wallywombat:

I can appreciate the logic of not having law controllable by third parties, but I don't see whey they can't make later editions optional - e.g. "the work must comply to BS7671 to the 18th edition or any newer edition".

then the law would be controllable by the IET, or rather JPEL/64. BS7671:2020 might then look a bit like Hong Kong constitution

Harry Macdonald:

Good point AJJewsbury, but can anyone think of a requirement in the current Regs that is actually prohibited in an earlier version.

If not, then an installation to the current Regs would satisfy all of them.

Sockets in bathrooms?

OlympusMons:

Well if you are confused Andy, what chance do the rest of us have?


Heres my take on it;

115.1 (2018) says "For installations over which a licensing or other authority exercises a statutory control, the requirements of that authority shall be ascertained and complied with in the design and execution of the installation"

The 2020 rented regs confer statutory duties on local housing authorities to enforce the regulations, they therefore have statutory control. And these reference BS7671:2018 unammended.

BS7671:2008 also has 115.1 with exactly the same wording. So all roads lead to BS7671:2018 unammended. Simples


 

But the equally legally demanding Electricity Safety Quality and Continuity Regulations demand BS 7671:2008 compliance.


   - Andy.

Harry Macdonald:

Good point AJJewsbury, but can anyone think of a requirement in the current Regs that is actually prohibited in an earlier version.

If not, then an installation to the current Regs would satisfy all of them.

This is actually rather complicated, since the Regs are not normally legally binding. They are a standard, compliance with which is considered to be a presumption of meeting the safety requirements/duty of care. Compliance with a more up to date standard is always considered to be as safe as (or possibly safer than) compliance with the original standard and is therefore acceptable as an alternative to an earlier standard in such an instance, on the basis that standards never reduce safety when they are revised. However where the legal text specifically states a particular edition of a standard this may not be a valid assumption. It doesn't even need to be something required/prohibited but just a difference in the requirement that means an installation meets a later standard but not an earlier one.

The safest approach is to ensure that the installation meets all editions of the standard cited, though if there are contradictions you have got your work cut out.

AJJewsbury:

So do I have to read four different versions of the Wiring Regs at once and try and come up with a design that simultaneously satisfies all four?

No. If you are inspecting a tenanted property, you do it against BS 7671:2018. Amendments are not mentioned, so use the current one in line with normal practice.


If ESQCR applies, you install in compliance with BS 7671:2008 as well as whichever version was in force at the design stage - your EIC or MWC will require the latter.


Ignore the AD P - it is only guidance.


So in fact, as ever, the version depends upon whether you are inspecting or installing.


Thank you, Mike, for the explanation about "ambulatory legislation". I doubt that even a judge of the calibre of the late Lord Denning would have been able to reinterpret such unambiguous legislation and I can find no obvious relevant case law. There might, however, be a general defence in such matters - no less safe and so on.