Wiring Regulations, 17th Edition; 2nd Ammendment

Wiring Regulations, 17th Edition; 2nd Ammendment

Ammendment 2:2013 to BS7671:2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations is out, finally

issued 1st August 2013. So what is it all about?
Ammendment 2:2013 brings in a new special installation, so another Section is added to Part 7.
This new section is titled
“Section 722 Electric Vehicle Charging Installations”, and also introduces some new additional
definitions which have been added to Part 2.

Part 2 – Definitions

Mainly, the additional definitions explain the different charging modes, Modes 1 to 4, and
describes how the vehicle is connected to an a.c. power supply. An electric vehicle is also
defined, as are the couplers and connectors involved.
Part 7 – Section 722 – Electric Vehicle Charging Installations
722.1 Scope. Charging facilities for mobility scooters andsimilar vehices are excluded, if they are
10A or less.
722.311 Maximum demand – full rated current of the chargingpoint shall be allowed, no diversity
allowed if a FINAL circuit feeds more than one charging point.
So a final circuit feeding one 16A socket outlet (charging point) would have an assumed
maximum demand of 16A. If the same final circuit fed two 16A charging points, then the
assumed maximum demand would be 2 x 16 = 32A, i.e. NO DIVERSITY!
However diversity MAY be allowed for a dedicated DISTRIBUTION circuit feeding multiple
charging points IF load control is available.
st
1st Amendment ACES BS
7671 City and Guilds Health
and Safety Inspection and
Testing PAT Testing
Qualifications
Qualified Supervisors Regulations
Wiring Regs

722.41 Protection against electric shock. Obstacles and placing out of reach shall NOT be used as
protective measures (722.410.3.5), no suprise there! These measures are pretty much
banned in domestic installations.
Earthfree local equipotential bonding is also not permitted, again that is not suprising in any way
(722.410.3.6).
722.411.4 TN system PME earthing facility shall not be used to earth an outdoor charging point,
or a point used to charge a vehicle located outdoors.
The danger with PME systems is that should the supply cable be damaged such that the supply
neutral is broken, the PEN conductor on the consumers side of the break will become live to
the full supply potential (230V) through any connected loads in the installation. So in this way
the MET is livened up via the neutral block, hence the CPC’s become live, as do all the exposed
conductive parts, i.e. metal casings of electrical equipment etc.For this reason, in a PME
installation, one of three conditions has to be met if outdoor charging is desired, otherwise the
vehicle chassis itself could become live! One of these conditions is the installation of and
connection to an earth electrode, such that in the event of a fault in the PEN conductor, the rms
voltage between the MET and Earth does not exceed 70V. (refer to the document for the others).
However, if none of the three conditions are practical, a charging point at a DWELLING may be
installed anyway. In this case a dwelling refers to a SELFCONTAINED unit for a single household.
In these small installations effective bonding, and more security of supply minimize the risk from
the hazard outlined above, but consider each location carefully before installing!
722.413 Protective measure: Electrical separation This is limited to one vehicle supplied from
one source, a fixed isolating transformer to BS EN 6155824.Think of it as a big shaver point!
722.512.2 External influences IP44 applies (at least)
722.531.2 RCDs Every charging point requires individual protection.
The RCD shall be to 415.1.1, in other words 30mA tripping current, and operating within 40ms
when tested at 5 x 30 = 150mA. It shall disconnect all live conductors.
722.55 Other equipment The details and requirements for socket outlets
and connectors are given, for different modes of charging. Portable socket outlets
(extension leads etc) are not permitted, fixed socket outlets should be 0.5m to 1.5m from the
ground. One socket for one vehicle.
There then follows Annex – A722, which gives further guidance for
installations where a PME system exists.
A722.1 refers to the calculation of neutral current in a three phase
system under maximum imbalance.
A722.2 gives a calculation for checking that the voltage between the MET and Earth will not
exceed 70V, in a three phase system (condition (i) of Reg. 722.411.4.1).

A722.3 gives calculations for checking the impedance of earth electrode and protective conductor
for condition (ii) of Reg.722.411.4.1
A722.4 Symbols – explains the symbols used in the Annex.
Electric vehicle charging units are going to become very common in the very near future, as the
drive towards cleaner, sustainable fuels increases and oil becomes more and more scarce. For
electricians wanting to get ahead of the game, the installation of these units both domestically
and commercially provides another alternative revenue stream.