IET Wiring Regulations Amendment 1 has been published with the addition of four new sections and will affect all new installations as of the 1st January 2012.

The newly amended BS 7671 includes a large number of changes from the original 2008 document and highlights necessary information to maintain technical alignment with the CEN/CENELEC harmonization documents. This included the addition of four new sections:

•  New section 444: Measures against electromagnetic disturbances. This section provides recommendations to enable the avoidance and reduction of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

•  New section 534: Devices for protection against overvoltage (surge protection). The section includes requirements for the installation of SPDs and filters to limit transient overvoltages and divert damaging surge current away from sensitive equipment such as computers and electronic circuits

•  New section 710: Medical locations. There are particular risks associated with medical locations. Therefore stringent measures are necessary to ensure the safety of patients likely to be subjected to the application of medical electrical equipment

•  New section 729: Operating or maintenance gangways. This amendment ties in with Regulation 15 of the Electricity at work Regulations and includes requirements for working space, gangway width, operational access, emergency access, and emergency evacuation

It also includes changes to the inspection and testing procedure, the Periodic Inspection Report has been adjusted; it is now called the Electrical Installation Condition Report and the amendments make it more relevant to the clients.

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