What's New In 17th Edition Training Courses?

It seems incredible that it's only fairly recently that 17th edition training courses have become possible as a result of the Institute of Electrical Engineers finally updating the woefully out of date 16th Edition. When one stops to consider the fact that the 16th Edition was published in 1991, a huge amount of change in terms of technology and usage of electricity has happened in the intervening twenty years.

In 1991 the internet was unheard of by most people, and having a computer in the home was still considered very much a novelty. Whether you consider domestic environments or industrial or business environments, technology has not only developed incredibly quickly since 1991, but has spread far and wide too. Today the number of electrical gadgets and appliances in the average home has almost doubled, with external surround sound systems for the television, games consoles, DVD players, computers and no end of chargers for things such as laptops, mobile phones and other mobile gadgets.

The workplace has experienced the same kind of expansion, but with the added challenge of having business wide networks installed, often alongside electrical installations, The need for more power, more stability, more reliability and more dependability is as essential as the need to ensure increased safety and protection, not just for people but for the increasingly expensive and critical items of equipment upon which the business depends.

From bathrooms, which have now witnessed a significant increase in lighting solutions, to living rooms which are now packed full of as many as twenty different electrical items plugged in, and with even small homes having cabled and wireless networking installed, it's no wonder that it was deemed necessary to update the wiring regulations.

Today 17th edition training courses help to provide an up to date understanding of the many developments which have not so much crept up on us over 20 years, but which have swept through our lives from dawn to dusk in an incredibly rapid progression of technological development. Some of the most significant elements which will be covered by 17th edition training courses will be the ways in which the 17th edition differs from its predecessor.

For example, in 1991 the official wiring regulations as published by the IEE stated that a socket outlet was not permitted in a bathroom. However, with more electrical appliances in use, with larger bathrooms and with increased safety equipment the 17th edition states that a socket outlet can now be installed in a bathroom, as long as it is both a minimum of 3 metres from the edge of a shower or bath, and is protected by an RCD (Residual Current Device, otherwise known as a circuit breaker).

Another major change which will be covered by 17th edition courses is the fact that a number of special locations not previously covered are now included in some detail, including photovoltaic power supplies and public areas such as fairgrounds, marinas and amusement parks. Floor heating systems were not previously included, but have been added to the 17th edition as this has become an increasingly popular choice in many homes.

Unsurprisingly computer networking, never an issue back in 1991, has now appeared in the IEE's Wiring Regulations, and it is now essential for anyone involved either in electrical installations, maintenance or repair, or involved in computer networking. Having a solid understanding of the current regulations can be achieved through any of the currently available 17th edition training courses.

About the Author

Pass Training is a UK based supplier of electrical training courses including 17th Edition training. For more information about their forthcoming 17th Edition courses in Birmingham visit their website today.