BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — what changes for electricians
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is the current edition of the UK wiring regulations, published on 15 April 2026, and a certificate dated on or after 15 October 2026 cites A4:2026. This guide covers the changeover, which edition to cite, and what it means for the certificates you issue.
Last updated 15 October 2026. Written by the CertSync team and checked against the standards.
The short answer
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 was published on 15 April 2026 and is the current edition of the UK wiring regulations. The previous edition, BS 7671:2018+A3:2024, is withdrawn on 15 October 2026. A certificate dated between those two dates may cite either edition. A certificate dated on or after 15 October 2026 cites A4:2026.
Two key dates: April and October 2026
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 was published on 15 April 2026, the date the new edition became available. The previous edition, BS 7671:2018+A3:2024, could be used alongside it for six months, up to its withdrawal on 15 October 2026.
From 15 October 2026, only A4:2026 is current. Any BS 7671 certificate (EIC, EICR, MEIWC or otherwise) dated on or after 15 October 2026 is prepared and issued against A4:2026, not the withdrawn A3:2024.
Which edition should your certificate reference?
For a certificate dated between 15 April and 15 October 2026, either edition can be cited. Good practice is to note clearly which edition the inspection or installation was assessed against, since a later inspector may refer back to the original report. Most certificate software and pad suppliers have updated their model forms to reference A4:2026.
From 15 October 2026, A3:2024 is withdrawn. A certificate dated on or after 15 October 2026 references A4:2026, not the earlier edition.
What A4:2026 means for EICRs
Under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, the overall outcome of an EICR is Unsatisfactory if any C1 (danger present) or C2 (potentially dangerous) observation is present. C3 (improvement recommended) and FI (further investigation is advised) observations are advisory and do not make the overall outcome Unsatisfactory on their own.
The broad sequence for completing an EICR — recording client and supply details, inspecting and testing board by board, classifying observations, setting an overall outcome, and signing — is unchanged in its structure. Check your scheme body and model forms for any specific wording or layout changes introduced with A4:2026.
What A4:2026 means for EICs and minor works
An EIC certifies that a new installation or significant alteration was designed, constructed, inspected and tested to the applicable edition of BS 7671. For work completed on or after 15 October 2026, the applicable edition is A4:2026.
An MEIWC (Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate) follows the same principle: the edition you assess the work against is the edition current at the time the work is carried out and the certificate is issued. Record this on the certificate itself so the standard is unambiguous if the installation is later inspected.
Where to check the detail
The authoritative source for what A4:2026 changes in detail is the IET, which publishes BS 7671. Your competent-person scheme, industry training providers and specialist trade press carry summaries of the amendment, worth reading if you have not yet worked to it.
CertSync certificate forms already reference BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 and use the current edition's outcome rules. Certificates you produce are issued against A4:2026 by default.
Frequently asked questions
- When did BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 come into force?
- BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 was published on 15 April 2026. The previous edition, A3:2024, is withdrawn on 15 October 2026. A certificate dated between 15 April and 15 October 2026 may cite either edition; from 15 October 2026 only A4:2026 is current.
- Can I still use A3:2024?
- For a certificate dated before 15 October 2026, yes: A3:2024 can be cited during the six-month overlap that began on 15 April 2026. For a certificate dated on or after 15 October 2026, no: A3:2024 is withdrawn on 15 October 2026 and the certificate references A4:2026.
- Do the C1, C2, C3 and FI codes change under A4:2026?
- The overall outcome rule for EICRs is unchanged: the report is Unsatisfactory if any C1 or C2 observation is present; C3 and FI are advisory and do not affect the overall outcome on their own. Check your scheme body's guidance and the IET's own publication for any wording or scope changes specific to A4:2026.
- Do I need to update my qualifications for A4:2026?
- A4:2026 is an amendment to BS 7671:2018, not a full new edition. Most practising electricians update via short CPD courses or self-study. Check with your scheme body and training providers for what is expected — qualification requirements are set by schemes, not by CertSync.
- Does CertSync update its certificate forms for A4:2026?
- Yes — CertSync certificate forms reference BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 and the certificates you produce are issued against the current edition by default.
- What happens to certificates already issued under A3:2024?
- A certificate issued against A3:2024 during the transition period is a valid record of the work assessed against the edition then in force. A later EICR on the same installation would reference A4:2026, since it assesses current condition against the current edition.
Disclaimer
This guide is general information, not professional advice, and does not replace the IET's own BS 7671 publication, professional judgement, or scheme-body guidance on A4:2026. Requirements can change; always check the current position before issuing certificates. CertSync does not verify qualifications or scheme membership. The contractor named on a certificate is responsible for what it certifies.
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