Four labelling tips to ensure compliance with BS 7671

Brother UK Product Manager, Ioana Nitu, gives her top tips on labelling to ensure compliance with BS 7671.

Correct labelling plays an important role in compliance with BS7671. Brother UK product manager, Ioana Nitu, gives her top tips on labelling to ensure compliance with BS 7671. When done badly, labelling can be the root cause of many problems – confusion with electrical equipment can lead to errors and accidental breaches of policies and regulations.

Professional labelling makes it easier for other contractors and customers to make sense of the installation. With this in mind, my advice would be to leave behind an electrical system that is clearly labelled and in line with wiring regulations. Not only will this help the reputation of you and your company, but it will also make things simpler and safer for others in the long run.

1. Your labels need to last

The regulations state that notices should be made from “durable material … likely to remain easily legible throughout the life of the installation”.

Almost half of electricians are still labelling their work with handwritten labels, which can be affected by extreme temperature and weather, impacting adhesion and legibility over time.

Labels need to be durable and capable of withstanding all kinds of environments, so our range of label printers produce hard wearing labels, ideal for interior and exterior use, which have been tested to the extreme.

2. Size matters

Certain periodic inspection and testing and warning notice labels must be a certain size to be compliant.

If in doubt, you can always refer to the most up to IET wiring regulations 17th edition which can be easily accessed on the IET website.

3. Keep up to date with regulation changes

Wiring regulations are constantly being reviewed and updated, so electricians should make sure they keep up to date with the latest changes to ensure compliance.

Amendment Number 3, which came into force in January 2016, states that all domestic consumer units should be made from metal and other non-combustible material. This affects identification as electricians now have to ensure labels offer excellent adhesion to metal surfaces.

4. Remember the regulations are a minimum requirement

While wiring regulations are a minimum requirement, best practice labelling dictates a higher standard. If you’re looking for a label printer to help you stay compliant and meet best practice standards, our technology aims to streamline the labelling process for electricians.

Our flagship PT-E550WVP prints clear, durable labels which can be used across different components and sites. Models come with a variety of built-in templates, including high-voltage warning signs, meaning users can design and print bespoke labels instantly, including warning and instructional labels, PAT test labels, as well as labels to identify RCDs and cable wrap/flag.

For more advice, watch the webinar hosted on best practice labelling and compliance with 17th edition IET wiring regulations – in partnership with Brother, the IET and the NICEIC.

To learn more about Brother’s electrician label printer range, visit www.brother.co.uk/business-solutions/electrician-and-datacom