ECA An Overview of The Main Proposals in BS 7671 17th Edition

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An overview of the main proposals in BS 7671 17

th
Edition
Electrical Contractors Association
Why have Regulations
Behold the electrician standing there.
Soot, soil &verdigris defile his greasy hair.
Shall such a being perish in its youth?
Alas it is indeed the dreadful truth.
A moments lapse,a hands imprudent slip
A flash! A crash! A sound like Zip !
A smell of burning fills the startled air.
The electrician is no-longer there!!
History
1882 first edition of the Wiring Regulations
Remained as IEE domain until 1981 when they were aligned
to some degree with IEC Wiring Regulations
1992 Became a BS formalising harmonisation
2008 BS 7671:2008
Requirements for Electrical Installations
IEE Wiring Regulations 17
th
Edition
What are the drivers for the proposed changes
EU Harmonisation (CENELEC)
Whole document has been revised to align with either
CENELEC or IEC corresponding documents
Very little national text remains
Parent Documents
CENELEC 60384
CENELEC 60384
IEC 60364
IEC 60364
BS 7671
BS 7671
ECA Involved with development of
BS7671:2008
ECA Technical Committee involved
ECA Technical staff member chairs a sub-panel of BS 7671
committee
ECA member comments were submitted on the draft
New ECA book due early 2008, written by Darrell Locke
Chairman of panel D of BS 7671
Will provide a unique insight and solutions not available in
other publications
Available from J anuary 2008
When is the proposed new standard expected
to be introduced
Published J anuary 2008
From J anuary 2008 to J uly 2008 either 16th or 17th editions
can be used
All installations designed after 1 July 2008 to comply to
BS 7671 17th edition
Outline
BS 7671 17
TH
Edition 2008 is laid out similar to BS 7671
16
TH
Edition
.
The standard is divided into Parts and Chapters with
appendices at the end as before.
There are 7 parts as before
Important changes to terminology and definitions
Changes to Chapter 41 Protection against electric
shock
Harmonisation of bathrooms 701
More stringent EMC requirements
New section Lighting & Luminaires
7 new Special Locations added
7 new Appendices
Part 1: Scope, Object & Fundamental
Principles.
Section 131 4 new regulations for protection of persons &
livestock against voltage disturbances and electromagnetic
influences
132.13 specific requirement for appropriate documentation.
For a domestic or similar , a schedule could suffice
134.1.1 good workmanship by competent persons or
persons under their supervision and proper materials
134.2.1Inspection & testing to be carried out by competent
person
Part 1: Scope, Object & Fundamental
Principles.
134.2.2 Designer of installation responsible for specifying the
interval to the first periodic inspection.
135.1 Now makes a positive recommendation that every
electrical installation is subject to periodic and testing , in
accordance with Chapter 62
Part 2: Definitions
There are approximately 260 definitions,there were
approximately 170 in the 16
th
edition.
New ones include:
Competent person
A person who possesses sufficient technical knowledge and
experience for the nature of the electrical work undertaken
and is able at all times to prevent danger, and where
appropriate,injury to themselves and others.
Part 2: Definitions
Verification
Inspection
Testing
Reporting
All of above terms , whilst generally well understood are now
defined for the purpose of the 17 th Edition
Exposed conductive part , A conductive part of equipment
which can be touched and which is not live but which can
become live when basic insulation fails Example metal
switch plates
Part 2: Definitions
Extraneous conductive part , and its
associated definition , remain unchanged
Line conductor ( replaces phase conductor
Line is the internationally used term ) Do not
confuse Line conductor with Live conductor
which can be a Neutral conductor
Part 3: Assessment of General Characteristics
Section 332 new regulations on EMC requirements (may be
the subject of amendment no 1 to BS 7671:2008)
Two new chapters . Chapter 35 Safety Services &
Chapter 36 Continuity of Service
Chapter 41
Direct contact protection now referred to as basic protection
( that is protection under normal conditions )
Indirect contact protection now referred to as fault protection
( that is protection under fault conditions)
Chapter 41
RCDs are now recognised as giving additional
protection (this term is now used instead of
supplementary protection )
RCD now required for all general use socket
outlets rated up to 20A. Allows for 2 exceptions
1. Socket outlet used under supervision of skilled
or instructed persons.
2. Socket outlet suitably identified for connection
of particular item of equipment.
To be recognised as giving additional protection
The RCD must be rated at 30mA or less and
operate within 40 ms when tested at 5 x rated
operating current.
RCDs are now recognised as giving additional
protection (this term is now used instead of
supplementary protection )
RCD now required for all general use socket
outlets rated up to 20A. Allows for 2 exceptions
1. Socket outlet used under supervision of skilled
or instructed persons.
2. Socket outlet suitably identified for connection
of particular item of equipment.
To be recognised as giving additional protection
The RCD must be rated at 30mA or less and
operate within 40 ms when tested at 5 x rated
operating current.
Chapter 41
Revised Disconnection times
TN systems 0.4 seconds (final circuits up to 32A)
TT systems 0.2 seconds (final circuits up to 32A allows
for 0.4s where all Protective bonding in place and
disconnection is achieved by overcurrent device)
Distribution circuits and circuits not covered by table 41.1,
TN= 5 seconds & TT =1 second
Supplementary bonding can be used were Disconnection
times can not be met
Tables 41
Maximum earth fault loop impedances tables 41B1 (fuses
0.4) ,41B2 (Circuit Breakers) and 41D (fuses 5 secs) now
replaced by tables 41.2,41.3 and 41.4 .
The values between the old and new tables are now different
the new tables values being slightly lower base on a nominal
Uo voltage of 230 rather than previously Uoc open circuit
voltage at the distribution transformer
Example in the current table 41B2 the maximum Zs values for
a 32A type B MCB was 1.5 ohms in the new table 41.3 the
value is now 1.44 ohms
No longer a ref to table 41 C
Chapter 52
Selection and erection of wiring systems
Additional requirements for cables concealed in partition/wall
at a depth of less than 50mm.
RCD protection (30mA or less) now required for these cables where
installation (premises) is not intended to be under supervision of
skilled or instructed person and traditional protection can not be
provided (earthed metallic covering, earthed metallic conduit or
equivalent protection from nails , screws, etc)
PVC/PVC cables concealed in walls in domestic installation at depth
less than 50mm will need to be in safe zone and have additional
RCD protection
Where wall has any metallic construction RCD required irrespective
of depth of cable.
Chapter 52
Selection and erection of wiring systems
Chapter 52 now includes reference to busbar trunking
systems and powertrack systems
Max value of Voltage drop in consumers installations has
changed - Table in appendix 12
Volts drop between origin and load terminals in LV system to
be less than;
Public Supply lighting 3% Other uses 5%
Private Supply lighting 6% Other uses 8%
These replace the current 4% requirement
Chapter 55. Luminaires & Lighting 559
36 new regulations
Maximum circuit rating 16A for B15 B22 E14 or E40 lamp
holders
Through wiring only permitted where light is designed for this
Chapter 55. Luminaires & Lighting 559
559 applies to selection & erection of luminaires & lighting
installations in fixed installations and highway power supplies
& street furniture.
Outdoor lighting includes:
roads.,parks,car parks,gardens,sporting areas,
monuments,floodlighting,telephone kiosks,bus
shelters,advertising panels,road signs & road traffic
signals.
Excludes, distributors equipment & temporary festoon
lighting.
Chapter 56 :Safety Services
Chapter covers basic selection & erection aspects of supplies
for safety services.
Many overlaps with other standards & specifications ie: UPS
and generators
BS 5266: Emergency Lighting &
BS5839: Fire Alarms
Requirements removed from BS 7671
Part 6 & 7
Part 6 will be Inspection and testing Previously Part 7
Part 7 will be Special Installations or Locations previously
Part 6
Part 6
New Part 6 Inspection and testing Table 71 A now known as
table 61
Minimum installation values changed to
0.5 M Selv or Pelv at 250 volts
1.0 M for systems up to and including 500 volts with a test
voltage of 500 volts.
For systems above 500 volts tested at 1000 volts the
minimum is also 1.0 M
Chapter 62:Periodic Inspection & Testing
621.5 Periodic Inspection & Testing shall be undertaken by a
skilled person,competent in such work.
Proof of competence may be required
Part 7
Part 7 Special Installations or Locations
This Part has now be greatly expanded to include 14 sections
which include items on
Marinas and similar locations
Exhibitions.shows and stands
Solar photovoltaic (pv) power supply systems
Mobile or transportable units
Electrical Installations in caravans and Motor caravans
Temporary electrical installations for structures,amusement
devices and booths at fairgrounds,amusement parks and
circuses
Floor and Ceiling heating systems
Section 701: Bathrooms
Section 7 Special Installations or Locations
Section 701 Locations ,containing a bath or shower
Zone 3 has been removed
Suitable equipment can be within 600mm of a bath
Excluding 13 amp sockets to BS 1363 which must be 3M
from edge of bath or shower.
All circuits to be RCD protected
Supplementary bonding is not required provided any
required Protective Equipotential bonding has been installed
Part 7
Numbering.
The numbering system of BS 7671:2008 reflects the
numbering of IEC and CENELEC documents generally,
making it easier to find the source of a regulation.
In Sections 7 the numbering reflects a change, addition or
alteration to a previous regulation.
Eg 701.415.2 modifies
Regulation 415.2 (supplementary equipotential bonding) in
relation to section 701 ie Locations containing a bath or
Shower.
Section 702: Swimming Pools
Zones A,B & C replaced with,
Zones 0,1 and 2
Scope now includes basins of fountains
Section 703: Rooms & Cabins containing
Sauna Heaters
Zones, A,B,C & D replaced with:
Zones 1,2 & 3
Section 704: Construction & Demolition Sites
Section 705: Agriculture & Horticulture
In both sections the reduced disconnection times of 0.2s and
25v equation have been removed
Section 708: Caravan & Camping Parks.
Socket outlets must be provided individually with overcurrent
and RCD protection for each pitch outlet.
Previously 1 RCD was allowed to protect not more than 3
pitch outlets.
Appendices
Changes to Appendix 4.
Cable installation methods have new reference designations
eg method 1 now method A1.
Grouping factors changed,including grouping for underground
cables
New diagrams and more installation methods included
Appendix 6
Changes reflect changes of terminology throughout the
regulations.
Certificates in BS 7671 are model certificates.
New Appendices
Appendix 8:Bus-bar current rating & volt drop
Appendix 9:Definitions Multiple source, D.C and other
systems
Appendix 10:Conductors in parallel against overcurrents
Appendix 11:Harmonic currents on balanced 3ph systems
Appendix 12:Volt drop in general
Appendix 13:Insulation resistance of floors and walls
Appendix 14:Loop impedance
EMC
Requirement for installation to meet emissions and immunity
levels
Revised EMC Directive reinforces this
Dedicated BS 7671 section was not ready but may appear in
amendment No 1
In meantime follow best practice, earthing, separation
distances etc
Training Courses
ECA will be offering the following options
For ECS Gold Card Holders an Assessment only option.
A 1 day update course covering the changes from 16
th
to 17
th
Editions with m/c assessment for those who hold a
qualification based on BS 7671 obtained since 2001.
A 3 day course covering the whole of BS 7671 for people who
are electrically qualified and require an in-depth overview of
the new wiring regulations, or anyone who has not obtained a
formal electrical qualification since 2001.
The chief danger of electricity is ignorance
A gentleman called Hilaire Belloc made the following point
during the life time of the first wiring regulations in 1882 which
is as relevant today as it was then;
Lord Finchley tried to mend the electric light.
It struck him dead and serve him right!
For tis the duty of the wealthy man, to give employment to the
artisan
Fully competent to BS 7671:2008 of course!!

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