Annex A – Summary of implementation of the voluntary agreement by major retailers

24/4/2014

Retailer Guidance produced Products covered Location of guidance How are customers made aware

Ongoing implementation

Wilko Agreed wording incorporated with the relevant products (either printed directly on to the packaging or included as part of the instruction leaflet inside the packaging, depending on the nature of the product and its packaging)

All light switches and dimmers

Plug sockets

Oven sockets

All other types of socket

Ceiling switches

Ceiling pendants

Batten lamp-holders

Junction boxes

On-pack instructions

the warning is incorporated with the product itself so no other measures are being taken to draw purchasers attention to it

The work has been completed for the majority of Wilko’s products, whilst thirteen lines are in transition with the expectation that these will be completed by July 2014

Argos Relevant web pages have been updated

On-pack literature (for stock delivered since the end of 2013) references the need to consult a qualified person and states that products must be fitted in line with building regulations

Argos catalogue pages also make

Lighting

Power sockets

Light switches

Online

On-pack instructions

Catalogue

Message is repeated at each point of contact that the customer has with the product

Implementation will continue with any new products, where relevant.

Annex A – Summary of implementation of the voluntary agreement by major retailers

24/4/2014

reference to these statements e.g. Page 1182.

Travis Perkins Group (including Wickes)

added to product instruction leaflets (See Annex B for example)

electrical switches and sockets introduced in Wickes last autumn

On-pack instructions

Agreed wording included in product instructions

New wording will be adopted for all new relevant products (with plans to review every electrical product so all will be captured)

Homebase

The Homebase website’s ‘how to guides’ have been updated

On-pack literature (for stock delivered since the end of 2013) references the need to consult a qualified person and states that products must be fitted in line with building regulations

Lighting

On-pack instructions

Online guides explaining how to fit or move these products

Guidance included in the packaging, and online for those looking for instructions about how to install these products.

Implementation will continue with any new products, where relevant

Habitat On-pack literature (for stock delivered since the end of 2013) references the

Guidance included in the packaging, and will be included online and in Habitat buying

The website is currently under development

Buying guides will

Annex A – Summary of implementation of the voluntary agreement by major retailers

24/4/2014

need to comply with building regulations

guides. be updated by the end of July 2014

John Lewis the substance of the 'agreed' wording is already included in instructions for John Lewis Lighting

Lighting products On-pack instructions

Guidance included in the packaging

B&Q How To Understand Electrical Regulations leaflet (see Annex C) has been updated to include the agreed wording. This leaflet is being introduced to stores to replace the old version.

All electrical products to be ‘wired-in’ to the home

In store ‘How to understand electrical regulations’ leaflet issued to all stores to make available to customers

If B&Q start again to issue task-specific leaflets the wording will also be added to these

Sainsburys Agreed wording has been incorporated into product descriptions on the website

All electrical products to be ‘wired-in’ to the home

Online product descriptions

The only affected products are sold online, so the agreed wording appears in the product description for each affected product

Implementation will continue with any new products, where relevant

Retailer requested anonymity (sells few electrical items)

added to product instruction leaflets (an example was submitted to the BRC but would have compromised the requested

Lighting product ranges (do not sell any other product that is relevant to the agreement)

Agreed statement has been added to the instruction leaflet for all products that require electrical installation in the home

Agreed wording included in product instructions

Roll-out has been completed for all SS14 products

Annex A – Summary of implementation of the voluntary agreement by major retailers

24/4/2014

anonymity)

The Co-operative

No affected products

Boots

No affected products

CBS21G-WS说明书（普通打印纸，黑色印刷）

V1 普通打印纸

1:1

RG2G001870 225x75mm

Wensi.Zhang

David.Cleaver

2013.04.05

2013.04.15

2013.04.16

How to...understand electrical regulations Part P and cable core colour changes

For your safety, electrical products must be installed in accordance with local Building Regulations. If in any doubt, or where required by the law, consult a competent person who is registered with an electrical certification scheme. Further information is available online or from your local authority.

You can do any of these projects without notifying your Local Authority Building Control Department:

n Change white electrical switches, sockets etc. and replace with decorative finishes.

n Replace or repair a socket, light or cable in any room.

n Add extra spurs, sockets or lights to an existing circuit (except in a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoors).

n Fit or replace an electric shower, cooker, garage doors or gates (unless a new circuit is needed).

n Install CE marked prefabricated modular kitchen lighting systems to an existing connection unit or socket outlet.

n Install security lighting or air-conditioning to the outside wall of the house provided that there are no exposed outdoor connections (unless a new circuit is needed).

n Install outdoor sockets (pre-assembled kits only).

However, the work must be done to the standards in the Wiring Regulations and you should consider having the work checked by a competent electrician to make sure it is safe.

Before you start other electrical work such as:

n Adding new circuits to your existing installation.

n Any work (other than repairs or replacements) in a room where there is water (e.g. kitchen, bathroom, etc.).

n Any work (other than repairs or replacements) outdoors (e.g. installing garden lighting or sockets, etc.).

n Replacing a consumer unit.

n Installing new central heating control wiring.

n Installing a socket outlet on an external wall.

You must notify your Local Authority Building Control Department, which has responsibility for ensuring the work is inspected and tested.

We recommend that you make yourself aware of the Regulations before you undertake any work and if you require any clarification you should contact your Local Authority Building Control Department.

Safety firstn Black is used for neutral

in old two-core-and-earth cable but is one of the live cores in the new three-core-and-earth cable. Also, blue is used for neutral in the new two-core-and-earth cable but is one of the live cores in old three-core-and-earth cable.

n If you need to connect a new cable to an old one, great care must be taken to connect the correct colours and a warning notice must be fixed at the distribution board or consumer unit.

You don’t need to be a qualified electrician to purchase electrical fittings or make changes to your home’s electrical system, but the work must be done in accordance with the relevant building and electrical regulations.

Top tipBefore starting any electrical work, stay safe - get yourself a socket tester (or a voltage tester for lighting circuits) - they confirm whether circuits are dead, and safe to work on.

Two-core-and-earth cablesWhere old and new two-core-and-earth cables are joined at socket or junction-box terminals the correct core colours must be connected, i.e. old red to new brown (for live) and old black to new blue (for neutral). In addition, a warning notice, as shown below, must be fixed at the distribution board or consumer unit.

Connecting old and new cablesThe diagram below shows an example for connecting old and new (harmonised) cable colours.

New cable coloursIn two-core-and-earth cable the old colours of red live (phase) and black neutral are replaced by brown live (phase) and blue neutral, respectively. These are the colours that have been used in flex for many years.

The earth is still identified by the colour combination green/yellow. Three-core-and-earth cable colours change from red, yellow and blue to brown, black and grey.

Old colours

CableElectricity flows to all appliances in the home by means of cable, which is usually hidden behind walls, ceiling and floor.

Cable used within domestic applications generally has an oval cross-section and contains conductors called cores set side by side within a thick white or grey PVC outer sheath. In new cable, the live or phase core is separately insulated in brown sheath, the neutral core in blue sheath. The earth core or protective conductor is bare and runs between them. This is known as two-core-and-earth cable.

Special three-core-and-earth cable is used, for example, for the two-way switching of lights (this has brown, grey and black cores - any or all of which may be live - and a bare earth core). If some of the outer sheath is stripped off - to connect the cable to a socket outlet, for instance - then the exposed bare earth core must be protected by a length of green/yellow electrical sleeving.

What has changed?The IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) has published an amendment to its Wiring Regulations that specifies new cable core colours for all new fixed wiring in electrical installations in the UK.

These new cable core colours are sometimes referred to as ‘harmonised’ colours, as they will bring the UK more closely in line with Europe.

Electrical installation work commencing after 31 March 2006 must only use the new cable colours.

FlexFlex (short for flexible cord) is used to connect appliances and pendant lights to the fixed wiring. It usually contains two or three cores within a white or coloured PVC outer sheath.

All cores have coloured insulation: brown for live, blue for neutral (and green/yellow for earth, where fitted).

These colours are not changing.

Alterations to existing installations Any alterations or additions made to existing electrical installations may involve using a mixture of old and new cable colours.

New cable (harmonised colours)

Existing cable (old colours)

Existing cable (old colours)

New (harmonised) colours

Two-core-and-earth cable

Two-core-and-earth cable

Three-core-and-earth cable

Three-core-and-earth cable

Working safelyBefore beginning any kind of electrical work, you must always take the following safety precautions:

n Switch off the main power at the consumer unit (fuse box).

n Isolate the circuit you plan to work on by removing the circuit fuse and putting it in your pocket. Or switch off and lock the relevant circuit breaker. If you can’t lock it, tape the switch in the off position, and attach a very clear note to the unit stating that you are working on the circuit.

n Check the circuit is dead with a plug-in socket tester or, in the case of a lighting circuit, a voltage tester.

When you have finished, replace the fuse/circuit breaker and turn the main power switch on again. Never restore power until the faceplates and covers of all accessories have been fitted.

For more ideas and know-how visit

diy.com/advice

Project essentialsSafety 3 Voltage testerPlug in socket tester

Three-core-and-earth cables The connections in two-way and intermediate light switching are such that the circuit can be made or broken at any of the switch points. Because the brown, black and grey cores in the new harmonised cable may all at times be live at a light switch, they must carry a warning flag of brown PVC electrical sleeving or tape.

When connecting old three-core-and-earth cable to new three-core-and earth cable, the old red core is connected to new brown, old yellow to new black and old blue to new grey. Again, a warning notice must be fixed at the distribution board or consumer unit.

When you have finished, replace the fuse/circuit breaker and turn the main power switch on again. Never restore power until the faceplates and covers of all accessories have been fitted.

Old coloursThree-core-and-earth

cable

New coloursThree-core-and-earth

cable

Warning flag of brown PVC electrical sleeving or tape.

Warning flag of brown PVC electrical sleeving or tape.

When you have finished with this leaflet please recycle it.

For alternative formats of this leaflet such as large print or Braille, please contact Customer Services on 0845 6096688. © 2013 B&Q plc, Hampshire SO53 3LEHOWT0246