2026 Guide: How does BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026) change EIC, EICR, and MEIWC electrical certificates?
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is the latest update to the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations - the UK's national standard for the design, installation, and verification of low-voltage electrical installations. Published jointly by the IET and BSI in April 2026, it introduces new requirements for battery storage, Power over Ethernet, ICT earthing, and medical locations, among other changes. For UK electricians, electrical contractors, and inspection engineers, we're going to summarise what's changed and what it means for the paperwork you issue.
BS 7671, commonly known as the IET Wiring Regulations, is the UK's national standard setting out the requirements for electrical installations. It covers the design, erection, and verification of low-voltage electrical systems, and applies to a wide range of environments - from domestic properties and commercial buildings to specialised locations such as construction sites, marinas, swimming pools, and photovoltaic systems.
The standard brings together European Harmonized Documents and international IEC standards into a single, authoritative reference for UK practice. It is published jointly by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the British Standards Institution (BSI), and is updated through numbered amendments to reflect new technologies, emerging risks, and evolving best practice.
While BS 7671 is not itself legislation, it underpins the legal framework for electrical installations across all four UK nations. In Great Britain, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that electrical systems are constructed and maintained safely; in Northern Ireland, the equivalent is the Electricity at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991. Each nation also has its own building regulations that cite BS 7671 as the accepted means of compliance: Part P of the Building Regulations in England; the Welsh Government's own Approved Document P in Wales; Standard 4.5 of the Scottish Building Standards (under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003) in Scotland; and the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) in Northern Ireland. Compliance with BS 7671 is widely accepted as the principal way to demonstrate that an electrical installation meets these legal requirements, and it is typically required by scheme providers such as NICEIC, NAPIT, and SELECT.
BS 7671 is the national standard across the whole of the United Kingdom, but the building regulations framework that references it differs between the four nations. Understanding which system applies to your work matters - particularly because the self-certification and notification routes available in England do not automatically extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.
England
Domestic electrical work in England falls under Part P of the Building Regulations. Electricians registered with a Competent Person Scheme (CPS) - such as NICEIC or NAPIT - can self-certify notifiable work in domestic dwellings without submitting a building notice to the local authority.
Wales
Following the devolution of building regulations, Wales has its own Approved Document P, maintained separately by the Welsh Government. Competent Person Schemes operate in Wales in a similar way to England, but the approved scheme operators list is administered by the Welsh Government rather than the UK Government.
Scotland
Scotland has a distinct system with no equivalent of Part P. Electrical work subject to a building warrant must comply with Standard 4.5 (Electrical safety) of the Scottish Building Standards, set out under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004. BS 7671 is the accepted means of demonstrating compliance with Standard 4.5.
For warranted work, the Certification of Construction (Electrical Installations to BS 7671) scheme - operated through SELECT or NICEIC/Certsure - allows Approved Certifiers of Construction to self-certify work without local authority verification. The England and Wales Competent Person Schemes do not apply in Scotland; Scottish electricians looking to self-certify warranted work must register through this separate route.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland operates under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) and Technical Booklet E, which sets out requirements for fixed electrical installations. Compliance with BS 7671 is accepted as the means of satisfying those requirements. NICEIC and NAPIT operate competent person schemes in Northern Ireland.
The Electrical Safety Standards for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 introduced mandatory five-yearly EICR requirements for private rental properties in Northern Ireland - similar to the obligations that have applied in England since 2020 and in Scotland since 2015 under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014.
Most importantly, for solo electricians and small firms, the immediate practical issue is straightforward: your certificates, reports, references, and workflows need to stay aligned with the current version of BS 7671 used for each job, which depends on the date.
Fortunately, Zerta supports BS 7671:2018, Amendment 2 (2022), Amendment 3 (2024), and Amendment 4 (2026) - covering the core certification documents most UK electricians rely on: EICs, MEIWCs, and EICRs. As future amendments are published, Zerta will continue to be kept up to date so your paperwork does not fall behind the standard.
What Amendment 4 means for UK electrical businesses, at a glance
- BS 7671 Amendment 4 was published on 15 April 2026 and can be adopted immediately for electrical certificate compliance.
- Document consolidation: Amendment 4 incorporates Amendment 3:2024 - a single consolidated document replaces the brown book plus separate PDF combination.
- Certificate requirements: All EICs, MEIWCs, and EICRs issued after 15 October 2026 must reference the new BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 standard.
- Transition flexibility: During the 15 April to 15 October 2026 period, you can work to either the old or new standard - just be consistent within each project.
- Scheme compliance: Competent person schemes (such as NICEIC, NAPIT, and SELECT) will require demonstration of access to Amendment 4 for ongoing certification.
What's the full implementation timeline?
15 April 2026
Publication date
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 published by the IET and BSI. The amendment can be adopted immediately from this date.
15 April to 15 October 2026
Six-month transition period
During the transition, the previous BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024 remains valid. Firms can design, install, and certify work against either the previous or the new version during this window.
15 October 2026
Previous version withdrawn
After the withdrawal date, Amendment 4 becomes the sole current edition of BS 7671 for all new low-voltage installations, modifications to existing installations, and periodic inspection and testing.
Who needs to act?
Amendment 4 is relevant to anyone involved in low-voltage electrical work across the United Kingdom under British Standard BS 7671. That includes, but is not limited to:
Electrical contractors and sole traders
Electrical installation engineers
Inspection and testing engineers
Electrical systems designers
Manufacturers and suppliers of electrical equipment
Facilities managers and duty holders responsible for electrical systems
If you are registered with a Competent Person Scheme (such as NICEIC, NAPIT, or SELECT), your scheme provider will typically require you to have access to the current edition of BS 7671. For example, NICEIC have confirmed that from 15 October 2026, businesses will need to demonstrate access to a copy of Amendment 4 to maintain their certification.
Do I need a new copy of BS 7671?
Yes. To maintain compliance with UK wiring regulations, you'll need to update to BS 7671 Amendment 4. This amendment incorporates all previous versions, including Amendment 3:2024, into a single consolidated document. After 15 October 2026, the brown book plus Amendment 3 PDF combination will no longer be accepted as current. You should plan to obtain the updated standard from the IET Bookshop and BSI to ensure your work meets the latest requirements.
What does the new 2026 amendment cover?
Amendment 4 is not a minor update compared to the previous BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024. It introduces several significant changes that reflect the latest industry needs and the pace of technological change in areas like energy storage, smart buildings, and healthcare environments. The headline changes, confirmed by the IET, BSI, and major scheme providers, are summarised below.
Stationary secondary batteries (new chapter)
New chapterA new chapter covering stationary secondary batteries used for electrical energy storage and supply of installations. This addresses the growing role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in domestic and commercial settings, supporting the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar PV and grid-scale storage.
Functional earthing and equipotential bonding for ICT (new section)
New sectionA new section on functional earthing and functional equipotential bonding specifically for information and communication technology (ICT) equipment and systems. As ICT infrastructure becomes more integral to modern buildings and data centres, clear rules for earthing and bonding are essential for both safety and system performance.
Power over Ethernet - PoE (new section)
New sectionA new section covering Power over Ethernet (PoE) installations. With the rise of smart buildings and IoT devices, PoE is increasingly used to deliver power via data cabling. The new requirements aim to ensure these systems are installed safely and reliably alongside traditional electrical installations.
Medical locations - Section 710 (major revision)
Major revisionA major revision of Section 710, Medical Locations. This includes enhanced requirements for medical installations and the introduction of a schedule of test results for recording the resistance of supplementary protective equipotential bonding conductors - critical for patient safety in healthcare environments.
Incorporation of Amendment 3:2024
ConsolidationAmendment 4 integrates the content of Amendment 3:2024 (previously published as a free PDF bolt-on to the brown book), consolidating all current updates into a single document. Electricians no longer need to cross-reference a separate Amendment 3 PDF alongside their main copy of BS 7671.
Further alignment with European and international standards
HarmonisationAdditional adoption of CENELEC Harmonized Documents (HDs) and IEC standards. This keeps BS 7671 aligned with European and international best practice, supporting consistency across borders and reflecting the latest consensus on electrical safety.
These topics reflect the kind of work many firms are already seeing more often, from domestic battery storage through to modern ICT infrastructure and smart building systems. For the exact technical requirements, you should always work from the current BS 7671 text and any official guidance that applies to your scheme or installation type.
Does Amendment 4 affect EICRs, or just certificates for new installation work?
Both. Amendment 4 explicitly applies to new low-voltage installations, modifications to existing installations, and periodic inspection and testing. That means EICRs are affected, as well as EICs and MEIWCs.
Specifically, how are BS 7671 electrical certificates affected by Amendment 4?
Certification must stay aligned with the edition of BS 7671 that applies to the job. That means certificate templates, references, and supporting wording all need to move with the standard. Here is what to be aware of in practice:
- 1
Standards references on certificates
Every EIC, MEIWC, and EICR must reference the correct edition and amendment of BS 7671 that the work or inspection was carried out against. Using an outdated reference after the transition period could raise queries with scheme providers, building control, or clients.
- 2
Consistency during the transition
During the six-month transition period, firms should be consistent about which version of BS 7671 they are designing, inspecting, and certifying against for a given job. Mixing references within a single project is best avoided.
- 3
Certificate templates and wording
The wording, layout, and supporting schedules on certificates all need to match the applicable version of the standard. Using older templates after the transition period can make paperwork look dated or non-compliant.
- 4
EICRs and periodic inspection
Periodic inspection and testing is explicitly included in the scope of Amendment 4. That means EICRs are affected as well as certificates for new installation work and alterations.
- 5
Technical content on certificates
Where a job involves areas covered more explicitly by Amendment 4 - such as battery storage installations, PoE systems, or medical locations - the technical content of the inspection, design, or verification may change, even if the basic certificate type stays the same.
Can I still issue certificates against the previous version during the transition period?
Yes. During the transition period (15 April to 15 October 2026), you can design, inspect, and certify work against either BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024 or the new BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. However, you should stay consistent for any given project and avoid mixing references within a single certificate.