Make everything more concise. i.e reduce the pages. Section 7 takes over half the book now, reduce it down. Take out the stuff that is rarely relevant, and replace it with 'see guidance from manufacturers and the IET website'. (who really reads, as one example, Annex b82 on page 389, and also all the other pages around that chapter?)

Stuff like that could be in a Guidance Book (GN12+?), in fact that would probably be better, as the technology is moving faster than 7671, so a £50 book update every year or two, on a specialist subject, would be better than updating it for the 19th edition, with that info already out of date when the 19th is published. PEN devices in the last edition spring to mind, 7671 isnt keeping up, so take a step back, and refer, in 7671, to current Guidance notes and books.

It has become far too complex, and needs to be reduced in size rather than increased with more amendments and additions.

Make everything more concise. i.e reduce the pages. Section 7 takes over half the book now, reduce it down. Take out the stuff that is rarely relevant, and replace it with 'see guidance from manufacturers and the IET website'. (who really reads, as one example, Annex b82 on page 389, and also all the other pages around that chapter?)

Stuff like that could be in a Guidance Book (GN12+?), in fact that would probably be better, as the technology is moving faster than 7671, so a £50 book update every year or two, on a specialist subject, would be better than updating it for the 19th edition, with that info already out of date when the 19th is published. PEN devices in the last edition spring to mind, 7671 isnt keeping up, so take a step back, and refer, in 7671, to current Guidance notes and books.

It has become far too complex, and needs to be reduced in size rather than increased with more amendments and additions.

alanblaby said:

(who really reads, as one example, Annex b82 on page 389, and also all the other pages around that chapter?)

Coming soon to electrical installations near you !!! It will become mainstream in the not too distant future.

BUt splitting things up is really a good discussion ... just buy what you need ... but it would likely increase the price (you can look up the prices for the German version of the Regs as an example)

alanblaby said:

How many people refer to Section 740 in their work? Maybe 50 people in the UK, maybe less? Why do we all have to read through it for the exam, when, in our working lives it will never be relevant.

Fair point ...

gkenyon said:

BUt splitting things up is really a good discussion ... just buy what you need ... but it would likely increase the price (you can look up the prices for the German version of the Regs as an example)

Perhaps publish what is relevant for domestic or light commercial (including 3-phase) separately from the heavy industrial stuff?

Compared with other British Standards, BS 7671 is a real bargain, but I suspect that more copies may be sold than all of the other standards put together.