in this Q and A video we're going to answer the question what does recommended mean in
the regulations and how does the answer relate to AFDDs in the second amendment of the 18th edition
now if you're interested in the subject of circuit protection and AFDDs then please go and check out
our free training module that we've made on this subject using some great products from BG Luceco
it's completely free can be taken any time and counts towards your ongoing CPD requirement
you'll find links in the description or head over to the Know How page on efixx.co.uk
first of all we need to bear in mind that BS7671 is not a novel nor a work of fiction
it's a technical document and the wording in it is carefully chosen and selected for good reasons
unfortunately there's sometimes a bit of a disconnect between the authors of the Regs
and the readers trying to apply them an example of this is in the understanding of the word
recommended in the wiring regulations what it means in day-to-day life is not quite the same
as what it means in the big brown book what do we mean well imagine if a friend of yours recommends
that you go to a certain restaurant you can choose to either go or not to go you don't have to do it
but a recommendation in the regs is slightly different again and this has now been clarified
in a section of BS7671 titled guidance on the language used within BS7671 and the definition
of recommendation is clarified in a couple of places there there's a table there for us to
consider and it explains that the word requirement in BS7671 can be taken to mean shall which i think
we're all fairly happy means that you've got to do it this is confirmed for is in the definition
of requirement above the box where it says it's an expression in the content of a document conveying
criteria to be fulfilled if compliance with the document is to be claimed and from which
no deviation is permitted so in plain language if a regulation uses the word shall required
or requirement then you have to do it that way to comply with BS7671 some regulations may also
include some exceptions to the requirement let's look at an example here in regulation 521.10.1
it relates to the installation of cables and it reads non-sheath cables for fixed wiring shall be
enclosed in conduit ducting or trunking so there's a shell in there therefore you must do this to
comply with BS7671 there's further important wording in the following sentence it starts
this requirement so there's the confirmation that requirement and shall mean the same thing
in the regs and then it goes on to outline an exception does not apply to a protective conductor
complying with section 543 so there's an example of a requirement but what about a recommendation
well going back to the guidance at the front of the regs we can see that in the table there
a recommendation means should now that's a slightly different word to shall isn't it
think about that if you should do something what does that indicate well we all know you
should buy your loved one a gift on your anniversary you don't have to do it it's not a law
but what happens if you don't do it possibly bad things even if they said beforehand you don't have
to generally speaking if you don't do something you should at some point someone will ask you why
you didn't do it but we can go a little deeper by looking at the definition of recommendation
above the table it states a recommendation is an expression in the content of a document
conveying that among several possibilities one is recommended as particularly suitable
without mentioning or excluding others okay so let's break that down if something is recommended
then a situation exists that you need to take action on to comply with the regulations
there may be several options available to you and the authors of BS7671 have selected the best
option they're not saying you can't use another option but they also give you a list of other
options so in other words if you don't use the recommended option you have to use another option
in other words you have to do something about that situation to comply with the regulation
doing nothing is not an option and so to return to our anniversary gift metaphor if you don't
do something you should it generally leads to bad things and at least a grilling on why you didn't
do it let's have a look at an example and we're going to go straight to the controversial one
the use of AFDDs in regulation 421.1.7 it starts by saying arc fault detection devices conforming
to BSEN 62606 shall be provided for single phase AC final circuits supplying socket outlets with a
rated current not exceeding 32 amps in higher risk residential buildings houses in multiple
occupation purpose-built student accommodation and care homes so notice there we've got the word
shall so this is a requirement meaning that if you want to comply with BS7671 you need to comply with
this reg and install AFDDs for circuits feeding socket outlets up to and including 32 amps in
rating then there's a note there identifying what a high risk residential building is and then we
get to the part that's potentially confusing for all of the premises the use of AFDDs conforming
to BSEN 62606 is recommended for single phase AC final circuits supplying socket outlets not
exceeding 32 amps so that could read you should protect socket circuits with AFDDs but again think
about the actual definition of recommended there are a number of possible ways to protect against
arcs faults using an AFDD is the one the authors of BS7671 have deemed as the most suitable if
you decide not to use it then you still need to provide protection against arcs faults by
some means you can't do nothing and at some point you may be asked what you did to comply with that
regulation if you didn't use an AFDD and an arc fault occurs causing damage to an installation
one suitable alternative may be a documented risk assessment that suggests an AFDD isn't required
in a particular scenario as the risk of an arc fault occurring and causing damage is very low the
key point to take away from the use of the word recommended in the Regs is that it's not mandatory
direction like a requirement but you can't do nothing about the subject it covers you have to do
something to mitigate against the risk once again for further information on circuit protection and
AFDDs please do go and check out our free training package on this subject by clicking the link below
or heading to the know-how page on efixx.co.uk to keep your personal CPD up to date so that's
what recommended in the regs means it's not quite as free and easy as that recommendation
about a restaurant from a friend but hopefully a slightly clearer picture of what it means for
AFDDs and other regulations as well but as always we want to hear from you do you think this guide
to the language used in the regs makes things clearer will you be installing AFDDs in properties
or using an alternative method what will that alternative method be please leave your thoughts
or questions in the comments section below and as always thank you very much for watching