The Truth About the 19th-Edition Wiring Regulations and 18th-Edition Amendment 4 

Rumours about a brand-new 19th Edition Wiring Regulations book have been circulating on social media, WhatsApp groups and even a few training-provider blogs. Some posts claim a 2025 release, others insist you should “hold off booking your 18th Edition exam because the new book is around the corner.” Unfortunately, none of that chatter lines up with facts from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) or the British Standards Institution (BSI)—the only two bodies authorised to publish the UK wiring regulations. 

Below is a clear, source-driven update you can trust, plus practical advice for learners who still need to sit their 18th edition course (C&G 2382-22) or who worry about amendments invalidating their qualification. 

1 | Where we really are in the update cycle 

No publication date for the 19th Edition 

The IET has not announced a draft, consultation, or timetable for a 19th Edition. If history is any guide, a brand-new edition lands roughly every ten years (17th Edition 2008, 18th Edition 2018). That rhythm alone suggests the full rewrite is several years away. 

Amendment 4 to the 18th Edition is next 

What is in motion is Amendment 4 to the 18th Edition. A committee draft already exists, and the IET currently lists publication for 2026. Amendment 4 will fold in changes to dozens of harmonised European standards the UK is obliged to adopt within a set window. 

2 | What Amendment 4 is likely to cover 

While the draft can still change before 2026, the working group has flagged six headline topics: 

1. Stationary secondary batteries – guidance on Li-ion rack safety, thermal-runaway mitigation and isolation. 
   
   
2. Low-voltage generating sets – clearer requirements for micro-grids and combined heat-and-power units. 
   
   
3. Power over Ethernet (PoE) – cable selection, current limits and separation from LV circuits. 
   
   
4. Energy-efficiency measures – new informative annex aligning with EN 50600 data-centre standards. 
   
   
5. Functional earthing for ICT – updates to bonding and isolation for comms racks and 5 G edge cabinets. 
   
   
6. Functional equipotential bonding – emphasis on electronic loads that require dedicated reference conductors. 

Each section reflects technologies already on site—battery storage, PoE lighting, edge computing—which simply out-paced the 2022 Amendment 2 (“brown book”) wording. 

3 | Why waiting for 2026—or later—hurts your career 

We hear from learners who consider delaying their 18th Edition assessment “until the 19th comes out.” That choice costs you in four ways: 

4 | How existing electricians stay compliant 

1. Keep the brown book handy – that is Amendment 2 (ISBN 978-1-839530-16-9). 

1. Download Amendment 3 (2024) – a free PDF bolt-on that corrects minor typographical errors and clause references. 

1. Plan for Amendment 4 – mark a 2026-refresh in your diary; most training centres will offer a short update course or webinar rather than a full exam retake. 

Remember: amendments do not automatically invalidate earlier 18th-Edition certificates. Industry best practice is to read each amendment, update your on-site method statements, and only retake the exam when a new edition arrives. 

5 | Spotting misinformation 

A single blog post recently claimed the 19th Edition would appear in 2025 “to align with new EU battery rules.” The claim lacked references and contradicted the IET’s own roadmap. Always cross-check with: 

• theiet.org/bs-7671 – official code and amendment announcements 

• bsigroup.com – publication dates and ISBNs 

• Electrical Safety First newsletters – plain-language summaries once drafts go public 

If a site can’t cite one of those sources, treat the date as speculation. 

6 | Training options if you still need the regs ticket 

Elec Training Birmingham delivers the City & Guilds electrician courses including 18th Edition Wiring Regulations course (2382-22) in three formats: 

All versions include: 

• Up-to-date brown-book training materials 

• Amendment 3 PDF and printed errata sheet 

• Mock exams with instant feedback 

Book any 2024 course and you’ll receive a free Amendment 4 update webinar in 2026, so your knowledge stays current without extra fees. 

7 | Key take-aways 

• No 19th Edition in sight. Ignore unreferenced 2025 rumours. 

• Amendment 4 lands 2026. It refines the 18th Edition; it doesn’t scrap it. 

• Stay employable now. Passing C&G 2382-22 today keeps you working; the amendment will be a quick CPD session later. 

• Use official channels. Trust information only from the IET, BSI or accredited training centres. 

Electrical compliance isn’t a one-off milestone; it’s a rolling commitment. Secure your 18th Edition certificate now, keep an eye on official amendment drafts, and you’ll never fall behind—no matter how many new battery chemistries or PoE standards hit the next brown book. 

For all your electrical training, from beginner to nvq level 3 electrical, you can intrust Elec training.