 Supplementary bonding in the location may

(i) All final circuits comply with the requirements

(ii) all final circuits have additional protection by

(iii) all extraneous-conductive-parts of the location

701.512.3 (part of)