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BS7671 Rant and Recomendations
Former Community Member
Hi, I'm about a quarter way through reading BS7671 and not impressed at all. I've been studying daily for months now. It's written in a way that makes it very difficult to understand. Long complicated sentences that make you loose track of what's being explained. Repetition. Poor headings and formatting. References to other BS7671 regulations and other BS every few lines. If you want electricians to work safely then make clear and concise safety instructions. I'm guessing most people skim over it. I'm struggling to stay awake reading it. I have started reading a few of the IET guidance notes. They are better but still poorly structured and there's repetition and nonsense. Does anyone know of any better books to learn from that are clear and concise and well structured? Thanks.
Agree it is not a text book intended to be read cover to cover.
It is a list of regulations.
An experienced electrician, should memorise the more commonly applied regulations, and know how to look up and sensibly apply the less commonly applied bits.
As an example, I would expect an experienced electrician to be able to wire a standard domestic lighting circuit without reference to the regulations. They should know "of by heart" the applicable rules.
On the other hand, a large and complex job would almost certainly require consulting the regulations at the design stage.
An electrician should also be able to apply the "common sense test" to an existing installation or to a proposed new one. For example I would not normally "second guess" cable sizes chosen by an experienced designer, but WOULD HOPEFULLY SPOT a greatly undersized cable that has been specified in error.
Example, designer specifies 2.5mm cable for a 20 amp domestic socket outlet circuit. That is the widely used size and correct in all but unusual cases.
Alternative example. Designer specifies 2.5mm cable for a 16 amp circuit to a distant outbuilding to be used as a home office. That I might well double check, firstly is 16 amps enough ? perhaps not if electric heating is called for. Secondly, what is the voltage drop ? probably excessive depending on the distance.
Agree it is not a text book intended to be read cover to cover.
It is a list of regulations.
An experienced electrician, should memorise the more commonly applied regulations, and know how to look up and sensibly apply the less commonly applied bits.
As an example, I would expect an experienced electrician to be able to wire a standard domestic lighting circuit without reference to the regulations. They should know "of by heart" the applicable rules.
On the other hand, a large and complex job would almost certainly require consulting the regulations at the design stage.
An electrician should also be able to apply the "common sense test" to an existing installation or to a proposed new one. For example I would not normally "second guess" cable sizes chosen by an experienced designer, but WOULD HOPEFULLY SPOT a greatly undersized cable that has been specified in error.
Example, designer specifies 2.5mm cable for a 20 amp domestic socket outlet circuit. That is the widely used size and correct in all but unusual cases.
Alternative example. Designer specifies 2.5mm cable for a 16 amp circuit to a distant outbuilding to be used as a home office. That I might well double check, firstly is 16 amps enough ? perhaps not if electric heating is called for. Secondly, what is the voltage drop ? probably excessive depending on the distance.
