Amendment 4 introduced new columns to the Schedule of Circuit Details and Schedule of Test Results. Every electrician issuing certificates under A4:2026 needs to know what each new column captures, where the data comes from, and how to record it correctly. This guide walks through every change.
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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.
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BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 published 15 April 2026. The most visible day-to-day change for inspecting electricians is the new model form layout — every BS 7671 certificate, including the Schedule of Circuit Details and Schedule of Test Results, was redesigned. The A3:2024 form was formally withdrawn six months later, on 15 October 2026, after which it should not be used.
Between 15 April and 15 October 2026 either A3:2024 or A4:2026 forms were acceptable. From 15 October 2026 onwards, certificates must use the A4:2026 layout. Software providers (Elec-Mate included) shipped A4-compliant templates aligned to the April 2026 effective date.
Every key change in the 2026 amendment on one page. AFDDs, TN-C-S protection, new schedule columns, model forms. Pinned on your van dash.
A4:2026 added a "Reference method" column to the Schedule of Circuit Details. The column records the BS 7671 Appendix 4 installation reference method (A, B, C, D, E, F or G) used to size the cable. Previously this was sometimes recorded narratively in the Description column; A4 makes it a dedicated field.
The reference method directly governs the current-carrying capacity (Iz) of the cable. By making it a dedicated column, inspectors can verify at a glance that the protective device rating (In) doesn't exceed Iz after any grouping or temperature derating — a quick check that often surfaces cable-sizing non-compliance.
The new "Maximum permitted Zs" column on the Schedule of Circuit Details records the highest acceptable earth fault loop impedance for that protective device at the relevant disconnection time. The inspector then compares this value to the measured Zs in the Schedule of Test Results column.
A4:2026 added an SPD declaration field per distribution board on the Schedule of Circuit Details. Each board records which type(s) of surge protective device are fitted (or that none are fitted), using the standard SPD type codes:
A4 retained the risk-assessment approach to SPD selection (Regulation 443.4) but the new column makes the actual fitted type a visible field. For installations where the risk assessment shows SPD is required and the column shows "N/A", the EICR raises a coded observation.
A4:2026 added a "Supplied from" field per distribution board on the Schedule of Circuit Details. The field records the upstream source of the board's supply — typically the upstream distribution board reference, or "Mains" / "Origin" for the main board.
This change makes the upstream/downstream topology of the installation explicit on the certificate — invaluable for fault investigation, future modification, and inspection planning.
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A4:2026 added a Maximum Demand field per distribution board. The field records the designed or measured maximum load on the board, expressed in kVA, kW, or amperes per phase as appropriate.
Column 30 of the Schedule of Test Results records the AFDD test outcome for each circuit. For a full explanation of the AFDD test procedure and acceptance criteria, see the A4 AFDD Changes guide. In summary, column 30 records:
A4:2026 added a standard disclaimer to Section D of the EIC and EICR. The disclaimer makes explicit that the certificate is a point-in-time record and that the responsible person must check independently for post-issue safety alerts and product recalls affecting the installation.
A4:2026 tightened terminology across the model forms. Key change visible on every certificate:
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