IET announces new amendment to BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations)

UKPN:

Jack, (our retiree) is not happy. It started when his twin rcd socket in his workshop was condemned by an EICR to the effect of = C2 potentially dangerous. Jack had bought and installed his socket around 3/4 years ago and as far as he was concerned it was from a reputable shop,and met the regulations at the time. It wasn't his place to wade through endless British Standards and guide books, and fitting was not rocket science. He got an electrician friend to confirm the trip time. All was well. Now every time the trip goes he has to take a brisk walk to the meter cupboard in the house. However, on the internet one evening he decided to do some digging. He found a piece in a publication "Wiring Matters" from 2015 that covered his type of trip sockets in detail. To his disbelief he found the paragraph, "there is no advantage to have two RCDs in series in his situation". Funny he thought, this was the header of Lisa Miles new topic from the new Wiring Matters, "new amendment to BS 7671" which says these devices now must have an upstream device as well. "These people don't know what they are talking" about he thought.


Jack has now reinstalled his SCRD in the workshop (and removed the RCD from the house)


Regards, UKPN

As you say, if you do sn internet search you can find articles in which the IET gave SRCD socket outlets as an example of how to provide RCD protection in various locations such as outbuildings.

For example in this Wiring Matters article from 2015

Quote “Providing an SRCD (a socket-outlet incorporating RCD protection) for the socket-outlet in the garage.”


Has there been any recent articles the states that requirements have changed?


Andy Betteridge

UKPN:

Jack, (our retiree) is not happy. It started when his twin rcd socket in his workshop was condemned by an EICR to the effect of = C2 potentially dangerous. Jack had bought and installed his socket around 3/4 years ago and as far as he was concerned it was from a reputable shop,and met the regulations at the time. It wasn't his place to wade through endless British Standards and guide books, and fitting was not rocket science. He got an electrician friend to confirm the trip time. All was well. Now every time the trip goes he has to take a brisk walk to the meter cupboard in the house. However, on the internet one evening he decided to do some digging. He found a piece in a publication "Wiring Matters" from 2015 that covered his type of trip sockets in detail. To his disbelief he found the paragraph, "there is no advantage to have two RCDs in series in his situation". Funny he thought, this was the header of Lisa Miles new topic from the new Wiring Matters, "new amendment to BS 7671" which says these devices now must have an upstream device as well. "These people don't know what they are talking" about he thought.


Jack has now reinstalled his SCRD in the workshop (and removed the RCD from the house)


Regards, UKPN

As you say, if you do sn internet search you can find articles in which the IET gave SRCD socket outlets as an example of how to provide RCD protection in various locations such as outbuildings.

For example in this Wiring Matters article from 2015

Quote “Providing an SRCD (a socket-outlet incorporating RCD protection) for the socket-outlet in the garage.”


Has there been any recent articles the states that requirements have changed?


Andy Betteridge