Electrical standards and approved codes of practice

Listed below are some commonly used electrical standards and approved codes of practice. Additional standards and codes of practice would generally be needed to satisfy a specific application - it is the responsibility of the specifier to select and apply these. You should ensure that the standard you use is the current one.

The standards are organised into a number of topic areas and are ordered with the lowest number at the top of each table:

Electrical and Power

Standard Year Description
BS 5266 Parts 1 to 10 also BS EN 50172 1999 - 2008 Code of practice for emergency lighting
BS 5424 Parts 2 and 3, also IEC 60158 part 3 1985 - 1988 Specification for low voltage control gear
BS 5839 Parts 1 - 11, also PD6531:2010 1988 - 2010 Fire detection and alarm systems for buildings
BS EN 60079-30-2 2007 Electric surface heating
BS 6423 1983 Code of practice for maintenance of electrical switchgear and controlgear for voltages up to and including 1 kV
BS 6626 2010 Code of practice for maintenance of electrical switchgear and controlgear for voltages above l kV and up to and including 36 kV
BS EN 62305, 4 parts 2006 - 2011 Code of practice for protection of structures against lightning
BS 7375 2010 Code of practice for distribution of electricity on construction and building sites
BS 7430 1998 Code of practice for earthing
BS 7671 2018 Requirements for electrical installations. IET Wiring Regulation, 18th Edition
BS 7909 2008 - 2011 Code of practice for temporary electrical systems for entertainment and related purposes.
BS EN 50110 Parts 1 and 2 2004 - 2010 Operation of electrical installations
BS EN 60422 2008 Monitoring and maintenance guide for mineral insulating oils in electrical equipment
IEC 60479 Parts 1-4, also PD6519 1994 - 2005 Guide to effects of current on human beings and livestock.
BS EN 60529 1992 Specification for degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code)
BS EN 60947 Parts 1-8 2001 - 2011 Specification for low voltage switch gear and control gear
BS EN 61439 (many parts) 2009 - 2012 Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies

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Electrical Appliances

Standard Year Description
BS 1362 1973 Specification for general purpose fuse links for domestic and similar purposes (primarily for use in plugs)
BS 1363 Parts 1-5 1995 - 2008 13 A plugs, socket-outlets and adaptors.
BS EN (IEC) 60309, Parts 1, 2, 4 1999 - 2007 Plugs, socket-outlets and couplers for industrial purposes.
BS EN 60320, Parts 1, 2 1999 - 2009 Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes.
BS EN 60335, Many parts   Specification for safety of household and similar electrical appliances

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Electromagnetic Compatibility

Standard Year Description
BS EN 61000-6-3,4 2007 - 2011 Electromagnetic compatibility. Generic emission standard.
BS EN 61000-6-1,2 2005 - 2007 Electromagnetic compatibility. Generic immunity standard.
BS EN (IEC) 60801, Part 2 1993 Electromagnetic compatibility for industrial-process measurement and control equipment. Electrostatic discharge requirements

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Flammable Atmospheres

Standard Year Description
EEMUA 181 1995 Guide to risk based assessments of in-situ large Ex e & Ex n machines
EEMUA 186 1997 A Practitioners handbook – electrical installation and maintenance in potentially explosive atmospheres
BS EN 1127, Parts 1,2 2007 - 2008 Explosive atmospheres. Explosion prevention and protection.
Basic concepts and methodology for mining
PD CLC/TR 50404: 2003 Code of practice for avoidance of hazards due to static electricity.
BS EN 61241 2004, 2005 Electrical apparatus with protection by enclosure for use in the presence of combustible dusts.
PD CLC/TR 50427 2004 Assessment of inadvertent ignition of flammable atmospheres by radio-frequency radiation. Guide
BS EN ISO 10497 2004 Testing of valves. Specification for fire type-testing requirements
BS 7535 1992 Guide to the use of electrical apparatus complying with BS 5501 or BS 6941 in the presence of combustible dusts
BS EN 60079, many parts 2004 Electrical apparatus for potentially explosive atmospheres. Replaced by BS EN 60079, but remains current.
BS EN 60079-6 2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protected by oil immersion "o"
BS EN 60079-2 2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protected by pressurized enclosures "p"
BS EN 60079-5 2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protected by powder filling "q"
BS EN 60079-1 2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protected by flameproof enclosures 'd'
BS EN 60079-7 2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protected by increased safety 'e'
BS EN 60079-11 2007 Explosive atmospheres. Equipment protected by intrinsic safety 'i'
BS EN 60079-22-2 2007 Explosive atmospheres. Gas detection. Selection, installation, use and maintenance of detectors for flammable gases or oxygen
Energy Institute Model Code Of Safe Practice, Part 1 (IP1) 2010 Electrical Safety Code
Energy Institute Model Code Of Safe Practice, Part 15 (IP15) 2005 Area classification code for installations handling flammable fluids
Energy Institute Model Code Of Safe Practice, Part 21 (IP21) 2002 Guidelines for the control of hazards arising from static electricity

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Machinery

Standard Year Description
BS EN ISO 13850 2008 Safety of machinery. Emergency stop. Principles for design.
BS EN 953 1997 - 2009 Safety of machinery. Guards. General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards
BS EN 13849 2008 Safety of machinery. Safety related parts of control systems. General principles for design
BS EN 982 1996  -2008 Safety of machinery. Safety requirements for fluid power systems and their components. Hydraulics
BS EN 983 1996  -2008 Safety of machinery. Safety requirements for fluid power systems and their components. Pneumatics
BS EN 1037 1996  -2008 Safety of machinery. Prevention of unexpected start-up
BS EN  ISO 12100 2010 Safety of machinery. General principles for design. Risk assessment and risk reduction.
BS EN 1088 2008 Safety of machinery. Interlocking devices associated with guards. Principles for design and selection.
PD 5304 2005 Safe use of machinery
BS EN 60204 many parts   Safety of machinery. Electrical equipment of machines.
BS EN 61069, Parts 1-8 1991-1999 Industrial-process measurement and control. Evaluation of system properties for the purpose of system assessment.
BS EN 61310, Parts 1,2,3 2008 Safety of machinery. Indication, marking and actuation.
BS EN 61496, 3 parts 2004 - 2008 Safety of machinery. Electro-sensitive protective equipment.
PIAC 1988 Printing industry advisory committee - safety at power operated paper cutting guillotines

Link URLs in this page

  1. Electrical safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/index.htm
  2. Overview - Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/precautions.htm
  3. Work near electricityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/nearelectric.htm
  4. Excavation and underground serviceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/excavations.htm
  5. Overhead power lineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/overhead.htm
  6. Work using electrically powered equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/electricequip.htm
  7. Work on electrical equipment, machinery or installationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/withequip.htm
  8. Maintaining electrical equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/safety.htm
  9. Electricity in potentially explosive atmosphereshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive.htm
  10. Overview - HSE electrical safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/hse.htm
  11. How we work https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/how.htm
  12. Who we are https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/who.htm
  13. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/contacts.htm
  14. Electrical injurieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/injuries.htm
  15. Standards and codes of practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/standards.htm
  16. Electrical safety FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq.htm
  17. Overview - Electricity in potentially explosive atmospheres FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/index.htm
  18. General, guidance and enforcement issueshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/general.htm
  19. Definitionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/definitions.htm
  20. Interpretationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/interpretation.htm
  21. Technical standardshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/standards.htm
  22. Existing equipment issueshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/existing.htm
  23. Imported productshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/imported.htm
  24. General issues and informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/issues.htm
  25. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) issueshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/lpg.htm
  26. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/index.htm
  27. General health and safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/general.htm
  28. Inspection & testinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/testing.htm
  29. Maintenancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/maintenance.htm
  30. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/construction.htm
  31. Farming/forestryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/agriculture.htm
  32. Public placeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/public.htm
  33. Potentially explosive atmosphereshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/explosive.htm
  34. The lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/law.htm
  35. Other workplaceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/other.htm
  36. Linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/links.htm
  37. Overview - Accident case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/experience.htm
  38. Overview - Overhead power lineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/index.htm
  39. Lorry driver suffers burnshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/lorry.htm
  40. Failing to warn driver of overhead lineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/farmer.htm
  41. Failure to isolate power supplyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/isolate.htm
  42. Erecting a lighting towerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/under.htm
  43. Scaffolding contacting overhead linehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/scaffold.htm
  44. Moving tower scaffoldhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/painters.htm
  45. Overview - Electrical maintenancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/index.htm
  46. Changing an electrodehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/electrode.htm
  47. Touching live equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/touch.htm
  48. Incorrectly wired appliancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/appliance.htm
  49. Insulating live wireshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/insulate.htm
  50. Faulty air conditioning unithttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/aircondition.htm
  51. Live electrical panelhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/panel.htm
  52. Supply not been properly isolatedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/isolate.htm
  53. Injuries result in amputationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/amputation.htm
  54. Switchgear not isolatedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/switchgear.htm
  55. Induction heat treatment machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/heart.htm
  56. Poorly constructed equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/testing.htm
  57. Pressure water washing machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/washingmachine.htm
  58. Metal fencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/fence.htm
  59. Incorrectly wiring a machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/wiring.htm
  60. Mail wrapping machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/mail.htm
  61. Overview - Excavationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/index.htm
  62. Cable locatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/locator.htm
  63. Road breakerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/roadbreaker.htm
  64. Pneumatic impact molehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/mole.htm
  65. Pneumatic breakerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/breaker.htm
  66. Jackhammerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/jackhammer.htm
  67. Breaking concretehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/concrete.htm
  68. Gas pipes and electrical cableshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/digger.htm
  69. Overview - Ignition of potentially explosive atmosphereshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive/index.htm
  70. Removing paint in a yachthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive/paint.htm
  71. Cleaning electric stirrerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive/clean.htm
  72. Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsr25.htm
  73. Electricity at work: Safe working practices https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg85.htm
  74. Electrical safety and you: A brief guide https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg231.htm
  75. HSE Bookshttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  76. ESQCRhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
  77. incidentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
  78. Construction industryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm
  79. Agriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm
  80. Offshore divisionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/index.htm
  81. Chemical industrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/chemicals/index.htm
  82. Quarrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/quarries/index.htm
  83. RIDDORhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm
  84. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

ESQCR[76]
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations

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Updated 2025-01-24