Electrical regulations and standards are crucial because they maintain your safety. These measures are also great for accurately maintaining electrical systems to ensure they work for a long time. 

However, some regulations might be difficult to understand or implement, especially if you have no experience with electrical systems. 

If you want to learn more about electrical safety, here’s how to understand electrical regulations and standards. 

Why Are Electrical Regulations and Standards Put In Place?

Electrical safety is the general practice of safely handling electrical wiring and equipment. Electricians or other professionals in this field often use these guidelines, but it’s also crucial for everyone to be aware of these hazards. 

In our daily life, we are always exposed to electronic items. In today’s modern world, we are always dealing with one electronic or another, so it’s important to keep safe and cautious at all times. 

Electrical safety guidelines are important because they tell you exactly what to do in a hazardous situation. If you don’t follow these rules, you can seriously injure yourself or, worse, deal with a potentially fatal accident. 

Even though we deal with electronics daily, our risk hazards are still relatively smaller than those actively working with dangerous electrical systems. Electricians who regularly deal with these situations are often equipped to handle electrical hazards. 

They can correctly identify potential hazards and take measures to de-escalate the situation. But, lack of experience, inadequate training and inability to recognise potential risks could lead to electrocution or death.

If you work in a warehouse or operate one, it is essential to familiarise yourself and your employees with electrical safety standards. 

In a warehouse or industrial setting, people come into direct contact with electrical machinery, power lines etc. Hold regular training programs and always provide proper and clear guidelines to ensure everyone stays safe.  

Regulations and Standards

In most countries, all electrical installations need to comply with more than one set of regulations. These are often issued by national organisations or accredited private companies.

Most builders and electricians take regulations into account before they begin creating electrical systems. For example, a builder will create a specific electrical network in a household based on the region’s electrical regulations. 

Also, regulations are often based on an appliance's strength. So a high-voltage electronic would have specific instructions while a lower voltage one would have a different set.  

International and UK Standards

As mentioned, all countries have their region-specific electrical regulations, which are often created as an international standard. The current international guidelines for electrical installations come under IEC 60364. 

Experts worldwide have established these codes to create a comprehensive guide for handling electricity. 

However, it’s important to note that these codes are not specific enough or entirely applicable in some countries. To bypass this problem, many regions create their particular set of measures to develop a foolproof set of codes and regulations. 

In the UK, you will find the British Standard (BS) 7671 set of regulations that highlight all the necessary measures electricians should take in the UK. These codes are applicable in domestic, industrial, commercial and other buildings. 

The first edition was established in the 18000s and contained basic rules to follow for electrical installations. Since then, the regulations have evolved to include modern technology and how to use it best. 

Currently, we use the 18th edition, which provides a much more detailed set of instructions to follow. 

The modern editions also consider energy efficiency and surge protection to ensure excellent performance and electrical safety. The 18th edition was amended in 2020 to cover electric vehicle charging installations. 

Understanding Electrical Wiring

You must identify the correct electrical wiring for a successful repair or remodel. You must know which one to buy and how to install it in the complete system properly. 

If you want to take up an electrical project, learning the basics is a crucial place to start. You must also look at the terminology, the materials and equipment needed, plus any other special device. 

Another element to keep in mind is the electrical codes. Almost every home today is built according to electrical guidelines that ensure the safety of the building. 

These codes also often tell you the identification of specific wiring to make the process easier. By keeping these in mind, you can get more comfortable repairing electrical wiring. 

What Is Electrical Wire Colour Coding?

Colour coding is used on both the outer sheathing of the electrical wires and on the different conduction materials within the cable. You can also find colour coding on the conduit of the wire. This is an essential element that you must remember when doing any repairs. 

Learning about colour coding can help you determine which wiring is used where. These colours are also important for keeping your electrical system organised and maintained. 

Sometimes cable colours also refer to the size of the wiring inside the cable sheath and its amperage rating. This is another excellent way to distinguish between various wiring and avoid hazardous situations. 

The colour on individual conducting wires doesn’t always indicate the rating or size but instead where and how it should be used. The colour for wiring often depends from country to country. 

In the UK and Ireland, you can often find information about wire colouring from electrical guidelines. Here’s a look at the most important wire colours in the UK.    

Green And Yellow Earth Wire

The earth wire is one of an electrical system's most essential safety wires. It stops you from getting into hazardous situations like an electric shock. 

The earth wire creates a path for the current to flow easily. At the same time, the earth wire also prevents the current from travelling into a faulty circuit. This prevents the fuse from short-circuiting.    

Brown Live Wire 

The live wire carries the electric current from your appliance to the power supply. 

Blue Neutral Wire

The neutral wire takes the current from your appliance and back into the main power supply. 

What Are The Old Wire Colours In The UK?

The colour coding you see today reflects a recent change to UK’s wiring. Older wiring had different colour combinations to fit previous electrical guidelines. 

You might still find these colour combinations in some older homes and buildings. The colour coding of older wiring systems in the UK includes:

• Earth Wire - green and yellow but with no sleeve.
• Live Wire - Red
• Neutral Wire - Black 

Why Did The Wiring Colours Change?

The new wiring colour became mandatory in the UK in 2006, but many electrical systems started using them in 2004. While it may seem a little complicated to have two different systems, the new systems were created to match with other European countries. 

The goal was to create a harmonised electrical wiring system in the region. Nowadays, you are more likely to come across the new wiring system instead of the old one. 

In April 2006, the government made a legislative decision to outlaw the use of the old colour coding. This law was highlighted in BS 7671, an important guideline for all electrical wiring. 

But, as we said earlier, some buildings still use the old wiring system, especially if they haven’t been updated. The guidelines don’t state those old buildings need to be upgraded, but instead, any wiring system created after 2006 should always use the new coloured wiring. 

What Other Regulations Are There for Electrical Safety?

Apart from the installation standards, there are several other codes that ensure the safety of workers and electrical systems. 

These standards are necessary if you work as or employ electricians. Some of the main ones include:

Health and Safety Work Standards

These regulations cover any occupational health and safety aspects in the UK. The general codes state codes that protect employees and public members from any potential risks. This standard also covers self-employed people to safeguard them against any possible hazards. 

Electricity Regulations In The Workplace

These are specific codes that don’t concern installation but instead focus on handling electronic devices in the workplace. This regulation expands on the General Health and Safety at work act, giving employers multiple ways to assess risk and minimise it as much as possible. 

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation

In this act, employers are required to conduct an assessment evaluating potential health and safety risks at their workplace. This test aims to eliminate or manage these risks in the future. 

What is 18th Edition Training?

To ensure that all electricians carry out their work according to regulations, special training courses are offered per the 18th Edition of BS codes. 

Employers should make sure to offer these courses to their workers to reduce the risk of potential dangers. This training also guarantees to cut down extra costs associated with maintenance and repair. 

In these training courses, electricians will get more information and understanding of regulations as well as ways of applying them in a real-world situation. 

When you complete training in this course, you are presented with a highly beneficial certification if you want to work in the electrical sector. 

Important Components In 18th Edition Training

In this training course, there are several topics that are covered to ensure all electricians have the proper training and experience. Some key topics mentioned include:

Fundamental Principles and Objectives

This subject briefly overviews BS 7671 and outlines its main objectives and aims. The overview also highlights the importance of sticking to regulations to ensure safety. 

Terminology Definitions

Since this edition covers a variety of topics, it’s important for electricians to understand every term and its use. The definition section clarifies every phrase, word and acronym used in the electrical field. 

Overview of Characteristics

A general description of characteristics and comparisons of various electrical installations. This helps differentiate between different systems. 

Information For Safety

The most important section is this training covers safety precautions and manoeuvres. Here electricians will learn about technical ways to reduce or minimise the risk of danger during improper installations. 

There is also information provided on how to protect electricians from dangers such as electrical fires, shock and explosions. 

How to Conduct Proper Electrical Maintenance?

In electrical system maintenance, you would typically inspect, test and repair any electrical component. Doing so will ensure that there is no accidental power cut or electrical fire. 

Where in a home, office or commercial space, all electrical systems need maintenance.  Since these areas are always occupied by people, creating a safe environment is crucial. 

That’s not all; electrical maintenance also helps cut down on unnecessary costs in the future. After all, if you take care of your equipment, there’s no need to buy expensive replacement parts. 

Usually, an electrician or maintenance will conduct this process. These people have the right knowledge to carry out inspections safely. 

In some situations, you can carry out maintenance yourself, but you must have proper knowledge about the process. Otherwise, you can end up injuring yourself and damaging the system. 

For professional inspection, the electrician will use a checklist to perform the maintenance in the right order. During this time, anybody in the maintenance area should follow electrical safety rules to avoid accidents. These steps highlight the basis of electrical system maintenance. 

What Steps To Follow For Electrical System Maintenance?

Now that you know all the ins and out of electrical system maintenance, here are a few steps to help you prepare for the inspection. 

Step 1: Always Use The Right Safety Equipment

Gather all the necessary electrical safety equipment when working around or with electrical systems. To help you get started, here are some important you might need:

• A hard hat
• Insulated gloves
• Insulated matting
• Safety boots
• Goggles

Apart from this gear, you might need specific safety equipment depending on the electrical component. 

Step 2: Shut Off The Power Supply

The number one rule of any electrical inspection is shutting off power before starting. This is the best way to reduce the risk of an electrical shock. Also, make sure you carefully inspect the component first before handling it.  

Step 3: Look Out For Standing Water

Standing water might seem harmless, but it can lead to fatal accidents. When water comes into contact with electricity, it can cause severe electric shock. 

Some examples of standing water include rainwater, puddles etc. If by standing in still water, you’re putting yourself at risk. So, always keep your working area dry for a safety inspection. 

Step 4: Inspect Equipment For Visible Damage

Before you officially start the maintenance, check for any visible damage. Look for broken insulation, frayed wiring or other signs of equipment damage. 

Avoid using any already damaged component because this will increase your risk of hazards. 

Step 5: Maintain A Schedule For Inspections

With our hectic day-to-day lives, it’s easy to forget electrical maintenance. A timetable will solve this problem and keep you on track. 

Create a schedule for your electrical system inspection to find and fix any problems before they become bigger and more costly. Don’t miss out on any of these steps, as they ensure your health and safety.  

With these steps, you can conduct electrical maintenance in accordance with electrical regulations and standards.