Major changes to the colours of cables used in fixed electrical installations are likely to come into effect within the next couple of months.
The Wiring Regulations Committee has put forward proposals that, if approved, would see the UK coming into line with the rest of Europe on the issue of wiring colours.
If accepted, the proposals mean that, from April, single-phase cables would follow the same colours as are currently used in the UK in flexible cords: brown (phase) and blue (neutral). This will be a change from the existing colours of red (phase) and black (neutral). For three-phase supplies, the phases will be coloured brown, black and grey, with blue used for the neutral conductor. In both single- and multi-phase applications, the green and yellow striped cable will continue to identify the earth conductor.
The existing colours would be phased out over a two-year overlap period.
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It is proposed that installations starting on site after 1st April this year could feature either the old or the new colours – but not a combination of both. Installations starting on site after 1st April 2006 must be wired using the new colours.
The new colours have been used in appliance flexes for 28 years, but the UK Wiring Regulations Committee has previously been reluctant to introduce those colours to fixed installations for fear of confusion over the role of black cables in multi-phase supplies. However, it is the only European country not to have adopted this coding system.
But recent moves towards harmonisation throughout Europe have led to the acceptance of UK proposals that only brown cables should be used for single-phase applications while brown, black and grey wiring should appear in three-phase installations.
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Mainland Europe had previously been using any combination of black or brown, and the UK had voiced concerns about potential ambiguities in identifying wires.
This is an important change and one with which all contractors should become familiar. After April, it will be increasingly common for electricians to find themselves working with the new colours on additions or alterations to installations that were fitted using the old system.
All the main professional organisations will be targeting an awareness campaign at their combined membership, and there are plans to also provide information leaflets at trade counters around the UK to reach smaller contractors.
More information about the introduction of the new colours can be found on the IEE website: www.iee.org |
