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Electrical professionals warned of fake IET Wiring Regulations on sale

26th September 2018

The Institution of Engineering and Technology

Alex Lynn

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Electrical professionals are being urged by The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to ensure that they are using genuine copies of BS 7671:2018, The IET Wiring Regulations. The call comes as the IET has been made aware of a number of counterfeit PDF copies of its publications for sale and distribution through various channels in the past week.

The IET is warning that following misinformation in these fake copies could be devastating for electrical professionals and the general public at large, with missing or corrupted information potentially leading to unsafe work being carried out which could result in fire, electric shock or even death in the most extreme cases.

Mark Coles, Head of Technical Regulations at the IET said: “The counterfeit PDF copies of BS 7671:2018 we have seen initially look very convincing but are sprinkled with errors which can lead to dangerous practices. Unless you know the origin of the document how can you rely on it?”

To help combat the counterfeit activity, an official hologram has been placed on the inside front cover of the IET Wiring Regulations. This makes it more difficult to counterfeit the guidance and easier for individuals to identify genuine copies of the IET’s books. The hologram contains the IET logo in two sizes and the word ‘GENUINE’. There are also extra identifiers, some of which can be seen with a magnifying glass.

As a registered charity, the IET has a responsibility to uphold standards and ensures that all proceeds from genuine books go back into the organisation and the electrical industry, this meaning that it can continue to provide safe and reliable information for those professionals working in the electrical sector.

Coles continued: “Ensuring that genuine copies of IET publications are being used by electrical professionals is important in order that correct standards are used to protect the public and those working in the industry from injury and fatality.

“My advice to people looking to buy a copy of any IET publication would be to buy it directly from the IET if they are in any doubt about the supplier they are making a purchase from, or to consult our list of validated suppliers in the UK. Electronic access to BS 7671:2018 is provided by both the IET, through Wiring Regulations Online platform, and BSI, through British Standards Online (BSOL).”