18th edition final changes released by IET

[Andy78]

Changes in the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations - IET Electrical - https://electrical.----------/wiring-regulations/18th-changes.cfm?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=Standards+and+Compliance&utm_campaign=Launch+of+changes+information&utm_content=18th+Edition+IET+Wiring+Regulations&utm_term=https%3A%2F%2Felectrical.----------%2Fwiring-regulations%2F18th-changes.cfm%3Futm_source%3Dadestra%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dchanges%26utm_content%3Dfrom-mar18

 

[ruston]

Thanks Andy.

 

[Octopus]

Anyone read it yet?

 

[telectrix]

just wondering how they can come up with so many ways of spelling bollox before they run out of words.

 

[ruston]

Had a quick squint.

 

[Octopus]

Does this mean we can print this off and not buy any new books?

 

[Des 56]

Thanks to Andy

The arch fault device is a recommendation only
It will probably become "must have" in the first amendment then

 

[ruston]

Thanks to Andy

The arch fault device is a recommendation only
It will probably become "must have" in the first amendment then

That is my initial though too.

 

[LeeH]

I’m not digging the baby blue colour.

 

[LeeH]

Metallic pipes entering the building having an insulating section at their point of entry need not be connected to the protective equipotential bonding (Regulation 411.3.1.2).

That’s going to cause a few arguments.

 

[ruston]

I’m not digging the baby blue colour.

I've got one slightly darker and a bit older . Will that count?

 

[LeeH]

I've got one slightly darker and a bit older . Will that count?

As long as you prit stick the new pages in, sure!

 

[MJPD29]

I see the arc fault detection is only a reccomendation, when it becomes mandatory our boards our going to increase in size considerably. Changing an old MEM board with minimal space is going to become very difficult

 

[Christopher Bernard]

Thanks I just read it and I'm Hoping to get an "exam only" option when the time comes.

 

[sparkdog]

Mien Gott! or something similarly appropriate.

 

[Richard Burns]

Thank you for the information, useful.
I see they do not mention what they have decided about earth electrodes!
I am very disappointed that a professional organisation could even recommend AFDD, a very poor approach from the IET, but unfortunately they have proven again and again that it is politics and not safety that is the overriding factor.
The rest is pretty much as expected though the new sections I must have missed when attempting to read the draft (I did give up early on on that one!).
They have also failed to mention the amount of errors they intend to print, this would have been useful so that we could count up and be sure we have caught them all!

 

[ruston]

Thank you for the information, useful.
I see they do not mention what they have decided about earth electrodes!
I am very disappointed that a professional organisation could even recommend AFDD, a very poor approach from the IET, but unfortunately they have proven again and again that it is politics and not safety that is the overriding factor.
The rest is pretty much as expected though the new sections I must have missed when attempting to read the draft (I did give up early on on that one!).
They have also failed to mention the amount of errors they intend to print, this would have been useful so that we could count up and be sure we have caught them all!

It is there assurance that we have to pay to see the film.

They have not found the cheapest bidder yet. My yellow copy has disintegrated from the centre out.

 

[Spoon]

"A new Regulation 421.1.7 has been introduced recommending the installation of arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) to mitigate the risk of fire in AC final circuits of a fixed installation due to the effects of arc fault currents."

Ok, other people have already mentioned this....but....
Me being of limited intelligence... what do they mean by 'recommending'?
Have you got to do a 'risk assessment' if you choose not to follow this 'recommendation'?
What if there is a fire and it goes to court. They say that the regs 'recommend' AFDD... why were they not fitted?

 

[Andy78]

Thank you for the information, useful.
I see they do not mention what they have decided about earth electrodes!

This is all I can see ....

Chapter 54 Earthing arrangements and protective conductors

• Two new regulations (542.2.3 and 542.2.8) have been introduced concerning earth electrodes.

 

[Spunkywads26]

Thank you for the information, useful.
I see they do not mention what they have decided about earth electrodes!

Two new regulations (542.2.3 and 542.2.8) have been introduced concerning earth electrodes.

Jokes!!

They have explained some of the changes and then just put a stupid statement against others like electrodes. Like others have eluded to, I think they have yet to really make up their minds or they know that what they have decided is going to annoy folk.

 

[Wonderwall]

So, do people read that as , cables clipped on a joist , above a bedroom ceiling are no longer permitted to be held up with t&e clips?
The sheathed metallic pipe is a strange one as well.
Surely it still brings in a potential to the building? I'm not convinced all these engineers totally understand the science of it all. You just need to read the difference of opinions on the matter of earthing and bonding on here to realise there are many different takes on the matter.

 

[Midwest]

"A new Regulation 421.1.7 has been introduced recommending the installation of arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) to mitigate the risk of fire in AC final circuits of a fixed installation due to the effects of arc fault currents."

Ok, other people have already mentioned this....but....
Me being of limited intelligence... what do they mean by 'recommending'?
Have you got to do a 'risk assessment' if you choose not to follow this 'recommendation'?
What if there is a fire and it goes to court. They say that the regs 'recommend' AFDD... why were they not fitted?

Yeah right, think was 'may be or could be' in the draft, now its 'recommended'. These arseholes who live in the IET Ivory Tower, need to visit the coal face. All right on new installs, but just tell Mrs Miggins that.

Actually, think I just met her for the first time yesterday. Pull cord broke in her toilet before Xmas, and asked me to fix it. Then she broke her leg slipping on ice. Replaced it yesterday, along with new lampholder & flex. I said £25, she tried to give me £50.

 

[suffolkspark]

am I reading that right that SPD's might be more likely needed too?

 

[static zap]

Mien Gott! or something similarly appropriate.

Does that mean ,no more cheap china CE prats ,just German made ones!

 

[Ian1981]

So when we stop providing a protective bonding conductor to the gas because it enters the external cabinet from the ground in yellow plastic all the gas engineers will have a dickie fit!!

 

[Octopus]

What ALWAYS bugs me about these changes, is that the IET make absolutely no attempts at "educating" the public - and where such changes add complications and costs, its up to us sparks to justify them to the customers ...................

 

[ipf]

So when we stop providing a protective bonding conductor to the gas because it enters the external cabinet from the ground in yellow plastic all the gas engineers will have a dickie fit!!

Yeah......May be the only good thing coming out of it.
...All BG 'electrical experts' to be issued with clowns outfits and big red noses, at last.

 

[Midwest]

Did a job today, where customer previously asked for new socket, he had no rcd. So i was going to install rcd socket. Decides today he doesn't want to bother with that. But lets continue with the under cabinet lights; in July We won't be able to do that

 

[Ian1981]

Did a job today, where customer previously asked for new socket, he had no rcd. So i was going to install rcd socket. Decides today he doesn't want to bother with that. But lets continue with the under cabinet lights; in July We won't be able to do that

January 2019 is when we all need to comply, there’s still a window

 

[sparkdog]

So if Mrs Miggins wants an additional light she will need an RCD, she won't like it, you know!

 

[ruston]

So if Mrs Miggins wants an additional light she will need an RCD, she won't like it, you know!

They don't Captain Mainwaring.

 

[sparkdog]

Don't panic Sir!

 

[Midwest]

January 2019 is when we all need to comply, there’s still a window

I might feel so inclined to implement this crazy stuff straight away.

That's after spending £400 on a course of course. Being taught how to read a book, just to keep my scheme happy; who incidentally are raising my subs £15 this year. But that's ok,'cos they have an agreement with Tradepoint, for contractors to receive preferential rates. Example, at BQ architrave switch/back box £6.29, with Trade card £6.29.

 

[Wonderwall]

Sorry to repeat myself here , but I'm just interested in other people's take on a couple of things in the report.
Will it be deemed unacceptable to clip a cable on a joist , above a bedroom ceiling using twin and earth clips?
And are they saying a copper gas pipe which has a plastic covering , but then connects to a copper pipe internal in the house no longer requires bonding?
Maybe ( probably !!) I'm being thick and not grasping what they are saying .
I have a meeting with my scheme provider in a couple of weeks to tell us the in outs of it all, but I'm really interested to hear other people's take on it all beforehand.
Many peoples interpretation differ from many other, as I'm sure you are all aware .
It's almost as if if meant to confuse ( the whole regs book)
Why it isn't written in plain everyday English has always been of great annoyance to me.
We are sparks, not lawyers.

 

[Spoon]

I have a meeting with my scheme provider in a couple of weeks to tell us the in outs of it all, but I'm really interested to hear other people's take on it all beforehand.

When you meet them please can you ask them my question in post #18... I'd be interested to hear what they say.

 

[Spoon]

And are they saying a copper gas pipe which has a plastic covering , but then connects to a copper pipe internal in the house no longer requires bonding?

Metallic pipes entering the building having an insulating section at their point of entry need not be connected to the protective equipotential bonding (Regulation 411.3.1.2).

I see this not as a plastic covering but as were the pipe has a metal section replaced with plastic (or other insulating material). Like where the water pipe coming into your house is replaced with plastic piping and later on it converts back to copper.

 

[Spoon]

Will it be deemed unacceptable to clip a cable on a joist , above a bedroom ceiling using twin and earth clips?

Regulation 521.10.202 requires cables to be adequately supported against their premature collapse in the event of a fire. This applies throughout the installation and not just in escape routes.

Sounds like you will need to use non-plastic clips in every room, for every few clips, so the cable doesn't sag down in a fire.

 

[Ian1981]

Sorry to repeat myself here , but I'm just interested in other people's take on a couple of things in the report.
Will it be deemed unacceptable to clip a cable on a joist , above a bedroom ceiling using twin and earth clips?
And are they saying a copper gas pipe which has a plastic covering , but then connects to a copper pipe internal in the house no longer requires bonding?
Maybe ( probably !!) I'm being thick and not grasping what they are saying .
I have a meeting with my scheme provider in a couple of weeks to tell us the in outs of it all, but I'm really interested to hear other people's take on it all beforehand.
Many peoples interpretation differ from many other, as I'm sure you are all aware .
It's almost as if if meant to confuse ( the whole regs book)
Why it isn't written in plain everyday English has always been of great annoyance to me.
We are sparks, not lawyers.

Generally cables installed above a plaster board ceiling with a minimum 30 minutes fire protection will not require metallic fixings.
If it where the case we would need to be doing now on our works such as new builds where cables are installed above a ceiling to landing areas and halls just above your front doorway.

 

[Ian1981]

Metallic pipes entering the building having an insulating section at their point of entry need not be connected to the protective equipotential bonding (Regulation 411.3.1.2).

I see this not as a plastic covering but as were the pipe has a metal section replaced with plastic (or other insulating material). Like where the water pipe coming into your house is replaced with plastic piping and later on it converts back to copper.

So do you think it means if the pipework being plastic rising from the ground and say connecting to an external gas meter , but then enters the property in copper pipe still requires bonding?
The way I see it it’s unlikely to be an extraneous conductive part anyhow but if it enters the property in copper then bond it?

 

[Richard Burns]

"A new Regulation 421.1.7 has been introduced recommending the installation of arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) to mitigate the risk of fire in AC final circuits of a fixed installation due to the effects of arc fault currents."

When you meet them please can you ask them my question in post #18... I'd be interested to hear what they say.

I would say that this would depend on the wording of the regulation.
Are there specific circumstances or particular risks of fire that need to be covered , similar to the other regs under that section. I will be ignoring it.

So, do people read that as , cables clipped on a joist , above a bedroom ceiling are no longer permitted to be held up with t&e clips?
The sheathed metallic pipe is a strange one as well.
Surely it still brings in a potential to the building? I'm not convinced all these engineers totally understand the science of it all. You just need to read the difference of opinions on the matter of earthing and bonding on here to realise there are many different takes on the matter.

I agree with Ian1981 a plasterboard ceiling provides support in the case of a fire. It would only be high level cables surface clipped / plastic conduit / trunking within a room that would need the additional support.
The bonding is if the metallic pipe has an insulating insert, i.e. it is a non continuous conductor into the installation, then it does not require bonding.
If the pipe coming in is plastic then it is already non continuous and does not require bonding.
This does not avoid the need to check for additional points at which an earth potential maybe introduced to via metallic pipework in an installation.

am I reading that right that SPD's might be more likely needed too?

I would say that the AQ conditions at their worst case for the UK always came out as SPD not needed therefore you would apply the later RA conditions of risks to life, property, etc. if you were considering it, so no real change.