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BS 7671:2018+A4:2026

Amendment 4: what changed on your certificates

BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 was published on 15 April 2026. The version it replaces is withdrawn on 15 October 2026. Here's what changed on the EICR, EIC and Minor Works forms, checked against the IET's own.

See the form changesKey dates

Published 13 September 2026 by Certio Software Ltd · each change listed is linked to its source

Key dates

When Amendment 4 applies

The version being withdrawn is BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024: the Brown Book plus the free A3:2024 PDF bolt-on.3

DateWhat happensSource
15 January 2026The IET and BSI sign off the content. Pre-orders open.1
15 April 2026BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, the Orange Book, is published and can be used straight away.2,4,5,6,11
15 April to 15 October 2026Transition. You may work to either edition.3,6
15 October 2026BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024 is withdrawn. Amendment 4 must be used.4,5,6

NICEIC also lists the 2023 corrigendum as withdrawn that day.6

Form by form

What changed on each model form

We compared the IET's free A4 model forms with its previous A2:2022 set.7 The EICR changed most. Small wording and layout tweaks aren't listed.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

  • Observations split. C1 and C2 go in one table and make the report unsatisfactory. C3 and FI go in another and are advisory.7,8,6
  • FI reworded. From "further investigation required without delay" to "further investigation is advised".7,8,6
  • FI no longer fails the report. The A2:2022 notes said to mark an FI unsatisfactory. The A4 form says C3 and FI don't affect the assessment; Electrical Safety First says FI no longer automatically makes it unsatisfactory.7,6,9
  • Photos. Photographic or thermographic images can be attached to support observations.7,9
  • Section D. Unless agreed, the report states no checks were made for safety alerts, corrective actions or product recalls.7
  • Section F. Now just the next inspection date and reasons, with the interval explained (Regulation 653.4).7
  • Section C. Additions or alterations: Yes or Not apparent. The No box has gone.7
  • Sections I and J. PME and PNB boxes, supply device breaking capacity, maximum demand, electrode RA or Ze, and main switch type and breaking capacity, with RCD type (AC, A, F, B or other).7
  • Schedule of inspection. New item 4.23 confirms AFDDs show they're operational. Results for Chapter 82 (prosumer) items and special locations are recorded separately and attached.7

Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)

  • Lettered sections, A to J, like the EICR.7
  • Departures. Designer, constructor and inspector all now cite Regulations 120.3, 133.1.2, 133.1.3 and 133.5.7
  • Supply and main switch. The same PME/PNB, breaking capacity, electrode and RCD type fields as the EICR.7
  • Signatories are "for/on behalf of", not "company".7

Minor Works certificate

  • Sections A to E replace Parts 1 to 5.7
  • Earthing. TN-C-S splits into PME and PNB, and TN-C and IT are added.7
  • Circuit details. Protective device breaking capacity and RCD time delay.7
  • Departures cite 133.1.2 too.7
  • Ring continuity is labelled r1, rn, r2, not L/L, N/N, cpc/cpc.7

Schedules of circuit details and test results

  • Board header adds a board-level RCD row: BS (EN), type, rating, IΔn.7
  • Footnotes. With an EIC, test insulation resistance at the Table 64 voltage. Not all AFDDs have a test button.7
  • Unchanged. The 31 columns, SPD type boxes and AFDD test column.7
  • Medical locations get a new supplementary bonding schedule.1,7
The standard

Technical changes that reach the paperwork

A summary, not the regulations.

PNB earthing

Protective neutral bonding is in BS 7671 for the first time. NICEIC notes it can't be PNB if there are more than four consumers, or if any consumer is more than 40 m from the earth electrode reference.6,9

Batteries and two-way supplies

New Chapter 57 covers stationary batteries, now treated as generating sets, not loads. Some arrangements with a source on the load side of an RCD are prohibited. There's no box for bidirectional devices; NICEIC suggests a note in the comments.2,9,6

Periodic inspection

Regulations 653.1 and 653.2 now require you to take account of the Appendix 6 notes and to include guidance for recipients with the report.9

AFDDs

NICEIC says they're still required only on socket-outlet circuits up to 32 A in care homes, HMOs, purpose-built student accommodation and high-rise residential buildings. Electrical Safety First describes the building category in Regulation 421.1.7 differently, so check the regulation.6,9

PoE and ICT earthing

Section 716 covers power over Ethernet, limiting SELV and PELV to 60 V ripple-free DC in dry locations and 15 V elsewhere. Section 545 covers functional earthing for ICT.2,9

Medical locations and more

Section 710 is heavily revised. Electrical Safety First also flags fault current protection (434.2), firefighter's switches (537.4.2), escape routes and a new Chapter 81 on energy efficiency.2,9

Before 15 October

What to do before the switch-over

1
Sort your forms

Get the A4 forms from the IET or your scheme, or update your software. Until the switch-over, match the forms to the edition you designed to.7,6

2
Get the Orange Book

NICEIC-certified businesses must show access to Amendment 4 from 15 October. There's no legal downloadable PDF, only a licensed digital version.6

3
Rethink FI

IET Wiring Matters says FI should rarely be needed. An unidentified circuit, or insulation resistance below 1 MΩ, gets a code. Tracing the cause isn't part of the inspection.8

4
Check the earthing

Learn to tell PNB from PME. If in doubt, the DNO must tell you the earthing arrangement free of charge.6

Jobs that run past 15 October. Electrical Safety First says a withdrawn standard no longer applies, and that long-running projects may use the contract to manage some flexibility.9 At the 2022 changeover, IET Wiring Matters said to expect to certify to the current edition. Certifying to a withdrawn one depended on the contract and everyone's agreement, ideally recorded with the certificate.10 NICEIC says EICRs must be carried out to Amendment 4 from 15 October.6
Official forms

Where to get the A4 forms

The IET publishes the A4 model forms as free PDFs: the EIC, Minor Works certificate, EICR with its schedules, and the medical locations bonding schedule. You may copy them, or use them electronically, for your own contracting business, but not resell blank copies or reproduce the IET logo.7

NICEIC's A4 certificates are on its Online Certification System and shop.6 The standard itself isn't free.

Go to the IET model forms page

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More on each form: EICR · EIC · Minor Works
Straight answers

Questions

When does BS 7671 Amendment 4 come into force?
It was published on 15 April 2026 and could be used straight away. The previous version, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024, is withdrawn on 15 October 2026. From then, Amendment 4 must be used.
Can I still use the A2:2022 forms?
Until the withdrawal on 15 October 2026, yes. The IET says either edition may be used. NICEIC says issue the forms that match the edition you designed to, and carry out EICRs to Amendment 4 from 15 October.
Does an FI make an EICR unsatisfactory under Amendment 4?
No. On the A4 model EICR, C3 and FI sit in a separate table, are advisory and don't affect the overall assessment. Only C1 and C2 make it unsatisfactory.
Where can I download the latest EICR form as a PDF?
From the IET's model forms page. The A4 EICR, EIC and Minor Works forms are free to use in your own contracting business. You can't resell blank copies or reproduce the IET logo.
What is PNB on the certificate?
Protective neutral bonding, a supply earthing arrangement now recognised in BS 7671. The A4 EIC, EICR and Minor Works forms have separate TN-C-S (PME) and TN-C-S (PNB) boxes. If you're not sure, ask the DNO.
Sources

Where this comes from

All sources accessed 13 September 2026. BS 7671 and the IET forms are copyright; nothing here reproduces them.

  1. IET press release, 15 January 2026: IET and BSI publish Amendment 4 (2026) to BS 7671:2018 theiet.org
  2. IET press release, 15 April 2026: IET & BSI officially publish Amendment 4 (2026) to BS 7671:2018 theiet.org
  3. IET: Ensure you are up to date with BS 7671 (edition checker) electrical.theiet.org
  4. IET Wiring Matters, issue 109 (April 2026): Mythbuster #13, the four amendments to the rumour-mill electrical.theiet.org
  5. BSI Knowledge: BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations knowledge.bsigroup.com
  6. NICEIC: Understanding BS 7671:2018 + Amendment 4:2026, including FAQs niceic.com
  7. IET: Model forms for BS 7671 (the A4:2026 and A2:2022 forms were compared line by line) electrical.theiet.org
  8. IET Wiring Matters, issue 110 (July 2026): Further investigation electrical.theiet.org
  9. Electrical Safety First: BS 7671:2018 + A4:2026 and domestic installations, pocket guide (version 1.0, April 2026) electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
  10. IET Wiring Matters, issue 92 (September 2022): Back to the Forum, withdrawn standards electrical.theiet.org
  11. NAPIT news, 15 January 2026: NAPIT welcomes the IET and BSI statement on Amendment 4 (2026) napit.org.uk