17th Edition Courses- What's New, And Why It's Important

For those working within the electrical industry there are plenty of 17th edition courses available, but there are two problems. The first problem is that many people don't fully appreciate what 17th edition courses really have to offer, and why a thorough understanding of the amendments to the UK's wiring regulations is important. The second problem is that not everyone interested in pursuing a 17th edition course is aware that they vary enormously in terms of style of delivery and the expectations of students.

In this article we'll look briefly at both areas, covering why it is important to be familiar with the 17th edition changes, and what the main differences are between the many 17th edition courses currently on offer in the UK.

What's New In The 17th Edition?
It's been about twenty years since the last edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations was last updated, during which time an enormous amount has changed. This includes developments in materials and manufacturing of electrical products as well as the way in which electricity is used in both business and domestic environments. Twenty years ago you may have been surprised to see a computer in a house, and a home network was something limited to science fiction.

So much has changed in the past 20 years that an update was essential. For any electrician still following procedures which were outlined in the previous wiring regulations there is a real risk that problems could occur. Trying to marry modern materials, products and solutions with the needs of homeowners or businesses whilst using out of date procedures runs many risks. The 17th edition includes a great many changes, including the following:

1. There are new procedures introduced which aim to offer greater protection against voltage disturbances and irregularities, as well as protecting against electromagnetic interference. This is in part related to the increased use of computer equipment, networking and wireless communications both in the home and in the workplace.
2. The 17th edition now requires that any circuit needs to be assessed for continuity of service required during the life span of the electrical installation.
3. The whole concept of protection has changed, with 'Basic Protection' now covering protection against direct contact, and 'Fault Protection' covering protection against indirect contact.
4. Although there are some exceptions, in general it is now the case that socket outlets up to 20A for use by anyone now need to have 30mA RCD protection (circuit breaker), as do socket outlets up to 32A, used for outdoor mobile equipment.
5. Significant changes have been made covering areas such as street lighting, emergency escape lighting, fire protection systems and bathrooms/wet environments.

Although this doesn't cover everything, it clearly demonstrates that the changes made are not minor tweaks here and there, but very significant changes which have massive implications for both domestic and industrial electrical installations.

How Do 17th Edition Courses Vary?
Some 17th edition courses have been designed for home study only, which whilst convenient for many people does put the onus entirely on the student to complete all of the studying and research themselves. Some 17th edition courses include practical demonstrations and exercises, which may well increase the length of the course substantially, and may be unnecessary for many qualified and experienced electricians.

Some courses though are brief enough to be affordable and convenient, and place the students in direct face to face contact with the tutor, without any practical work involved. This enables students to quickly pick up on the changes included in the 17th edition, and are able to ask the tutor questions there and then. For most people this is the ideal type of course, although for those new to the industry a more practical course may be necessary.