If you’ve been putting off booking an electrician in Cullompton for that EV charger, a new consumer unit, or a home battery to go with solar panels, this summer is a good moment to move. A major update to the UK’s wiring regulations has just landed, and while it won’t affect existing installations overnight, anyone planning new electrical work should know what’s changing and why timing matters.
The update is BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, known in the trade as the Orange Book. It became usable for new work from 15 April 2026, and from 15 October 2026 it replaces the previous edition entirely as the recognised UK standard for designing, installing and testing electrical work. For homeowners, the practical effect is that any new wiring, rewiring or consumer unit upgrade carried out after that date has to meet the updated rules.
The biggest change for households is a brand new chapter covering home batteries and solar storage, setting out proper requirements for how they’re installed, protected and ventilated for the first time. There’s also a stronger emphasis on RCBO protection, giving each circuit in the home its own dedicated safety device rather than sharing protection across several circuits, which means a fault is far less likely to knock out the whole house.
None of this means existing, safely installed wiring suddenly becomes a problem. But if you’re planning work such as an EV charger, battery storage, or a full rewire, having it done to the new standard from the outset avoids any awkward questions further down the line, particularly if you come to sell the property or need an Electrical Installation Condition Report.
Reed Electrical Services has been carrying out re-wires, consumer unit upgrades, EV charger installations and general electrical work across Cullompton and the surrounding area for years, and is already working to the updated regulations. Whether it’s a small job or a full house rewire, no job is too large or small. Get in touch via reedelectricalservices.co.uk/ to arrange a visit.