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New wiring regulations

The IEE published Amendment No 2 to BS 7671:2001 (the IEE Wiring Regulations) on 31 March 2004. The Amendment specified new cable core colours for all new fixed wiring in electrical installations in the UK. These new colours are sometimes referred to as 'harmonised' colours as they will bring the UK more closely in line with practice in mainland Europe.

Electrical installation work commencing after 31 March 2004 could have used the new harmonised cable colours or the pre-existing colours but not both. Work commencing on site after 31 March 2006 will be required to comply with the harmonised cable core colours and must NOT use the old colours. The cable colour changes are summarised below:

Single Phase

Three Phase

FHP ESS would make the following suggestions with regards to the introduction of the new wiring regulations:

  • Maintenance works, e.g. new sockets, etc. should be installed with the new colours from 1 April 2005. This will give time for the briefing of any necessary staff.
  • All new projects or major refurbishments should comply with the new colours when commencing on site from 1 January 2005.
  • The new colours may be used immediately but must follow the guidelines for marking the interface between the new and old as detailed in BS 7671 and must note on record drawings that the mixture of colours has been used.

There is likely to be a mixture of the old and new colours present in the near future in the majority of buildings. Permits to Work and Specifications for all regular work and project work on sites should be amended to make clear reference to the Health and Safety implications involved in mixed wiring schemes.

For further details of the change, these can be found in Amendment No 2 (AMD 14905) to BS 7671:2001, which is available as a free download from a section on the IEE web site (www.iee.org/cablecolours). They are also within the new version of BS 7671:2001 (incorporating Amds 1&2) which can be purchased through the IEE web site.

* NB: Some of the information contained within this article was reproduced from the IEE document on New Wiring Colours.

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