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courses have become possible as a result of the Institute of Electrical Engineers finally updating the woefully out of date 16th Edition.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.

What 17th Edition Training Courses Have To Offer In The Real World

For anyone currently involved in electrical installations, repair or maintenance, attending a 17th edition training course is essential, especially if they intend to go on to complete the City & Guilds qualification which will allow them to be formally certified as being compliant with the current wiring regulations.

The IEE Wiring Regulations 17th edition is the official standard for the whole of the UK, and it is a legal requirement that all new installations conform exactly to the new specifications, and where repairs, adaptations, extensions or replacements are made to existing wiring, these must all also conform to the latest standards.

The previous wiring regulations are about twenty years old, which means that the 17th edition training currently available has a good deal of ground to cover, and that those involved in the electrical industry need to be fully conversant with the new regulations, many of which very much affect even the most basic of household wiring installations. The official book, the IEE Wiring Regulations, is the industry's bible, and is a reference resource used by electricians involved in every single aspect of the business. The 17th edition not only includes a huge number of major changes and subtle differences in the way electrical installations and repairs should be carried out, but the structure of the book has changed significantly too.

The idea of this structure change is to help provide an easier, more streamlined approach which conforms to many industry changes and standards. It is often suggested that most electricians are not so much required to know all of the answers in the 17th edition, but should be very familiar with its contents so that they can quickly and easily find the required information. In part this is what 17th edition training helps to achieve, and those attending a 17th edition course will find themselves looking both at the changes in regulations and practice as well as the changes in the new structure and the way in which references are included within the 17th edition book.

Some of the most obvious changes included in the Wiring Regulations include the fact that for the first time socket outlets are now allowed in bathrooms, provided they are at least three metres from the edge of any source of water such as a bath or shower. Also, the 17th edition now includes specific information for the first time on electrical installations such as at exhibitions, fairgrounds, amusement parks, and marinas, as well as information and guidance on photovoltaic (pV) power supply systems and floor heating systems.

Those familiar with the 16th edition will need to attend a 17th edition training course in order to be able to adequately become familiar with the new ways in which chapters have been reorganised, renumbered and restructured in order to fit more appropriately with approved industry standards. Being able to work effectively and accurately to the standards included in the 17th edition is especially important now as the Building Regulations Part P Electrical Safety now applies fully to every electrical installation in all forms of dwelling, and the BS 7671 covers both the design, construction, development and verification of all electrical installations and systems, including any additions and alternations, however minor they may be.

Although any existing electrical installations may not conform to the 17th edition, this is not necessarily deemed to be a problem, but the moment any electrical work is undertaken in that dwelling all relevant and related wiring installations must then be made to ensure they conform to the new regulations. Being familiar not just with the contents of the latest IEE Wiring Regulations  but with identifying quickly and easily the differences between the previous regulations and the new ones is essential, which is where 17th edition training courses are a vital way to help make sure that those differences are spotted straight away, and the appropriate methods employed immediately, accurately and safely.

About the Author

Pass Ltd offers a range of 17th edition training courses for those needing to sit the City & Guilds 2381-10 exam. Visit their website for more information on the latest 17th edition courses in Birmingham.