A mere one in 16 electrotechnical businesses (6 per cent) from across the electrical industry ‘absolutely support’ the proposed 18th Edition update to the Wiring Regulations. That’s according to new survey findings from the trade body the ECA.
Nearly three in 10 respondents (28 per cent) said that the planned changes were ‘unfavourable’ or were ‘strongly opposed’ to them. Six in ten firms (61 per cent) said they ‘somewhat supported’ the proposals. Almost half of firms (46 per cent) said they believed the 18th Edition would ‘increase business burdens’, while more than seven in ten respondents (71 per cent) said it would ‘make the design and install process more complex’.
ECA Head of Technical Steve Martin said: “These ECA survey findings should be seen as a wakeup call to those determined to push ahead with all the proposed changes to the Wiring Regulations. It’s vital that the voices of electrotechnical businesses and electricians are heard during this process. The ECA has a place on the Wiring Regulations committee and we will use this opportunity to ensure any design solutions are practical for installers and contractors. In the meantime, we urge businesses to offer feedback directly to BSI about the proposed changes.”
The proposed changes to the Wiring Regulations are out for public consultation until August 23, via the British Standards Institute (BSI). To offer feedback to BSI about the proposals, please visit https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/9017-00574.
The industry ‘JPEL 64’ committee will then consider any feedback before the end of 2017. The final 18th Edition will be published in June 2018, before coming into force in January 2019.
Some 533 electrotechnical businesses responded to the ECA industry survey during June and July 2017, including M&E engineers and contractors, consultants, facilities managers and clients.
As part of the ECA’s #Project18 Wiring Regulations campaign, some videos have been produced to inform the industry of the proposed changes. Visit www.eca.co.uk/project18.
Pictured, by Mark Rowe, on street graffiti art, east London.
