The 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations is here!

Foster Electrical Services (Anglia) Ltd – Supply and install the very latest 18th Edition Fuse Boards.

On the 1st July 2018 the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) issued the new 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, also known as BS 7671.

The BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) sets the standards for electrical installation in the UK and many other countries. The IET works alongside the British Standards Institution (BSI) and is the authority on electrical installation.

There is not a single building project in history during which the client did not, at some point, change their mind or the specification. With this all-in mind the new 18th Edition Consumer unit will protect all different electrical aspects within your home, office, or building.

To help you with the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations, we have delved deeper into some of the addtions and changes. You can find out more below about Arc Fault Detection Devices, Consumer Units, Overvoltage Protection and RCDs.

Consumer Unit Quotation

18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations will change how you carry out domestic installations with consumer units. No Loose Connections. Just the Facts.

What are Arc Fault Detection Devices?

An AFDD is a circuit protection device that detects faults that MCB’s and RCD’s cannot detect.

AFDDs should be fitted in consumer units or distribution boards in premises with sleeping accommodation, locations where there is a risk of fire due to the activity within, premises constructed of combustible materials, fire propagating structures such as high rising buildings and locations where there are irreplaceable goods.

What are Transient Overvoltage Protection Devices?

Transient Overvoltage Protection devices are often referred to as SPD (Surge Protection Devices).

Transient Overvoltage Protection is a mandatory requirement where overvoltage could result in serious injury or loss of life, interruption of public services, damage to cultural heritage, interruption of commercial or industrial activity or affect a large number of co-located individuals.

What are RCDs?

RCDs is a generic term and it is commonly used to refer to devices such as RCCBs, RCBOs and other types of earth leakage detection operated protective devices.

To ensure that the correct type of RCD is selected the designer must match the operating characteristic of the RCD to the type of fault that can occur in the installation/equipment and manufacturer instructions should be consulted in the design and selection process.

How do you select the right Consumer Unit?

Consumer units must be configured in the correct way, with the correct devices, to meet the requirements of the 18th Edition.

Typically all circuits in domestic household premises will be protected by 30mA RCDs. The most effective way of providing 30mA protection, maintaining power continuity, managing PE currents, avoiding unwanted tripping, and achieving highest levels of occupation safety is to use individual RCBOs on each circuit within the installation.