A complete UK electrician's guide to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — the biggest amendment to the 18th Edition since publication. Battery storage, PoE, EV charging, ICT earthing, and everything the new 2382-26 exam will test you on.
If you're preparing to take the 18th Edition exam in 2026 or later, or if you're a working electrician who needs to stay current, Amendment 4 (A4:2026) is the biggest change to BS 7671:2018 since publication. It's not a minor tweak — it's the addition of entirely new chapters, several revised sections, and a shift in emphasis toward technologies that have exploded in the UK market over the past five years: EV chargers, home battery storage, PoE lighting, and integrated ICT systems.
The new exam that reflects these changes is the City & Guilds 2382-26, replacing the older 2382-22 (which was based on Amendment 2 / Brown Book). If you sit the 2382-22 papers now, you're revising for a test that no longer exists. Every question in this article — and every question in our 18th Edition mock exam bank — has been written for the current 2382-26 standard.
The Orange Book (Amendment 4) is now the version you must bring to your open-book exam. Old copies of the Brown Book (Amendment 2) or Blue Book (Amendment 1) are no longer sufficient. If your test centre spots you with an outdated version, they may provide you with a clean copy — losing your bookmarks and annotations.
BS 7671 gets an amendment roughly every 3-4 years. Between full editions (like the jump from 17th to 18th), amendments are how the regulations respond to new technology, safety data, and industry practice. Each amendment is colloquially named by the cover colour of that print run:
| Amendment | Colloquial Name | Year | Exam Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18th Edition (base) | Blue Book | 2018 | 2382-18 |
| Amendment 1 | Red Book (rare in print) | 2020 | 2382-20 |
| Amendment 2 | Brown Book | 2022 | 2382-22 |
| Amendment 3 | Green Book (minor) | 2024 | — |
| Amendment 4 | Orange Book CURRENT | 2026 | 2382-26 |
The important takeaway: each amendment supersedes the last. If you have a Brown Book on the shelf, you can use it as a reference for older installations, but you cannot rely on it for compliance today, and you cannot use it in the current exam.
This is arguably the single biggest change in Amendment 4. UK home battery storage installations have grown roughly 300% since 2020, driven by solar PV pairing, off-peak tariffs, and grid decarbonisation. Amendment 4 formalises how these systems must be designed, installed, and protected.
The exam will test whether you can identify a compliant battery installation from a non-compliant one. Expect questions like: "A domestic battery system is installed under stairs adjacent to the consumer unit. What further considerations must the designer address?" (Answer involves: ventilation, fire separation, emergency shutdown accessibility, and signage.)
Power over Ethernet lets you deliver both data and low-voltage DC power over a single Cat6/Cat6a cable — commonly used for IP cameras, WiFi access points, IP phones, and increasingly for LED lighting. Amendment 4 gives PoE its own dedicated section for the first time.
For the 2382-26 exam, expect at least one PoE question. The most common trap: "What is the maximum permitted current in a PoE cable?" (Trick — it depends on the class and bundling; there's no single answer without more information.)
Data centres and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) equipment are notorious for creating earth leakage current — sometimes many milliamps per rack. Section 545 addresses how to earth these installations safely without nuisance-tripping RCDs across the whole building.
Section 722 has existed since Amendment 1, but Amendment 4 substantially revised it to reflect real-world lessons learned from the mass rollout of home EV chargers. The changes affect anyone installing charge points.
Q: A domestic EV charge point is fed from a PME supply. What earthing arrangement is required?
A: Either a local earth electrode converting the charge point to TT, OR a proprietary device that detects a lost PEN and disconnects the charge point CPC. Direct PME earthing is not permitted.
Section 710 covers medical facilities — hospitals, dental surgeries, GP practices, veterinary clinics. Amendment 4 refined the classification system:
Group 2 rooms now require an isolated power supply (IPS) with continuous insulation monitoring, mandatory second-source supply, and specific socket-outlet requirements. Expect 1-2 questions on medical locations in the current exam — usually testing whether you can correctly assign a location to Group 0/1/2.
Amendment 4 introduces new emphasis on energy-efficient design as part of general good practice. This includes:
These aren't strict requirements yet, but they inform newer questions in the exam.
The 2382-26 is the current 18th Edition exam and reflects Amendment 4 in full. Here's what to expect:
| Exam Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 60 multiple-choice |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Pass mark | Typically 60% (36/60), varies with national performance |
| Format | Open book — bring BS 7671:2018+A4 (Orange Book) |
| Delivery | Online at approved test centre |
| Calculator | Non-programmable (Casio FX-83, FX-85, FX-991 all acceptable) |
Approximately 20-25% of the exam now covers content that was NEW in Amendment 4. If you're studying from an outdated Brown Book source or using a mock exam that hasn't been updated, you'll fail those questions before you even open your book.
Do not use the Brown Book (Amendment 2) or Blue Book (Amendment 1) for exam preparation. Buy the 2026 Orange Book from an approved supplier (IET, RS, Farnell, or your training centre).
You have 2 minutes per question in an open-book exam. Memorising specific regulations is impossible; knowing where to find them is essential. Study the contents pages of each Part and each Appendix. Bookmark: Part 4 (Protection), Part 5 (Selection & Erection), Part 6 (Verification), Part 7 (Special Locations), and Appendix 4 (cable tables).
The single biggest predictor of first-time pass is the number of full-length timed mocks you complete before the real exam. Aim for at least 3-5 mocks, each 60 questions in 120 minutes, with your Orange Book to hand. Read every explanation on questions you get wrong.
Because these sections are new, they're both more heavily weighted in the exam AND less familiar to most candidates. Master Chapter 57, Section 716, Section 545, and updated Section 722. If you can answer these confidently, you'll be ahead of most first-time sitters.
Part 7 is heavily weighted in every 18th Edition exam. Even in Amendment 4, common exam topics include: bathrooms (Section 701), swimming pools (Section 702), agricultural (Section 705), caravans and caravan parks (Section 708 and 721), and medical (Section 710). Know the zone definitions and which requirements apply where.
Voltaris Academy has 600+ questions written specifically for the 2382-26 (Amendment 4 / Orange Book) exam. Full explanations with BS 7671 references. Try 10 questions free — no card required.
Start Free Trial →Amendment 4 of BS 7671:2018 (the Orange Book, published 2026) is the largest and most significant amendment since the 18th Edition was published. If you're taking the 2382-26 exam or advising clients on new installations, you need to be current on:
Using outdated mock exams or the Brown Book will actively harm your chances of first-time pass. Practise on current, Amendment 4-updated questions — like the ones in our 18th Edition mock exam bank.
Voltaris Academy is an independent UK online mock exam platform. All our 18th Edition questions have been updated for Amendment 4 (Orange Book / 2382-26). Start with 10 free practice questions — no card required.