BS 7671 Amendment 4 (2026) – What Electrical Contractors Need to Know

Another amendment, another book to buy. The Orange Book drops 15 April 2026 and replaces everything you have now. Here is what is actually changing, what you need to do, and the dates that matter.

Yes, you need to buy another book. BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 – the Orange Book – replaces the Brown Book, the Amendment 3 PDF bolt-on, and everything else. It rolls all previous amendments into one document and adds new chapters. The Brown Book you bought in 2022 will be withdrawn in October.

Amendment 3 was issued electronically in July 2024; Amendment 4 is a full printed edition with an orange cover. The changes are genuine though – new chapters on battery storage, Power over Ethernet and ICT earthing that did not exist before. If you install batteries, solar or smart home systems, this is not just paperwork.

Here is what is actually in it, when you need to have it, and what happens if you do not.

Key Dates

Published

15 April 2026

Can be used immediately for all new work from this date

Transition Period

6 months

Both the Brown Book and Orange Book valid during this window

Hard Cutoff

15 October 2026

Previous version withdrawn. Amendment 4 is the only current version

What the Orange Book Replaces

If you have been keeping up, you currently have two documents on the go: the Brown Book and the free Amendment 3 PDF. The Orange Book replaces both. One book, no more cross-referencing separate amendments.

On 15 October 2026 the previous version (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+Corrigendum (May 2023)+A3:2024) is withdrawn, and the Orange Book is the current standard. What changes on 15 October 2026.

The Major Technical Changes

To be fair, this is not just a money grab. There are genuine new chapters covering things the regs have not addressed before. Here is what is actually changing.

New Chapter

Chapter 57 – Stationary Secondary Batteries

For the first time, BS 7671 has a dedicated chapter for stationary secondary batteries, such as home battery storage paired with solar PV. The requirements previously sat in Regulation 551.8 and are now Chapter 57.

What it covers: Ventilation and protection against arcing and explosion, means of isolation for every battery power circuit, protection on the DC side, and warning notices at the origin, meter position and consumer unit. In dwellings, batteries must be installed in a suitable location taking account of the manufacturer’s instructions and PAS 63100 (Regulation 570.6.7.203). PAS 63100:2024 rules out locations such as bedrooms, escape routes, and lofts, roof spaces and voids.

New Section

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

PoE technology now routinely delivers significant power levels through data cables – powering IP cameras, wireless access points, LED lighting and building automation controllers. Amendment 4 formally brings PoE within the scope of BS 7671.

Why it matters: With PoE power levels reaching 90 W per port on some standards, heat generation in cable bundles and fire risk in containment are genuine concerns. The new section addresses cable ratings, heat considerations and installation requirements for PoE systems.

New Section

Functional Earthing & Bonding for ICT Systems

A new section covers functional earthing and functional equipotential bonding specifically for information and communication technology equipment and systems.

Who it affects: Anyone installing structured cabling, data networks, server rooms, or smart home systems alongside electrical installations. As the boundary between electrical and data installation continues to blur, these requirements ensure both are addressed under a single standard.

Major Revision

Section 710 – Medical Locations

Section 710 covering medical locations has undergone a major revision. This is particularly relevant for contractors who work in hospitals, clinics, care homes and dental surgeries.

Key addition: A new schedule of test results for recording the resistance of supplementary protective equipotential bonding conductors in medical locations. This reinforces the testing and documentation requirements for healthcare environments where equipment reliability is critical to patient safety.

New Chapter 81

Energy Efficiency

A new Chapter 81 on energy efficiency replaces the old informative Appendix 17. It refers you to the Building Regulations for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and to BS HD 60364-8-1:2019.

Redrafted: Section 551

Low Voltage Generating Sets

Regulation 551.7.1 now requires a suitable protective device where energy flow is bidirectional, and prohibits connecting a source to the load side of an RCD under certain conditions. A generating set must be installed on the supply side of all protective devices, and stationary batteries are treated as a generating set, not a load (551.7.2.1). New 551.7.2.2 covers switchgear assemblies where a generating set runs in parallel with another source.

What This Means for Your Qualifications

Here is the bit that costs you money and time. EAL has replaced its Level 3 Award (603/3298/0) with an Amendment 4 version (610/7005/1). Registrations on the old award closed on 31 July 2026, its exam is only available up to 15 October 2026, and its final certification date is 31 December 2026.

Important: If you are about to sit or resit your 18th Edition exam, check whether you will complete before the switchover date. There is no point qualifying against the current version if it is about to be superseded.

If you already hold the 18th Edition, ask your certification scheme and training provider what they expect from you for Amendment 4 before booking anything.

What You Should Do Now

1. Budget for the Orange Book. BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is available from the IET Bookshop and authorised resellers from 15 April 2026. It is not optional – it replaces everything you currently have and your scheme provider will expect you to have it by October.

2. Book your CPD. If you already hold the 18th Edition qualification, look for Amendment 4 refresher courses from your scheme provider or training centre. Do this before October 2026.

3. Review your current battery and solar work. If you install battery storage systems, the new Chapter 57 will change how you approach location selection, isolation procedures and documentation. Start reviewing your methods now.

4. Check your PoE and ICT work. If you install structured cabling, smart home systems or PoE-powered devices alongside electrical work, the new sections on PoE and ICT earthing will apply to you.

5. Update your certificate forms. Amendment 4 introduces new test schedules for medical locations and bonding conductors. If you work in healthcare environments, your certificate templates will need updating.

6. Check what your scheme expects. Ask your certification scheme what it needs from you for Amendment 4, and keep your own qualifications current for the work you carry out.

Amendment History at a Glance

July 2018

BS 7671:2018 – 18th Edition Published

The current 18th Edition. Effective January 2019.

February 2020

Amendment 1 (Standalone)

Minor corrections and updates.

March 2022

Amendment 2 – The Brown Book

Issued 28 March 2022 with a brown cover. Changes included redrafted RCD and surge protection (Section 443) requirements and a new Chapter 82 on prosumer installations.

2024

Amendment 3

Issued electronically on 31 July 2024. Two new definitions and one new regulation on bidirectional and unidirectional protective devices.

15 April 2026

Amendment 4 – The Orange Book

Issued 15 April 2026 with an orange cover. Battery storage, PoE, ICT earthing, medical locations, energy efficiency, generating sets and a redrafted EICR. The previous version is withdrawn on 15 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Amendment 4 come into effect?

Amendment 4 was published on 15 April 2026 and could be used immediately from that date. The previous version (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024) will be withdrawn six months later on 15 October 2026. After that date Amendment 4 is the only current version. The book notes that completing an installation designed to the withdrawn standard can be agreed between the parties to the contract.

Do I need to buy a new book?

Yes. The Orange Book (BS 7671:2018+A4:2026) is a fully consolidated edition that replaces the Brown Book and the Amendment 3 PDF bolt-on. It contains the complete 18th Edition with all amendments incorporated into a single document.

Do I need to resit my 18th Edition exam?

Not necessarily. If you already hold the 18th Edition qualification, most scheme providers will offer CPD refresher courses covering the Amendment 4 changes. These are shorter and less expensive than sitting the full qualification again. Check with your scheme provider for their specific requirements.

What is Chapter 57 about?

Chapter 57 is an entirely new chapter covering stationary secondary batteries – meaning battery energy storage systems (BESS) installed in domestic, commercial and industrial properties. It covers ventilation, protection against arcing and explosion, isolation, DC fault protection and warning notices, and for dwellings points to PAS 63100 for where batteries can go. Battery requirements used to sit in Regulation 551.8; they now have their own chapter.

Does Amendment 4 affect EV charger installations?

Section 722 is not in the Amendment 4 summary of main changes. Changes that can touch EV jobs include the new PNB earthing option (Regulation 312.2.1.1), the revised buried cable tables in Appendix 4, and bidirectional sources in Section 551 where a charger can supply power back. Always check the Orange Book for the job in hand.

Is Amendment 4 in iCertifi?

Yes. Amendment 4 is already in iCertifi, from version 12.12.50 (July 2026), with the new certificate forms and test schedules. If you already use iCertifi, update it from the App Store to get it. See what changed in iCertifi 12.12.50.

Amendment 4 Is in iCertifi

Amendment 4 certificates have been in iCertifi since version 12.12.50. Update from the App Store and you are ready for 15 October.