NEWS
AMENDMENT 4 (2026) TO THE BS 7671:2018 (IET WIRING REGULATIONS) HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY AND BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION… Wiring Regulations update
An update to the UK’s national standard for electrical installation safety has been published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and British Standards Institution (BSI). Amendment 4 (2026) to the standard Requirements for Electrical Installations (BS 7671:2018) (18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations) reflects the fast-paced evolution of technologies across the sector. It introduces substantial changes in areas including stationary secondary batteries, medical locations and Power over Ethernet (PoE). This essential update to the IET Wiring Regulations forms the UK national standard for: • All new low-voltage electrical installations • Additions and alterations to existing installations • Periodic inspection and testing of existing installations Amendment 4 is now available for purchase, with the previous version, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024, to be withdrawn in October 2026. New chapter: Stationary Secondary Batteries Sets out comprehensive requirements relating to system design, power conversion equipment, bidirectional or hybrid inverters and the suitability of protective devices for two-way energy flow. The chapter also places strong emphasis on safety- critical matters such as appropriate battery location, ventilation and fire risk mitigation. New section: PoE Section 716 focuses on the correct selection of power supplies and cables using SELV and PELV systems. To ensure safe operation,
“It is essential that the sector remains aligned with these developments to maintain safe and resilient electrical installations.”
all electrical connections for PoE must comply with BS ISO/IEC 11801 1 and be capable of supporting a continuous operating current of 750 mA per contact. Major revision: Medical Locations Section 710 has been significantly revised to improve safety in healthcare environments where
modern and future electrical work. “It is essential that the sector remains aligned with these developments to maintain safe and resilient electrical installations across the UK and that the industry is ready to work to this new amendment before BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024 is withdrawn.” Sebastiaan van Dort, Director of Energy and Sustainability at BSI, said, “BSI is proud to jointly publish this vital standard with the IET at a time when the UK is accelerating towards its 2030 clean energy goals. BS 7671 underpins safe, modern electrical infrastructure - essential for delivering the electrification needed to meet net- zero ambitions.”
patients are more vulnerable to the effects of electricity.
Medical locations are now clearly classified into groups, with specific requirements applied to critical locations to avoid dangerous loss of power. The updates align the UK with IEC 60364 7 710:2021 and its CENELEC adoption. Mark Coles, Head of Technical Regulations at the IET, said, “Amendment 4 continues our commitment to ensuring the IET Wiring Regulations evolve in line with the technologies shaping
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is available for purchase via theiet.org/GetTheRegs Want to know more?
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