From solar and batteries to EV chargers and smart technology, modern installs are converging fast. Darren Staniforth, Head of Technical Solutions at CEF explores what Amendment 4 to BS 7671 means for contractors
As solar PV, battery storage, EV charging, and smart systems become standard features in modern properties, electricians are increasingly working on installations which are increasingly interconnected. Decisions made around one piece of kit now directly impact how the rest of the board and overall system perform.
Amendment 4 to BS 7671, published in April this year, reflects this industry shift. It introduces clearer requirements designed to keep multi-technology installations safe and resilient as properties accommodate higher electrical loads, on-site generation, and smart controls.
The update introduces significant changes, including a dedicated chapter on stationary secondary batteries, fresh requirements for Power over Ethernet (PoE), and updated rules for functional earthing and equipotential bonding for ICT systems. Where these may have once been treated as separate elements of a project, modern domestic and commercial jobs are blending them into a single, connected environment.
Solar is a prime example of this crossover. The UK passed two million solar installations in March 2026, driven by 27,000 new installs that month alone. As generation becomes more common, electricians are regularly dealing with set-ups where solar sits alongside battery storage and heavy EV charging loads. That means choices made on site carry wider knock-on effects, from the capacity available for EV chargers to how stored energy is managed and how the overall installation is protected.
Navigating battery storage, PoE, and site complexities
The new chapter on stationary secondary batteries sets out much clearer rules for storage systems, whether fitted alongside solar PV or as standalone units. Once storage is introduced, contractors need to evaluate how it interacts with the incoming supply, any on-site generation, and the loads it supports, rather than treating the battery as a simple add-on. While experienced installers understand the fundamentals, the overall complexity of these jobs is stepping up.
A similar trend is driving the Amendment’s PoE coverage, where cabling primarily used for data is increasingly supplying power to hardware like security cameras. Amendment 4 introduces specific requirements for PoE, highlighting the need to look at power and communications infrastructure together.
For electricians, this means selecting the correct equipment requires looking at the bigger picture. Products can no longer be chosen in isolation; they must fit the context of the entire installation, particularly when renewables and energy management are involved.
Darren Staniforth is Head of Technical Solutions for CEF
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