"British Standard Requirements" means the British Standard Requirements for Electrical Installations BS 7671 : 2001 IEE Wiring Regulations 16th Edition ISBN 0 85296 988 0, 2001 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 (AMD 13628) February 2002);

"conductor" means an electrical conductor arranged to be electrically connected to a network but does not include conductors used or intended to be used solely for the purposes of control, protection or regulation of supply or for communication;

"connected with earth" means connected with earth in such manner as will at all times provide a rapid and safe discharge of energy, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

(a) the network is connected with earth at, or as near as is reasonably practicable to, the source of voltage but where there is more than one source of voltage in that network, the connection with earth need only be made at one such point;

(b) the earth electrodes are designed, installed and used in such a manner so as to prevent danger occurring in any low voltage network as a result of any fault in the high voltage network; and

(c) where the network is connected with earth through a continuously rated arc suppression coil, an automatic warning is given to the generator or distributor (as the case may be) of any fault which causes the arc suppression coil to operate.

    (3) A generator or distributor shall, in respect of any low voltage network which he owns or operates, ensure that - 

(a) the outer conductor of any electric line which has concentric conductors is connected with earth;

(b) every supply neutral conductor is connected with earth at, or as near as is reasonably practicable to, the source of voltage except that where there is only one point in a network at which consumer's installations are connected to a single source of voltage, that connection may be made at that point, or at another point nearer to the source of voltage; and

(c) no impedance is inserted in any connection with earth of a low voltage network other than that required for the operation of switching devices or of instruments or equipment for control, telemetry or metering.

(a) enclose the substation where necessary to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger or unauthorised access;

(b) enclose any part of the substation, which is open to the air and contains live equipment which is not encased, with a fence or wall not less than 2.4 metres in height to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger or unauthorised access;

(c) ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, there are at all times displayed - 


(i) sufficient safety signs which comply with Schedule 1 and which are of such size and placed in such positions as are necessary to give due warning of such danger as is reasonably foreseeable in the circumstances;

(ii) a notice which is placed in a conspicuous position and which gives the location or identification of the substation, the name of each generator or distributor who owns or operates the substation equipment making up the substation and the telephone number where a suitably qualified person appointed for this purpose by the generator or distributor will be in constant attendance; and

(iii) such other signs, which are of such size and placed in such positions, as are necessary to give due warning of danger having regard to the siting of, the nature of, and the measures taken to ensure the physical security of, the substation equipment;



and

(d) take all reasonable precautions to minimise the risk of fire associated with the equipment.

(a) in respect of joints or terminations of a conductor in a low voltage system, some form of mechanical protection; and

(b) in respect of any other part of any conductor, an electrically continuous metallic screen connected with earth,

(a) at any point where that line is over a road accessible to vehicular traffic, the height specified in column 2 of Schedule 2 as appropriate to that voltage; and

(b) at any other point, the height specified in column 3 of Schedule 2 as appropriate to that voltage.

    (3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to any section of an overhead line at a point where it is not over a road accessible to vehicular traffic and which - 

(a) is surrounded by insulation; or

(b) is not surrounded by insulation but is at least 4.3 metres above ground and connects equipment mounted on a support to any overhead line; or

(c) is connected with earth.

(a) has the necessary and appropriate equipment to prevent danger or interference with that network or with the supply to consumers so far as is reasonably practicable;

(b) has the necessary and appropriate personnel and procedures to prevent danger so far as is reasonably practicable;

(c) where the source of energy is part of a low voltage consumer's installation, complies with British Standard Requirements; and

(d) agrees specific requirements with the distributor who owns or operates the network.

    (2) Sub-paragraphs (b) and (d) of paragraph (1) shall not apply to a person who installs or operates a source of energy which may be connected in parallel with a distributor's network provided that sub-paragraphs (a) and (c) of paragraph (1) are complied with; and

(a) the source of energy does not produce an electrical output exceeding 16 amperes per phase at low voltage;

(b) the source of energy is configured to disconnect itself electrically from the parallel connection when the distributor's equipment disconnects the supply of electricity to the person's installation; and

(c) the person installing the source of energy ensures that the distributor is advised of the intention to use the source of energy in parallel with the network before, or at the time of, commissioning the source.

(a) so arranged; and

(b) so provided, where necessary, with fuses or automatic switching devices, appropriately located and set,

(a) any event attributable in whole or in part to the generating, transforming, control or carrying of energy up to and including the supply terminals, which has given rise to - 


(i) the death of any person other than a person engaged by the generator, distributor or meter operator for the purposes of his business; or

(ii) an injury (including any electric shock) to any person other than a person engaged by the generator, distributor or meter operator for the purposes of his business; or

(iii) any fire; or

(iv) any explosion or implosion;



(b) any event attributable in whole or in part to the presence of energy on the consumer's side of the supply terminals on any non-industrial and non-commercial premises resulting in the death of any person;

(c) any event, whether or not accompanied by an event specified in sub-paragraph (a), which caused an overhead line to be at a height less than that required by regulation 17(2);

(d) the occurrence of any damage to any underground cable resulting from an event not specified in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b); and

(e) any event other than those listed in sub-paragraph (a), (c) or (d) which, taking into account the circumstances of that event, was likely to cause any of the events listed in sub-paragraph (a).

    (3) In respect of any event specified in paragraph (2)(a) - 

(a) the requirement to give notice in accordance with paragraph (4) (so far as applicable) applies in addition to the requirement to give notice in accordance with paragraph (5) unless the notice given satisfies the requirements of both paragraphs; and

(b) the requirement to give notice in accordance with paragraphs (4) and (5) applies in addition to the requirement to give notice in accordance with paragraph (6).

    (4) In respect of any event specified in paragraph (2)(a)(i) or (in the case of a serious injury) in paragraph (2)(a)(ii), notice of the event shall be given to the Secretary of State by telephone or other immediate means of communication immediately after the event becomes known to the generator, distributor or meter operator, as the case may be.

    (5) In respect of any event specified in paragraph (2)(a) or (2)(b), notice containing the relevant particulars shall, subject to paragraph (8), as soon as possible after the event becomes known to the generator, distributor or meter operator, as the case may be, be given to the Secretary of State in writing by the quickest practicable means.

    (6) In respect of any event notifiable under paragraph (2)(a), (2)(c) or (2)(e), notice shall be given to the Secretary of State by post within 15 days of the end of the month in which the event becomes known to the generator, distributor or meter operator as the case may be, in the form of a computer disc which - 

(a) conforms to the description specified in the Department's publication; and

(b) subject to paragraph (8), contains the information comprising the relevant particulars, arranged in a form which complies with the technical requirements specified in that publication.

    (7) In respect of any event specified in paragraph (2)(d), notice containing the relevant particulars shall be sent to the Secretary of State by means of a return in writing to be submitted within one month of the end of the period of 3 months ending on 31st March, 30th June, 30th September or 31st December (as the case may be) in which the event became known to the generator, distributor or meter operator as the case may be.

    (8) The notices required by paragraphs (5) and (6) shall, where the giver of the notice is unable to provide full particulars, contain such of the relevant particulars as are available to the giver of the notice at the time of giving it, and the remaining particulars shall be supplied to the Secretary of State in writing by the quickest practicable means immediately after they have become known.

    (9) In this regulation - 

"the Department's publication" means the publication entitled (under the heading "ELECTRICITY SAFETY, QUALITY AND CONTINUITY REGULATIONS 2002") "COMPUTERISATION OF THE NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN SPECIFIED EVENTS UNDER REGULATION 31", subtitled "SPECIFICATION OF THE DATA FILES", and published in September 2002 by the Department of Trade and Industry, a copy of which was certified as such by the signature of the Minister of State for Energy and Construction, Department of Trade and Industry;

"event" means any event of the kind specified irrespective of whether it was accidental;

"relevant particulars" means - 

(i) in respect of an event specified in paragraph (2)(a), (2)(b) or (2)(d), the particulars specified in Parts I, II and IV, respectively, of Schedule 3; and

(ii) in respect of an event specified in paragraph (2)(c) or (2)(e), the particulars specified in Part III of Schedule 3; and

"serious injury" means any injury which results in the person injured being admitted into hospital as an in-patient.

(a) shall be in black; and

(b) shall be the same size as the text used on the safety sign,

and no part of any additional text shall appear on the sign higher than the base of the triangle.

(a) if at work, type of work;

(b) if not at work, sufficient description to identify status, e.g. householder, visitor, child;

(c) age;

(d) sex; and

(e) nature of injury, if any.

     7. Network details - 

(a) voltage;

(b) equipment at site of event, whether overhead lines, underground cables, distributing mains, or service lines, or if other, specify;

(c) where relevant, whether the earthing of the low voltage network is by means of protective multiple earthing;

(d) extent of operation of circuit protection;

(e) in respect of events involving overhead lines - 


(i) height of the electric line at point of contact, if any;

(ii) whether or not the electric line remained live on the ground or at a reduced height; and

(iii) whether or not the electric line was surrounded by insulation; and



(f) in respect of events not involving overhead lines - 



(i) whether the equipment was situated indoors;

(ii) where a substation is involved, a brief description of substation physical security equipment, e.g. brick building, steel doors, nature of fencing; and

(iii) whether any security fence was also the perimeter fence.

     8. Brief facts of the event, including, where known, the cause.

     9. Details of any action which has been, or is intended to be, taken to prevent a recurrence of the event.

(a) address; and

(b) location within the premises.

     5. Date of event.

     6. Person involved in the event - 

(a) surname and initials of the deceased person;

(b) if at work, type of work;

(c) if not at work, sufficient description to identify status, e.g. householder, visitor, child;

(d) age;

(e) sex; and

(f) nature of injury and cause of death.

     7. Inquest verdict or, in Scotland, fatal accident inquiry determinations.

     8. Equipment involved in the event - 

(a) equipment directly involved - 


(i) type and make;

(ii) whether it was faulty;

(iii) if electric blanket, whether over or under blanket; and

(iv) if radiator, whether it was guarded; and



(b) whether the death was due to a fault involving - 



(i) fixed wiring;

(ii) flexible lead;

(iii) appliance lead;

(iv) appliance;

(v) plug;

(vi) socket outlet;

(vii) misuse of equipment or appliance;

(viii) bare wires;

(ix) taped joints;

(x) broken neutral conductor; or

(xi) exposed and live male plug pins.

     9. Network and consumer's installation details - 

(a) voltage;

(b) earthing arrangements, whether - 


(i) the earthing connection was loose;

(ii) the earthing connection was disconnected;

(iii) the earthing connection was in contact with a phase conductor in the plug, the socket, or elsewhere, and if so, where;

(iv) the earthing connection was to a water pipe, local earth electrode, cable sheath, aerial earthwire or earthing terminal and, if so, which;

(v) the earth fault loop impedance was measured and, if so, the measurement obtained;



(c) description of circuit protection; and

(d) extent of operation of circuit protection.

     10. Whether there was evidence of amateur work.

(a) at work, and, if so, the type of work;

(b) not at work, and, if so, sufficient description to identify status, e.g. householder, visitor, child.

     7. Network details - 

(a) voltage;

(b) equipment at site of event, whether overhead lines, underground cables, distributing mains or service lines, or if other, specify;

(c) height of the electric line at point of contact, if any;

(d) whether or not the electric line remained live on the ground or at a reduced height;

(e) whether or not the electric line was surrounded by insulation;

(f) description of circuit protection; and

(g) extent of operation of circuit protection.

     8. Brief facts of the event, including the cause where known, and details of all equipment involved and the person responsible for the equipment.

     9. Details of any action which has been, or is intended to be, taken to prevent a recurrence of the event.

(a) Total number of events, if any, during the 3 month period specified in regulation 31(7), classified as specified in sub-paragraph (b) and as also classified as involving deliberate or accidental contact, damage or interference by each of the following - 


(i) a generator, a distributor, a telecommunication code system operator, a gas transporter, a water or sewerage authority (in Scotland, a water and sewerage authority), a local or highway authority (in Scotland, a local roads authority or a roads authority), or their respective contractors;

(ii) farmers, farm workers or farm implements;

(iii) private individuals;

(iv) other persons; and

(v) other causes, e.g. corrosion, ground subsidence, faulty manufacture, ageing or deterioration.



(b) The classes referred to in sub-paragraph (a) are - 



(i) low voltage service lines;

(ii) low voltage distributing mains; and

(iii) high voltage electric lines (specifying voltage).