BS7671 says refer to MI (Manufacturer’s Instruction)

I think it used to say follow MIs - but there was some debate a few years ago along the lines of what if the MIs are clearly stupid/mis-translated/presume some other country's way of doing things - nowadays the wording is "take account of"  MIs - which seems to leave a bit more wiggle room for applying a bit of common sense.

   - Andy.

I beleive there's two versions of "the regs". One is BS 7671, the other is the in the form of urban legend.

134.1.1 has been on quite an evolution over the years.

1. In my old sixteenth edition it says "133-01-01 Good workanship and proper materials shall be used" short but doesn't mention MI's at all.
2. In the seventeenth edition it says "134.1.1 Good workmanship by competent persons or persons under their supervision and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. Electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the equipment."
3. Eighteenth says "134.1.1 Good workmanship by one or more skilled or instructed persons and proper materials shall be
   used in the erection of the electrical installation. The installation of electrical equipment shall take account of manufacturers' instructions."

I think the extra wording in the seventeenth was introduced with the best of intentions. "proper materials" was a bit meaningless. But if the regs give an inch some people with optimistic readings will take a mile. Nothing in the seventeenth gave you license to do whatever if you can find equipment with MI's to back you up.

Eighteenth wording is more pragmatic. But lots of people still have the seventeeth wording in their head - especially if it's useful to them. The urban legend version of the regs happily borrows from BS 7671 but takes a long time to delete things when they're dropped from BS 7671.

I beleive there's two versions of "the regs". One is BS 7671, the other is the in the form of urban legend.

134.1.1 has been on quite an evolution over the years.

1. In my old sixteenth edition it says "133-01-01 Good workanship and proper materials shall be used" short but doesn't mention MI's at all.
2. In the seventeenth edition it says "134.1.1 Good workmanship by competent persons or persons under their supervision and proper materials shall be used in the erection of the electrical installation. Electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the equipment."
3. Eighteenth says "134.1.1 Good workmanship by one or more skilled or instructed persons and proper materials shall be
   used in the erection of the electrical installation. The installation of electrical equipment shall take account of manufacturers' instructions."

I think the extra wording in the seventeenth was introduced with the best of intentions. "proper materials" was a bit meaningless. But if the regs give an inch some people with optimistic readings will take a mile. Nothing in the seventeenth gave you license to do whatever if you can find equipment with MI's to back you up.

Eighteenth wording is more pragmatic. But lots of people still have the seventeeth wording in their head - especially if it's useful to them. The urban legend version of the regs happily borrows from BS 7671 but takes a long time to delete things when they're dropped from BS 7671.