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BS7671 or Wiring Regulations?

UKPN
There is a guy on here asking "what is the point of the wiring regulations?" He hasnt explained his question, so I would like to expand a little.

If you pass the City and Guilds exam, you are awarded a certificate titled "BS7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations" The term "Wiring Regulations" is not on the sheet.

However, I note that most job requirements ask for 2391/2396/18th Wiring Regulations. Virtually no one talks in the context of " BS7671"

I am wondering if members can give me an idea how the two terms are related, who makes the decisions on "regulations" and who is accountable for those decisions. I have noted errors/confusion on various posts these last few days caused by ambiguity in those regulations and it seems the person who should be protected by these regulations (the customer) is the last to be considered.

Ever the cynic, is the term "wiring regulations" retained  for sentimental reasons or just to sell the book?

Thanks in advance.


Regards, UKPNZap


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    It's a bit historical. Back in 1882 (well before the BSI or even Electricity Boards existed) the first "Rules and Regulations for the prevention of Fire Risks Arising from Electric Lighting" was published by the forerunner of the IET, then called the Society of Telegraph Engineers and of Electricians".


    By 1897 it had become the "General Rules recommended for Wiring for the Supply of Electrical Energy"  and simply "Wiring Rules" by 1907.


    By 1924 it had adopted the more modern title of "Regulations for the Electrical Equipment of Buildings" then in 1981 it became "Regulations for Electrical Installations".


    Only in 1992 did it become adopted as a British Standard - and as BSI like to number things, given a BS number of 7671.


    The edition numbers count from the original 1882 edition (plus intervening amendments). BSI have their own quite different identification system based on the standard number and year of issue.


    So there are two distinct languages if you like for referring to the wiring regs - the traditional IET (title + edition) one and the BSI numbers (BS 7671+year) - but most people in the industry are fluent enough to use the two interchangeably - Joe Public probably finds the wordy one easier to understand, designers typically prefer the precision and consistency of the BS numbering. - Even today the front cover says "Requirements for Electrical Installations", "IET Wiring Regulations Eighteenth Edition" and "BS 7671:2018" (ignoring the amendments).


       - Andy.
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  • 0
    It's a bit historical. Back in 1882 (well before the BSI or even Electricity Boards existed) the first "Rules and Regulations for the prevention of Fire Risks Arising from Electric Lighting" was published by the forerunner of the IET, then called the Society of Telegraph Engineers and of Electricians".


    By 1897 it had become the "General Rules recommended for Wiring for the Supply of Electrical Energy"  and simply "Wiring Rules" by 1907.


    By 1924 it had adopted the more modern title of "Regulations for the Electrical Equipment of Buildings" then in 1981 it became "Regulations for Electrical Installations".


    Only in 1992 did it become adopted as a British Standard - and as BSI like to number things, given a BS number of 7671.


    The edition numbers count from the original 1882 edition (plus intervening amendments). BSI have their own quite different identification system based on the standard number and year of issue.


    So there are two distinct languages if you like for referring to the wiring regs - the traditional IET (title + edition) one and the BSI numbers (BS 7671+year) - but most people in the industry are fluent enough to use the two interchangeably - Joe Public probably finds the wordy one easier to understand, designers typically prefer the precision and consistency of the BS numbering. - Even today the front cover says "Requirements for Electrical Installations", "IET Wiring Regulations Eighteenth Edition" and "BS 7671:2018" (ignoring the amendments).


       - Andy.
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