You are an electrician. October 15th is approaching. What actually changes for you?
That is the right question, and it deserves a clear answer rather than a regulatory summary that tells you what the standard says without telling you what it means in practice. This article works through the specifics: what BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is, what changes on 15 October 2026, which technical areas have been updated, what it means for EICRs and certification, and whether existing installations are affected.
The deadline is real and it is close. If you are a working electrician in the UK, or planning your electrician training, this is what you need to know.
Key dates: Amendment 4 was published on 15 April 2026. The previous version is withdrawn on 15 October 2026. From then, use Amendment 4 for new designs and EICRs. Work designed beforehand may have different completion arrangements.
Amendment 4 at a Glance
15 April 2026
Amendment 4 published. Both versions remain current during the transition.
15 October 2026
The previous version is withdrawn. Amendment 4 becomes the current standard for new designs and EICRs.
Your 18th Edition qualification
An existing qualification does not automatically need to be retaken. Review the changes relevant to your work.
What Is BS 7671:2018+A4:2026?
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is the latest published version of the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations. It was published on 15 April 2026. During the transition period, electricians may work to either Amendment 4 or the previous BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024 version.
Sources: IET announcement | IET transition guidance
The transition ends on 15 October 2026. From that date, the previous version is withdrawn and Amendment 4 becomes the current version of BS 7671. Work designed to the previous version before the changeover may have different completion arrangements, which we explain below.
Sources: BSI standard listing | NICEIC Amendment 4 FAQ
The most visible change is the book itself: the previous version is known as the Brown Book, while the Amendment 4 version is the Orange Book. It remains the 18th Edition, but its technical requirements have been updated.
Sources: IET transition guidance
Why Is It Still the "18th Edition"?
This causes confusion, and it is worth addressing directly.
The 18th Edition refers to BS 7671:2018, the base standard published in 2018. Amendments update specific sections of that base standard without replacing the entire document. Amendment 1, Amendment 2, Amendment 3, and now Amendment 4 have each updated particular requirements while the core structure of the 18th Edition remains in place.
An existing 18th Edition qualification does not automatically mean you must retake the full qualification when an amendment is published. You do need to understand the Amendment 4 changes relevant to your work. Check any specific requirements set by your employer or certification scheme. NICEIC says it is not requiring its already qualified supervisors to upgrade their qualification, but expects relevant knowledge and CPD
Sources: NICEIC Amendment 4 FAQ
What Happens on 15 October 2026?
15 October 2026 is the end of the transition period.
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 was published on 15 April 2026. A six-month transition period followed, during which the previous version (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024) remained valid alongside the new standard. That transition period ends on 15 October 2026.
From that date:
- The previous version of the standard is formally withdrawn
- BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is the only current, valid version of the Wiring Regulations
- EICRs (Electrical Installation Condition Reports) must be carried out to Amendment 4 from 15 October, confirmed by NICEIC's Amendment 4 FAQ
BSI and the IET confirm that the previous version is withdrawn on 15 October 2026. From that date, Amendment 4 becomes the current standard. Work designed before the changeover may still be completed to the previous version, subject to the project’s contract and other applicable requirements.
From 15 October, the previous version is withdrawn, and Amendment 4 becomes the current version for new design work and EICRs. There is an important distinction for work designed before that date: NICEIC advises that it may be completed to the previous standard afterwards. Check the design date, contract terms and any other applicable requirements before deciding which version to certify against.
Sources: NICEIC Amendment 4 FAQ
What Are the Key Technical Changes in Amendment 4?
Amendment 4 updates a number of specific areas across the 18th Edition. Here is what working electricians need to understand about the main changes.
Stationary Secondary Batteries
Amendment 4 introduces new requirements covering the installation of stationary battery energy storage systems (BESS). Battery storage has grown substantially in the residential and commercial market, the combination of solar PV with battery storage is now a common installation type, and the new requirements establish the compliance framework for these systems.
Sources: IET announcement
If you are working on solar PV installations with battery storage, or on any installation involving stationary secondary batteries, Amendment 4 contains requirements you need to be familiar with. This is an area where the standard has caught up with what the market is already installing.
Bidirectional Energy Flow
Changes to requirements around bidirectional energy flow address the increasingly common situation where electricity moves in both directions in an installation, from the grid to the property and from the property back to the grid. Solar PV with export capability, battery storage systems, and EV charging with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality all involve bidirectional energy flows.
Sources: IET announcement
Amendment 4's approach to bidirectional energy flow is relevant for any electrician working on residential solar PV, commercial energy storage, or EV charging infrastructure. As these technologies become standard rather than specialist, familiarity with the new requirements is increasingly important.
Functional Earthing and Equipotential Bonding for ICT Systems
Amendment 4 updates requirements around functional earthing and equipotential bonding where ICT systems are a significant part of the installation. This addresses the specific earthing arrangements required for IT and communications infrastructure, an area of growing importance as commercial buildings incorporate increasingly sophisticated ICT systems alongside their electrical installations.
Sources: IET transition guidance
If you work on commercial installations that include substantial ICT infrastructure, the new functional earthing requirements in Amendment 4 are the relevant section to review.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Power over Ethernet, the technology that delivers both data and electrical power over an Ethernet cable to devices such as IP cameras, access control systems, wireless access points, and LED luminaires, has new requirements under Amendment 4.
Sources: IET announcement
PoE is increasingly common in commercial buildings, and Amendment 4 establishes the regulatory basis for these installations within the scope of the Wiring Regulations. For electricians working on commercial fit-outs, smart buildings, or any installation where PoE-powered devices are specified, the new requirements are directly relevant.
Major Revisions to Medical Locations
One of the more significant updates in Amendment 4 is the revision to Part 7, Special Locations, for medical locations. If you work in hospitals, GP surgeries, dental practices, clinics, or any other healthcare setting, the medical locations requirements have been substantially revised and need to be understood before carrying out any work in these environments.
Sources: IET announcement
Medical locations have always been one of the more specialist areas of the Wiring Regulations, and the Amendment 4 revisions reflect the evolution of medical technology and the specific safety requirements it demands. Electricians who work regularly in healthcare settings should prioritise understanding these changes.
Changes to EICRs and Electrical Certification
The changes in Amendment 4 that will affect the largest number of practising electricians on a day-to-day basis are those relating to electrical certification and EICRs.
EICRs from 15 October
From 15 October 2026, EICRs should be carried out to Amendment 4. Until then, both versions are considered current during the transition, so the inspector should make clear which version the report uses. Inspectors carrying out reports after the changeover should use the updated reporting approach, including the revised treatment of FI.
Sources: NICEIC Amendment 4 FAQ
The Treatment of FI, Further Investigation
Amendment 4 makes a significant change to the FI (Further Investigation) classification on EICRs. Under the updated model report, an FI observation on its own does not make the overall report unsatisfactory; C1 and C2 observations do. FI now indicates that further investigation is advised, rather than required without delay. Inspectors must still explain the observation and carry out an adequate inspection. During the transition, the effect of FI depends on which version of BS 7671 the report uses.
Sources: NICEIC Amendment 4 FAQ
Initial Verification
Amendment 4 can be used for initial verification from its publication on 15 April 2026. During the transition, the previous version also remains current. From 15 October, Amendment 4 becomes the current standard for new designs.
Where an installation was designed to the previous version before 15 October, NICEIC says it can be completed to that design afterwards; the certificate and project records should accurately reflect the standard used.
Sources: NICEIC Amendment 4 FAQ
Periodic Inspection
Periodic inspection and testing of existing installations, and the EICRs produced from those inspections, must reference the current standard. From 15 October, that is BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. The amendment number referenced on your EICR should reflect this.
Does Amendment 4 Make Older Installations Non-Compliant?
This is one of the most common points of confusion around any amendment to the Wiring Regulations, and the IET's own guidance addresses it directly.
No, Amendment 4 does not automatically make older installations non-compliant.
An installation that was designed and built to the version of BS 7671 current at the time of installation was compliant at that point. A change to the standard does not retroactively make compliant work non-compliant. The IET's myth-busting guidance on Amendment 4 is explicit on this point.
Sources: IET guidance on older installations
What changes is the standard that new work and inspections are carried out to from 15 October.
An EICR assesses the installation’s present condition against the standard applicable to the inspection. A difference from a newer requirement does not, by itself, mean the original installation was defective or that an upgrade is necessary.
Sources: IET guidance on older installations
This is an important distinction for client communications. Electricians should be clear with clients that Amendment 4 updates the standard for new work and inspections, it is not a declaration that everything installed to the previous version is now faulty.
What Does This Mean for Your 18th Edition Training?
If you are currently qualified to the 18th Edition (Amd2 or Amd3):
You do not need to retrain from scratch. Your existing qualification covers the base standard. What you need is awareness of the specific areas Amendment 4 has changed, particularly if your work regularly involves battery storage, bidirectional energy flow, medical locations, or the EICR changes. CPD resources are available through the IET, NICEIC, and ECA, and Kelly Energy Training can advise on the appropriate update route.
Sources: NICEIC Amendment 4 FAQ
If you are starting your 18th Edition training:
Training should cover the version relevant to your course and assessment. Our existing guide to the 18th Edition and Level 3 Testing and Inspection qualification explains the qualification structure in detail.
Our team can also confirm the specification and assessment version for the course you intend to book.
If you are due to renew or update your certification:
Check the course and assessment specification with the training provider before booking.
How Kelly Energy Training Can Help
Kelly Energy Training delivers electrician training and electrical training courses from its centre in Enfield, North London. As a training provider for both electrical and gas engineering qualifications, Kelly Energy Training is positioned to support engineers across both disciplines as the regulatory landscape evolves.
18th Edition and Electrical Certification Courses
Kelly Energy Training offers 18th Edition Wiring Regulations courses and inspection and testing training through LCL Awards and City & Guilds from its Enfield training centre in North London. For working electricians in London reviewing their Amendment 4 knowledge, our team can advise on the relevant course and confirm its current specification and assessment version.
Electrical training courses in London at Kelly Energy Training cover the full range from initial 18th Edition qualification through to Level 3 testing and inspection. Whether you are qualifying for the first time or updating your knowledge for the new amendment, the team can guide you to the right course.
For engineers based across London and the wider UK looking for electrical training courses in the UK, contact Kelly Energy Training here to discuss availability and course options.
Renewables Training
Given the Amendment 4 changes around battery storage, bidirectional energy flow, and EV charging infrastructure, the connection between electrical competency and renewables training has never been clearer. Electricians who are qualified in solar PV, battery storage systems, and EV charging installation are better positioned to handle the full range of installations that now fall within the scope of the updated Wiring Regulations.
Kelly Energy Training offers renewables training courses for electricians looking to add low-carbon technology competency to their existing qualifications.
Check the individual course page for current entry requirements, then speak to our team if you need help choosing a course.
Gas Certification at the Same Centre
For engineers who work across both electrical and gas, or those exploring a dual qualification pathway, Kelly Energy Training also delivers gas certification and gas training courses from Enfield. How to qualify as an electrician in the UK and how to prepare for the EAS changes in 2026 are covered in our existing blog guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BS 7671:2018+A4:2026?
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is the current version of the IET Wiring Regulations, the standard governing electrical installations in the UK. Published on 15 April 2026, it is the 18th Edition of the standard incorporating its fourth amendment. It updates specific sections of the 18th Edition covering stationary battery storage, bidirectional energy flow, Power over Ethernet, functional earthing for ICT systems, and medical locations, among other areas. It replaces the previous version (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024), which is to be formally withdrawn on 15 October 2026.
What happens on 15 October 2026 for electricians?
15 October 2026 is the end of the six-month transition period. The previous version is withdrawn and Amendment 4 becomes the current version for new designs and EICRs. NICEIC advises that installations designed to the previous version before 15 October may still be completed to that design afterwards, subject to contract terms and other applicable requirements.
Do I need to retrain if I already have an 18th Edition qualification?
An existing 18th Edition qualification does not automatically need to be retaken. You need to understand the Amendment 4 changes relevant to your work and check any employer or certification-scheme requirements. NICEIC says its already qualified supervisors do not have to upgrade their qualification, but must maintain relevant knowledge and CPD. Contact Kelly Energy Training to discuss the appropriate training route.
What changes for EICRs from 15 October 2026?
From 15 October 2026, all EICRs must be completed to the requirements of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. This is confirmed by NICEIC and ECA in their Amendment 4 guidance. The amendment also includes changes to the treatment of FI (Further Investigation) observations within EICRs, electricians who carry out periodic inspection and testing should familiarise themselves with the updated approach before the transition date.
Does Amendment 4 make older electrical installations non-compliant?
No. The IET's own guidance is explicit on this point. An installation that was designed and built to the version of BS 7671 current at the time of installation was compliant at that point. A new amendment does not retroactively render that work non-compliant. What changes is the standard for new work and for inspections carried out from 15 October 2026. An EICR on an existing installation assesses current condition against the current standard, it does not declare that original work was defective simply because requirements have since been updated.
Where can I do an 18th Edition Amendment 4 training course in London or Enfield?
Kelly Energy Training offers 18th Edition Wiring Regulations training and inspection and testing courses at its Enfield training centre in North London. Contact our team to confirm the course specification, assessment version, entry requirements and available dates.
Sources and further reading: IET announcement; IET transition guidance; BSI standard listing; NICEIC Amendment 4 FAQ; IET guidance on older installations; ECA technical hub
Kelly Energy Training is a gas and electrical training provider based in Enfield, delivering 18th Edition electrical courses, gas certification, and renewables training to engineers across London and the UK.
Electrical training in Enfield, North London
Need help choosing an 18th Edition, inspection and testing or renewables course? Speak to Kelly Energy Training about your qualifications, experience and the work you undertake.
Contact our training teamCall 020 8202 4000
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