PSSA Newsletter - September 2014

News Issue 5 September 2014

MIKE’S

TECH TIPS

Technical Product Assessor

Mike Webb

BS 7671: 2008

Requirements for Electrical Installations: IETWiring Regulations. Seventeenth Edition

For those of you who receive the PSSA Quarterly Standards Update bulletin, we notify you of a number of standards that

you should be considering when designing/manufacturing your products in order to meet the European Essential Health

& Safety Requirements identified in the relevant “New Approach Directives”.

We highlight those documents that are subject to amendment and of importance in order for you to maintain satisfactory

compliance and meet PSSA product verification requirements. The list is not exhaustive and no doubt you will have your

own standards register with additional documents listed.

One standard, which we mentioned in the last edition of the PSSA Newsletter, is unique to the UK, the much used British

Standard BS 7671:2008 Electrical Installations. This is an important standard when considering design & installation of

electrically controlled equipment.

Work on a 3rd amendment has gathered speed in the last few months and a final version is due to be published on the 1st

January 2015.

Some of the expected changes include:

•

The definition of a competent person is to be replaced with “instructed person (electrically)” and “skilled person

(electrically)”. These are designed to highlight the different skills levels of each operative on site. This is particularly

important to those of you who identify the “skilled person/s”who are permitted to install your products on site and

identified in both your operations & maintenance manuals. Your technical files should be reviewed and amended to

reflect this change.

•

Change in the Zs values reflecting the voltage range that can be expected at the time of test.

•

Detailed risk assessments to be carried out if there is a justification for not having a circuit or socket outlet RCD

protected.

ALL contractors will need to become fully aware of the changes.

Use of forms recognised by BS 7671 for Certifying and Reporting

BS 7671:2008 Chapter 63 requires three forms to be used for certifying and reporting on electrical installations. The

relevant form, duly completed, should be issued to the person ordering the work to provide information on the

installation.

Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)

Regulation 631.1 requires an EIC (including a record of the inspection and the results of testing) to be issued upon

completion of the verification of a new installation or additions and alterations to an existing installation.

Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC)

Regulation 631.3 permits a MEIWC to be issued instead of an EIC upon completion of the verification of minor electrical

installation work that does not include the provision of a new circuit.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (ECIR)

Regulation 631.2 requires an ECIR (including a record of the inspection and the results of testing) to be issued following

the periodic inspection and testing of an existing installation in accordance with Chapter 62 of BS 7671:2008.

PSSA members should take note that when completing a certificate of conformity and identifying BS 7671: 2008 as one of

your key standards you should have this evidence available in your product technical file.

Any technical queries regarding the PSSA Verification Schemes and Standards bulletins, please contact Mike at