Every EICR references BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 — the British Standard for electrical installations, also known as the IET Wiring Regulations. This 600+ page document is the bible of UK electrical safety, and it is updated regularly to reflect new technologies, safety research, and lessons learned from incidents. Understanding the key requirements helps you make sense of your EICR and anticipate what remedial work might be needed.
What Is BS 7671?
BS 7671 is the national standard for the design, erection, and verification of electrical installations in the UK. It is published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and is recognised by law as the benchmark for electrical safety. All electrical work — including EICRs — must be carried out in accordance with the current edition of BS 7671.
The standard covers everything from cable sizing and earthing arrangements to circuit protection, RCD requirements, and special locations such as bathrooms and kitchens. When your EICR inspector identifies an issue, they are comparing your installation against the requirements of BS 7671.
Amendment 2 (2022): The Big Changes
The most recent amendment to BS 7671 — Amendment 2, published in 2022 — introduced several significant changes that affect virtually every domestic property in the UK:
- Consumer units must now be of non-combustible construction (metal or equivalent). Plastic consumer units installed before the amendment may still be safe but no longer meet current standards
- RCD protection is required for virtually all socket circuits in domestic premises
- Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) are now recommended for final circuits supplying sleeping accommodation
- Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) are now required in many domestic installations to protect against lightning and transient overvoltages
- Improved requirements for EV charging point installations
Amendment 2 does not automatically make older installations 'unsafe' — but it does mean that many installations that were compliant under the previous edition now have C3 observations (improvement recommended) when tested against the current standard.
How BS 7671 Affects Your EICR
When an electrician carries out an EICR, they are essentially auditing your installation against every applicable requirement in BS 7671. The standard contains hundreds of specific requirements, but the most frequently tested areas include:
- Earthing and bonding — ensuring protective conductors are adequate and correctly connected
- Circuit protection — verifying that fuses, MCBs, and RCDs are correctly rated
- Cable condition — checking for signs of damage, overheating, or deterioration
- RCD functionality — testing trip times and sensitivity to ensure life-saving protection
- Socket circuit polarity — confirming live, neutral, and earth are wired correctly
- Special locations — additional requirements for bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor circuits
Why the Standard Keeps Changing
BS 7671 is updated every few years because electrical technology evolves rapidly. EV chargers, solar panels, battery storage systems, smart home devices, and high-power appliances all place new demands on domestic electrical systems. The standard is updated to ensure that installations remain safe as new technologies are adopted. This is why even a property that passed an EICR five years ago may now have C3 observations when tested against the current edition.
