1. The intention of this Part is to ensure that electrical installations are safe in terms of the hazards likely to arise from defective installations, namely fire, electric shock and burns or other personal injury and that other than in buildings of purpose group 1, aids to assist the hard of hearing are provided.
2. It should be noted that relevant material from the now deleted Part T has been incorporated in this Part.
3. The regulation applies to installations in, or serving, buildings. An installation consists of the electrical wiring and associated components and fittings, including permanently secured and large stationary equipment, but excluding portable equipment and appliances. Exceptions are made for mine and quarry buildings and factories (as they have particular hazards and are subject to other legislation), statutory supply undertakers’ works and extra-low voltage installations which are not supplied from a higher voltage (eg 240 V) circuit.
4. The requirements of the regulations are deemed to be satisfied by complying with British Standard 7671: 1992 "The Requirements for Electrical Installations". This British Standard is identical to the "Regulations for Electrical Installations", Sixteenth Edition 1991 published by the Institute of Electrical Engineers (lEE). It should be noted that some of the provisions of the British Standards, such as the safeguards for livestock, the requirements for caravans, the provision of British Standards, lEE completion and inspection certificates and the recommendations for periodic inspection and testing, are outwith the scope of the Building Standards Regulations.
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Electrical installations |
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26 |
(1) Every electrical installation to which this regulation applies and every item of stationary electrical equipment connected to such an installation shall provide adequate protection against its being a source of fire or a cause of personal injury. |
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(2) This regulation shall not apply to an installation - |
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(a) serving a building or any part of a building to which the Mines and Quarries Act 1954(a) or the Factories Act 1961 applies; |
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(b) forming part of the works of an undertaker to which regulations for the supply and distribution of electricity made under the Electricity (Supply) Acts 1882 to 1936 or section 16 of the Energy Act 1983(b) apply; or |
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(c) consisting of a circuit (including a circuit for telecommunication or for transmission of sound, vision or data, or for alarm purposes) which operates at a voltage not normally exceeding 50 volts alternating current or 120 volts direct current, measured between any two conductors or between any conductor and earth, and which is not connected directly or indirectly to an electricity supply which operates at a voltage higher than those mentioned in this sub-paragraph. |
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(3) In paragraph (1) "stationary electrical equipment" means electrical equipment which is fixed, or which has a mass exceeding 18kg and is not provided with a carrying handle. |
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26A. |
Every building other than a building in purpose group 1 shall be provided with suitable aids to assist the hard of hearing. |
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(a) 1954c.70 |
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(b) 1983c.25 |
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