Tag: 17th Edition

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Scope of BS7671

To know the scope of BS7671 Wiring Regulations is essential for anyone working as an electrician in the UK. The 17th edition of BS7671 Wiring Regulations does not cover every field of electrical installation. It is important that electricians know which areas are covered by BS7671 and which areas are not.

Out of scope for BS7671

It is not possible to define in a single sentence the scope of BS7671 Wiring Regulations but if the following apply, it is likely to be not covered by BS7671 and specialist knowledge and qualifications are required to undertake work on the installation:

  • The circuit voltage is greater than 1,000 VAC, or 1,500 VDC
  • The installation is related to machines (aircraft, boats, vehicles, trains, industrial equipment, lifts)
  • Mines and quarries
  • Distribution of electricity, lightning conductors, electric fences

 

Scope of BS7671

Electrical installations which the public come into contact as part of their normal day to day activities are generally within the scope of BS7671.

 

  • Residential, commercial, public, industrial and agricultural premises
  • Caravans, prefabricated buildings, fairgrounds, marinas, building sites
  • External lighting, roadside equipment and lighting
  • Low voltage systems
  • Medical locations
  • Photovoltaic systems

It is important that all electricial contractors have a good understanding of the scope of all wiring regulations and that if your skills, experience and qualifications are limited to BS7671 Wiring Regulations, you bring in qualified contractors for work not covered by BS7671. In general, the Regulations are non-statutory; however, they can be used as evidence to claim compliance with a statutory requirement and non-compliance can lead to serious legal consequences.

For more information about the Electacourse 17th Edition Course, click this link

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Know the numbering of BS7671

Our previous post in this series talked in detail about the structure of BS7671 Wiring Regulations. Now we take a look at how the Parts and Sections are numbered.

One of the secrets of success with the 17th Edition is to be able to find your way around the Regs book. This is made much easier by understanding the numbering system. With understanding you can quickly locate the relevant regulations both to assist you in your work as an electrician and beforehand when aiming to pass City & Guilds 2382-15.

Numbering

The numbering of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations follows the pattern of the technical intent of Standards developed at the European CENELEC level (which is not affected by Brexit). The system is based on the harmonisation documents HD60364 series of standards.

Or, in language the rest of us understand, the numbering system has designed to be consistent, easy to follow and easy to update.

For the old timers amongst us who wired our first socket under the 16th Edition Regulations, the most obvious change is that the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations has dropped the dashes and now uses a point/dot numbering system, based on the IEC numbering system.

17th Edition numbering

 

So, what does this show?

It shows Regulation 524.1 which is ‘The cross-sectional area of each conductor in a circuit shall be not less than the values given in Table 52.3, except as provided for extra-low voltage lighting installations according to Regulation 715.524.201.’

The Regulation is located in Section 524 – Cross-sectional areas of conductors

Section 524 is located in Chapter 52 – Selection and Erection of Wiring Systems

Chapter 52 is located in Part 5 – Selection and Erection of Wiring Equipment

Easy! All the BS7671 Wiring Regulations are numbered in this way.

But, because we are British and are working with a European institution (Cenelec), we of course wanted something a little bit special for ourselves.

From Amendment 3 regulations which are numbered .200 to .299 are applicable to Britain alone. This is a change from 1st and 2nd Amendments of BS7671 where UK only regulations were numbered .100 to .199. Going forward all .100 regulations will be changed to .200 regulations when that regulation requires a substantial rewrite.

In the example above, you can see reference to Regulation 715.524.201 ‘The minimum cross-sectional area of the extra-low voltage conductors……..’. That the Regulation number is 524.201 shows that it is a regulation for the UK only and has been substantially rewritten (and in this example: 15 is the Section, which is in Chapter 1 of Part 7).

For more information about the Electacourse 17th Edition Course, click this link

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Layout of BS7671 Wiring Regulations

The secret to knowing how to pass City & Guilds 2382-15 and to using BS7671 Wiring Regs is to know which regulations to apply and how to find them.

At 496 pages the Requirements for Electrical Installations, IET Wiring Regulations, BS 7671:2008+A3:2015 (Electrical Regulations), is a big book. Every page is densely packed with critical information and regulations. With so much information it is not possible to remember every regulation all the time. To find your way around the book a clear understanding of the organisation of the regulations is critical.

 

Wiring Regs - organisationThe Wiring Regs is organised into parts, chapters, sections and regulations.

Each part contains a chapter, each chapter contains sections, each section contains regulations. The Regulations themselves may contain multiple clauses.

Although there are 7 parts and 16 Appendices, the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations can best be understood by considering it as organised into four chunks of information:

  1. Part 1- Scope, object and fundamental principles
    This section outlines general requirements for installations
  2. Part 2 – Definitions
    This section details the 290 definitions which are used in the Regulations
  3. Part 3 to Part 7
    This is the body of the regulations, each part deals with a critical area of wiring regulations. Parts 3 to 6 describe general regulations in details and the longest part, Part 7 deals with special installations and locations.
  4. Appendices
    The extensive appendices provide detail information related to the Wiring Regulations

In follow up blogs in this series of  How to Become 17th Edition Qualified, we will look at those Regulations which are most often referred to in City & Guilds 2382-15 and how you can easily find your way around BS7671 in the exam.

For more information about the Electacourse 17th Edition Course click this link

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History of UK Wiring Regulations

In 1881 the first public electricity supply in the world was turned on in Godalming in Surrey, where gas street lights were replaced by electrical street lamps based on a system supplied by the German company Siemens. No sooner had the system been activated than the technical press reported issues associated with wiring. The lighting in side streets was dim and of poor quality due to the inadequacy of the cabling. There were also reports of children (and drunks) harming themselves on the exposed wires.

In the next year, the first edition of the British Wiring regulations was published. It was published by the Society of Telegraph Engineers and of Electricians and contained just four pages under the title Rules and Regulations for the Prevention of Fire Risks Arising from Electric Lighting.

The purpose of the Regulations were to ensure that workmanship was of the highest order and that the materials used are of suitable quality to do the work required and that the installations were safe.

The wiring regulations remained the responsibility of what became the Institute of Electrical Engineers (and later became IET) and in 1981 became aligned to IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards.

Eleven years later, the regulations became a British Standards document and the harmonisation of wiring regulations became formalised. Further international harmonisation of standards aligns wiring regulations to CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization).

The most recent edition of the wiring regulations is the 17th Edition which was published in June 2008 as BS7671:2008. In July 2011, Amendment 1 to the regulations was published under a green cover and came into force in January 2012. In 2013 a Corrigendum and Amendment 2 covering electric vehicles were published.

A major amendment, Amendment 3 was published in January 2015. This current edition is known officially as Requirements for Electrical Installations, IET Wiring Regulations, BS 7671:2008+A3:2015 (Electrical Regulations), informally known as the ‘Yellow Book’

 

For more information about the Electacourse 17th Edition Course click this link

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What is the 17th Edition qualification

No company helps more self-study candidates become 17th Edition Qualified than Electacourse. Every year hundreds of electricians use Electacourse study material and our exam partners to successfully achieve 17th Edition Qualification.

On this site we will publish a series of guides to help electricians understand the requirements for 17th Edition qualification.

Follow this series of blogs to keep up to date.

If you want to go further and get your qualification, register with Electacourse – the Electacourse 17th Edition Course is great value and with the combination of self-study and exam centres around the UK, you can fit the course around your busy working life – no need to take time out and spend three or four days in a classroom.

Why is the 17th Edition Important to Electricians?

The 17th Edition is of critical importance to electricians and to all who work in the electrical industry. All new electrical installations need to conform to the requirements of the British Standard 7671:2008 (2015) as detailed in the 17th Edition including Amendments 1, 2 and 3. The 17th Edition is the essential source of reference for low voltage electrical installations in the UK. It is the foundation of knowledge for electrical contractors and installers.

All electricians practising in the UK need to know and need to be able to reference the wiring regulations in order to undertake their work to a professional standard.

The 17th Edition Wiring Regulations is not a statutory document.

However in the event of a dispute, individuals responsible for faulty installations who are unable to demonstrate understanding of the Regulations, are at risk of assuming legal liability. To practice as an electrical installer without possessing the 17th Edition Qualification exposes you to criminal prosecution in the event of an error or accident.

City & GuildsCity and Guilds

City & Guilds are the accrediting institution for assessing an electrical installer’s understanding of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations. You will need to go to an examination centre to take the City & Guilds 17th Edition Exam.

The full name of the 17th Edition exam is: Level 3 Award in Requirements for Electrical Installations BS7671: 2008 (2015) commonly known as City & Guilds 2382-15.

Achievement of the 2382-15 qualification ensures individuals are up-to-date with the latest industry regulations on wiring and the safe use and operation of electrical equipment and installations.

We will go through details of the 2382-15 exam in a post later in this series

You will need to have your own copy of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations to take with you into the exam. Unless you are a member of NICEIC, the cheapest place to buy the Regs Book is Amazon.

For more information about the Electacourse 17th Edition Course click this link

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Exam Technique for electricians

If you have read our previous post on preparing for an exam then you will know that a lot of work goes in to making sure that you are ready for your big exam. So with so much effort under your belt, it would seem silly to fall at the final hurdle.

Let us show you some of the key exam day techniques to help you to get even closer to your goals.

Getting Ready

After a good night’s sleep you should be up and ready to head to your local exam centre. You will want to leave home with plenty of time and ensure that you have planned your route out.

You will not be allowed in to the exam if you are late and if you get there just in time then you are more likely to feel flustered and stressed as you enter the room.

You should also make sure you have all the right equipment with you in order to complete the exam and always, always take a spare pen or two.

Give yourself up a timetable

When the time comes to opening those papers there is a good chance you are going to feel some panic about what you may find. Just keep calm and work out in your head a timetable of how long to give each question (although this may already be set out for you).

You should try to plan in 10 minutes at the end of the test for proof-reading.

Reading through the questions

Make sure that you read each and every question accurately, take the time to make sure you understand each point as candidates are more likely to lose marks simply because they haven’t read the questions properly. Read each one twice, three times if you have to.

Underline or mark anything that you feel is important in the question and ensure that you can see what is meant by each phrase or point.

Keep Calm

There is a good chance that at some point in the exam you are going to draw a blank. When this happens, just take a deep breath, compose yourself and think back to all that revision, it will soon come back to you.

Remember, exams are supposed to test you, otherwise they wouldn’t be exams, so don’t worry if you have to really think about the answer.

If you are really struggling, then try answering all the questions that you are sure of. This will not only give your brain a rest but also boost your confidence as it shows you everything you do know.

Answering the questions

Always make it clear which question you are answering, you should also use correct and up to date terminology, after all this is professional exam. The examiner who marks your answers will not assume anything, so make sure you make every point you know clearly.

Also, don’t forget to use your best handwriting, if the examiner cannot understand what you have written then they won’t be able to mark it for you.

Plan each answer before you put it on the paper and make sure that you are understanding what is being asked of you.

Check and check again

As we have already said, try to leave yourself around 10 minutes towards the end of the exam to check over your work.

During this time, you should:

  • Make sure you have answered all the questions
  • Ensure that you have answered questions as precisely and thoroughly as you can
  • Make sure that you have outlined your workings out if it is a maths questions
  • Check that you have used all the relevant terminology

Once you have done all this you should have a completed test in front of you. Try to relax and not worry about what you have written. Now is the time just to wait for your results and see whether or not you have qualified.

 

 

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How to prepare for your City & Guilds electrical qualification exams

Exams are a nerve wracking time for anyone; not least of all for those who are relying on passing to help their career. This is particularly true for electricians who will need to ensure they have the relevant qualifications in order to provide customers with a service.

Here at Electacourse we have put together some top tips for exam preparation, meaning that no matter how important the exam is, you will find ready to face it.

Reduce your stress

It is normal to feel stressed as a big exam loom on the horizon. This can come in both physical and mental forms and whilst stress is normal, you should try to reduce how much it affects you.

Physical stress can be reduced in the lead up to an exam by making sure that you keep up a positive fitness and eating plan. Not only this, but in the week or so before the exam it is important to make sure that you get enough sleep, otherwise you may underperform due to tiredness when it really matters.

Mental stress can be a little trickier to combat. Fear is a huge part of stressful feelings, especially fear of what questions you may face and whether you will be able to answer them. One of the best ways you can combat these feelings is by sourcing question and answer practice books and guidance notes. These are designed to give you a feel for the types of questions you can expect and give you the confidence to face them on the day.

Never over-study

The temptation may be to cram as much information as you can into your head before an exam; however over-studying can be a dangerous game. Instead of filling your brain up with useful information, over-studying can lead to tiredness and stress.

Instead you should balance your studying with plenty of breaks, if you are struggling to understand something, once you leave it for 10 minutes you might find it becomes all the clearer in your mind.

Set a revision schedule

Preparation is key in so many aspects of life, especially exams. Make sure you draw yourself a revision schedule in the fortnight before your exam. Set out all the topics that you need to cover and slot them into realistic time scales. This means that you won’t be at risk of over-studying and that you can give yourself plenty of time to learn each different topic.

Don’t forget to plan in for your “normal life” too. There is a good chance that you will still have a job, family or other commitments and if this is the case then you should still make plenty of time for them too.

Pick the right study method

Everyone learns in different ways. Reading might be best for some, whilst others need to listen to the words in order to take them in. Identify the best way that you learn and stick to it. After all, there is no-one else sitting the exam in your place, so you might as well personalise it as much as you can.

So there you have it, some of the ways that you can be ready for your exam. Take a deep breath and remember that if you stay calm and believe in yourself and what you have studied, you will be surprised by what you can achieve.

Coming soon tips on how to make a success of the exam once you are at the exam centre.

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Home study advantages

The Advantages of Home Study

Home study, also known as distance learning is now an established part of education and training throughout the UK and other countries – in the US some of the largest training establishments are distance learning.

The quality of distance learning has greatly improved in the past few years, as both students and training companies have become more comfortable with the technology, and as stories of best practices have been shared and duplicated.

Electacourse have been involved in home study/distance learning for many years – both as a company and from individual members of staff. One of our senior colleagues has been in the field for 20 years and in the past was responsible for the management and education of over a million US university students – all learning whilst at home.

Home study features a number of advantages.

Advantages include:

  • Accessibility for those living away from a training centre
  • No waste of time or other resources in transport, commuting to a central location for each class
  • Flexibility to study in any convenient location with an Internet connection
  • Self-paced learning: Quickly browse materials you have already mastered, and concentrate time and effort in areas containing new information and / or skills
  • Study materials at a personal speed and intensity, without having to wait for slower pace of the average classroom
  • Just-in-time learning; more opportunities to study the most current material available
  • Flexibility for those with irregular work schedules
  • Accessibility for those with restricted mobility
  • Accessibility for those with family responsibilities
  • Communication with other students (not yet a facility on Electacourse, but one we are planning to introduce)

Recent research has shown that the most significant factor helping students to succeed has been their ability to manage time. The more successful students reported spending time regularly studying and not leaving it until the last minute.

For the 17th Edition Course which concludes with the 2382-15 exam (rated by City & Guilds as requiring 35 hours of study), Electacourse recommend you are regularly achieving high scores with the exam simulator before putting yourself up for the exam.

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How to become an electrician in the UK

The electrical industry in the UK has recognised formal qualifications that provide a clear qualification route for an electrician whether or not they are a new entrant, already experienced or have overseas qualifications.

Introduction

Electacourse strongly recommend you contact electrotechnical industry bodies and organisations to confirm the qualifications required for becoming an electrician in the UK (link below) for the work which you plan to undertake, but the Electacourse summary understanding of the process of becoming qualified to work as an electrician in the UK is:

All people who are working unsupervised as a fully qualified electrician in the electrotechnical sector need to be qualified to the level of the industry-recognised NVQ level 3 qualifications. How you get to this level is dependent on your status.

For people who want to work only on domestic electrical installations, there is a lower threshold alternative of becoming registered on a self-certification scheme (run by Elecsa, Benchmark and others) who may be able to undertake and self-certify their work on domestic installations. See below the information about Part P and qualifying as a domestic installer.

Fully Qualified Electrician

To become a fully qualified electrician able to do industrial, commercial and not just domestic work, the following are the routes to qualification:

  1. For all new entrants to become recognised as an electrician, the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical systems and equipment (building structures and the environment) is required. This diploma can be obtained by undertaking study either with or without employer sponsorship at Further Education colleges or private training providers. By the nature of the practical requirement of some parts of electrical training, it is not possible to undertake all elements of this qualification by self-study alone.
  2. For individuals who have some previous experience whether in the UK or elsewhere, they need an interview with an assessor to develop an individual assessment plan without necessarily the need to go back to college to train in the classroom, (see AM2 on electricalqualifications.com).The AM2 assessment is administered by NET (http://netservices.org.uk/). We recommend that even if you have no electrical installation employment experience but have completed a college course, you seek advice from NET on final qualification requirements. AM2 is normally part of NVQ Diplomas.
  3. If you are already qualified in another country, then for some countries there are special arrangements where equivalence between electrical qualifications has been established, the following website has more information – http://summitskillsframework.naric.org.uk/index.asp?file=introduction

Domestic Electrical Installer

Domestic Installer Part P Courses available from some providers are designed to prepare candidates for the self-certification scheme Part P Assessment. On successful completion of a Part P Assessment, electricians are qualified to self-certify their own electrical work on domestic installations.

Electacourse Courses

Electacourse publish the 18th Edition Course provides everything required to achieve the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations qualification as assessed by the City & Guilds 2382-158examination. This is an essential qualification for all UK electricians. It is also a general requirement (but not necessarily obligatory) for Domestic Installers. Optionally this course includes the City & Guilds 2382-18 18th Edition exam, we have partner examination centres throughout the UK.

Most of the other material which we publish at Electacourse is designed as preparation and revision material for the various City and Guilds examinations and are used by people who are taking these exams as part of their route to qualification and professional improvement as electricians.

We have courses and exam practice simulators which cover

On our website you will find links to our courses and to trade bodies and organisations which can provide complete information about becoming an electrician in the UK.  You may also find the information on http://www.electricalqualifications.com useful.  On this site you will also find information about transferring your home country qualifications to UK qualifications.