The next little drama: BS7671 18th Edition Amendment 2 2022.

Where are we now, about ten weeks away?

Interesting that the Wiring matters article says that amendment 2 will come into use on publication.  I may be missing something but how are people supposed to design a compliant installation now (for installation in a few weeks) when the regulations are not available?

Well according to

this article on the IET website

"Amendment 2 comes into effect immediately when published on 28th March 2022 and the previous version, BS 7671:2018+A1:2020, will be withdrawn six months later."

So I read that as saying during those 6 months, you can follow either. If not, as you say, it would be impossible for anyone to go to work the day after publication.
Actually even so the changes had better be small, as 6 months is still an impractically short time in terms of big civil programmes with a significant design effort, where a year or two from drawing board to 1st fix, let alone energisation, or god forbid acceptance and sign off, is not unknown.

Oddly the draft that was for comments is still available to download.
Mike

PS
From the draft if you put a smoke detector or a lamp holder or two on the socket circuit and fit 40A MCBS for showers and cookers you can probably comply with no AFDD fitted . 
Those of us with a lathe in the back bedroom are probably OK too.

And we do not know what has changed after all those comments. They cannot all have been resoundingly positive, at least one was not, as  I generated that one.

421.1.7 Arc fault detection devices (AFDD) conforming to BS EN 62606 shall be provided for single-phase AC final circuits supplying socket-out lets and fixed current-using equipment with a rated current not exceeding 32 A. AFDDs conforming to BS EN 62606 are recommended for all other final circuits. AFDDs may be omitted where unexpected disconnection of the circuit could cause danger, for example:

(i) the exciter circuit of a rotating machine
(ii) the supply circuit of a lifting magnet
(iii) a circuit supplying a fire extinguishing device
(iv ) a circuit supplying a safety service, such as a fire alarm or a gas alarm
(v) a circuit supplying medical equipment used for life support in specific medical locations where an IT system is incorporated
(vi) lighting circuits in dwellings.
Where used, AFDDs shall be placed at the origin of the circuit to be protected.The use of AFDDs does not obviate the need to apply one or more measures provided in other clauses in this standard.

Well according to

this article on the IET website

"Amendment 2 comes into effect immediately when published on 28th March 2022 and the previous version, BS 7671:2018+A1:2020, will be withdrawn six months later."

So I read that as saying during those 6 months, you can follow either. If not, as you say, it would be impossible for anyone to go to work the day after publication.
Actually even so the changes had better be small, as 6 months is still an impractically short time in terms of big civil programmes with a significant design effort, where a year or two from drawing board to 1st fix, let alone energisation, or god forbid acceptance and sign off, is not unknown.

Oddly the draft that was for comments is still available to download.
Mike

PS
From the draft if you put a smoke detector or a lamp holder or two on the socket circuit and fit 40A MCBS for showers and cookers you can probably comply with no AFDD fitted . 
Those of us with a lathe in the back bedroom are probably OK too.

And we do not know what has changed after all those comments. They cannot all have been resoundingly positive, at least one was not, as  I generated that one.

421.1.7 Arc fault detection devices (AFDD) conforming to BS EN 62606 shall be provided for single-phase AC final circuits supplying socket-out lets and fixed current-using equipment with a rated current not exceeding 32 A. AFDDs conforming to BS EN 62606 are recommended for all other final circuits. AFDDs may be omitted where unexpected disconnection of the circuit could cause danger, for example:

(i) the exciter circuit of a rotating machine
(ii) the supply circuit of a lifting magnet
(iii) a circuit supplying a fire extinguishing device
(iv ) a circuit supplying a safety service, such as a fire alarm or a gas alarm
(v) a circuit supplying medical equipment used for life support in specific medical locations where an IT system is incorporated
(vi) lighting circuits in dwellings.
Where used, AFDDs shall be placed at the origin of the circuit to be protected.The use of AFDDs does not obviate the need to apply one or more measures provided in other clauses in this standard.