One-way switch electrical symbol BS EN 60617 — what it represents, where it appears in UK electrical drawings, and how it relates to the rest of the symbol library.
Free for 7 days · No charge until day 8 · Cancel anytime · Used by 1,000+ UK electricians
Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
1,000+
UK electricians
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer — DP Electrical
A single switch that breaks or makes the live conductor to a load from one position. The most common domestic switch — used for a single lighting circuit controlled from one location.
Used in: Most lighting circuits, fans, immersion heaters, fixed loads with single control.
See all switch symbols →Right-click the symbol above to save the SVG, or use the AI Diagram Builder to drop it into a working drawing.
A single switch that breaks or makes the live conductor to a load from one position. The most common domestic switch — used for a single lighting circuit controlled from one location.
Most lighting circuits, fans, immersion heaters, fixed loads with single control.
For the full set of switch symbols, see the Switch Symbols reference page — covering every related symbol with the same level of installation context.
The Elec-Mate Diagram Builder gives you every BS EN 60617 symbol on a draggable canvas — perfect for EIC schedules, EICR observation diagrams…
Open the Diagram Builder
16 certificate types, 70+ calculators, RAMS, quoting, invoicing, AI agents, and 46+ training courses — from £6.99/mo.
Start free trialOther switch symbols you may need on the same drawing:
A single switch that breaks or makes the live conductor to a load from one position. The most common domestic switch — used for a single lighting circuit controlled from one location.
Used in: Most lighting circuits, fans, immersion heaters, fixed loads with single control.
See all switch symbols →
A switch with two fixed contacts and one common, allowing control of the same load from two locations. Always used in pairs with a second 2-way switch (e.g. staircase, hall-and-landing).
Used in: Staircases, halls with two entries, long corridors, bedrooms with both door and bedhead switches.
See all switch symbols →
A four-terminal switch wired between two 2-way switches to give control from three or more locations. The strappers cross over inside the switch.
Used in: Long corridors with three or more entries, large open-plan areas, stairs with mid-landing switch.
See all switch symbols →
A switch with a variable resistor or electronic dimming module that controls light output. Specify type — leading-edge for incandescent, trailing-edge or LED-rated for modern LED drivers.
Used in: Living areas, dining rooms, bedrooms; check the dimmer is compatible with the driver type.
See all switch symbols →
Two switches in one plate, each controlling a separate circuit. Often shown as a single symbol with two action lines or as two adjacent switch symbols on the drawing.
Used in: Bathrooms (light + extractor fan), kitchens (main light + over-cooker light), living rooms (two zones).
See all switch symbols →
A ceiling-mounted switch operated by a hanging cord. Required in zone 1 and zone 2 of bathrooms where wall switches inside the room are not permitted under BS 7671 Section 701.
Used in: Bathrooms (BS 7671 701.512.3 compliant), shower rooms, en-suites; also used for high-level switches.
See all switch symbols →
A 3-pole isolating switch that disconnects live, neutral and switched-live to a bathroom extractor fan. Required for safe maintenance — must be accessible but outside the bathroom zones.
Used in: Outside bathroom door, above the fan or in an adjacent room; needed on every extractor fan installation.
See all switch symbols →
A switch incorporating a passive infrared movement sensor. Turns the load on when motion is detected and off after a programmed time-out. Often combined with a manual override.
Used in: Toilets, corridors, stairwells, loft hatches, security lighting; reduces energy use in low-occupancy areas.
See all switch symbols →
A switch that controls load duration — either a momentary push-to-time or a 24-hour/weekly programmable timer. Common for immersion heaters, towel rails, and outdoor lighting.
Used in: Hot water tanks, towel rails, security lights, irrigation systems, signage lighting.
See all switch symbols →
A switch operated only with a key — used where unauthorised operation must be prevented. Common in schools, retail, plant rooms and emergency override circuits.
Used in: School halls, server rooms, retail shutters, emergency overrides, alarm bypass switches.
See all switch symbols →
A latching push-button that immediately disconnects supply to dangerous equipment. Mushroom head, red on yellow background. Must be reset deliberately — twist-release or key-reset.
Used in: Workshops, kitchens (cooker isolation), production lines, lifts, swimming pool plant rooms.
See all switch symbols →
A switching device that fully isolates a circuit or item of equipment for maintenance. Must be lockable in the OFF position per BS 7671 Section 537. Different from a functional switch.
Used in: Boilers, immersion heaters, EV chargers, solar PV DC isolators, sub-mains, plant equipment.
See all switch symbols →
A 45A double-pole switch with a neon indicator, used for high-load fixed appliances. Switches both live and neutral. Often labelled with the load it controls.
Used in: Electric showers, panel heaters, immersion tanks, towel rails — anything above 13A.
See all switch symbols →Verified reviews from the UK App Store.
Elec-Mate is my go to app for business and electrical work. It's feature rich without feeling cluttered. A true all in one app for quotes, certs, calculations, RAMS, EICRs, and more. I use it every day without fail, and it makes my workflow much smoother since I'm not jumping between apps anymore. The price-to-feature ratio is excellent. Any issues I've had, the developer responds within the hour and usually fixes them the same day. 100% recommend.
I've used the app and the web based version for a while now and it's well worth the investment. If you're an apprentice or experienced Spark give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
I've been using Elec-Mate for a while now, and honestly, it's one of the best apps I've ever downloaded. Every aspect of it feels thoughtfully designed, from the clean and intuitive interface to the powerful features that make everything so easy to manage. It's clear that a lot of care and attention went into building this app, and it shows in every detail.
Real feedback from real sparks
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer
Sole Trader · DP Electrical
“I've won two contracts this month because I could turn quotes around same-day with the AI cost engineer.”
Nathan Perry
Electrician · NP Electrical Services
“The study centre got me through my AM2. Mock exams and flashcards are brilliant.”
Jake Pizey
3rd Year Apprentice · Apprentice
Drag and drop BS EN 60617 symbols into circuit diagrams, EICR observation drawings, and EIC distribution schedules. 7-day free trial.
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer, DP Electrical
From £6.99/mo after trial — less than a coffee a week
We use cookies to improve the app and measure what works. Cookie Policy