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BS 7671 Amendment 4 Starts Today: What It Means for Essex Homes

Writer: charlie windsor
charlie windsor
15 hours ago
3 min read

Today, 15 October 2026, is the day the UK's electrical wiring standard changes over. If you are planning solar panels, a home battery, an EV charger or an electrical safety report, this affects the paperwork your electrician hands you. Here is a plain-English guide, based on the IET, BSI and NICEIC. If you would rather talk it through, call CPW Electrical Solutions on 07545 571230.

What changes today?

BS 7671 is the IET Wiring Regulations, the standard UK electricians design, install and certify to. Amendment 4 (formally BS 7671:2018+A4:2026) was published by the IET and BSI on 15 April 2026 and could be used from that day. The previous edition, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024, is withdrawn today. From now on, new electrical work should conform to Amendment 4, and NICEIC has said only Amendment 4 certificates are available to its certified businesses from today.

You do not need to do anything as a homeowner. Existing installations are not suddenly unsafe or out of date because the book has changed. The change affects new work and the reports issued on it.

What is new in Amendment 4?

According to the IET and BSI, the main changes include:

  • New requirements for stationary secondary batteries, which is the standard's term for home electrical storage.

  • New provisions for functional earthing and equipotential bonding for ICT systems.

  • Power over Ethernet (PoE) requirements.

  • Major updates for medical locations.

  • Amendment 3 is now built into the main document.

NICEIC also says Amendment 4 introduces residual direct current (RDC) protective devices for EV charging installations. Ask your installer how your chosen charger meets this.

What does it mean if I am having solar or a battery fitted?

Battery storage now has its own dedicated requirements in the standard, so a battery installation should be designed and certified to Amendment 4. Ask your installer to confirm the standard they are working to, where the battery will be sited, and that you will get the full certification paperwork. You can read more about our work on our solar and battery page.

What about EV chargers, heat pumps and air conditioning?

Any new circuit for an EV charger, heat pump or air conditioning unit should also be designed and certified to the current edition. See our page on EV chargers, heat pumps and air conditioning for what a typical install involves.

Does it affect landlord EICRs?

Periodic inspection and testing is also carried out to the current edition, so EICRs issued from now on should be written against Amendment 4. Landlords still need a report at least every five years. Our guide to EICRs in Essex explains the process, and our electrical testing and compliance page covers the tests we carry out.

How can I check my electrician is up to date?

Ask three simple questions:

  • Are you registered with a scheme such as NICEIC, and what is your registration number?

  • Which edition of BS 7671 will the certificate be issued against?

  • Can I see insurance details?

CPW is a NICEIC Approved Contractor (607863000), MCS certified (NIC602214), and holds £2m public and products liability and £300k professional indemnity insurance. We cover Essex and East London: see areas we cover.

FAQ

Is my existing wiring now illegal?

No. The change applies to new work and new reports. If you are worried about your installation's condition, an EICR is the way to find out.

Do I need a new EICR because of Amendment 4?

Not because of this change alone. Landlords need a report at least every five years, or sooner if the last report says so.

Does my solar system need to be redesigned?

Existing systems are not affected. New designs and additions should follow Amendment 4.

Do you do emergency call-outs?

Yes, we offer 24-hour emergency electrical call-outs.

Talk to a NICEIC electrician in Essex

Call 07545 571230 or request a quote. Our visits are by appointment.

Information checked 15 October 2026 against IET, BSI and NICEIC publications. This is general guidance, not legal or technical advice.

 
 
 

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CPW Electrical Solutions Limited

Registered in England and Wales. Company number 08468781

Registered office: Unit 18 Little Malgraves Industrial Estate, Lower Dunton Road, Upminster, Essex, United Kingdom, RM14 3TE

VAT registration number: 1815402427

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