Highway power supplies, street furniture, floodlighting, monument illumination, car park lighting and outdoor luminaires — the BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 requirements that apply, the items explicitly excluded, and the inspection-and-testing rules you must follow.
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
Section 714 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 covers outdoor lighting installations and a wider set of "highway power supplies and street furniture" items. The scope is broader than it sounds — it includes more than just streetlights.
Road traffic signal systems are explicitly excluded from the "outdoor lighting" classification but are included within "highway power supplies and street furniture" — and therefore still fall under Section 714 requirements.
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.
Several installation types that look like outdoor lighting are deliberately excluded from Section 714 — they are governed by other parts of BS 7671 or by other standards entirely.
Regulation 714.411.202 sets the maximum disconnection time for outdoor lighting circuits supplying fixed equipment:
The maximum disconnection time is 5 seconds whether the system is TN (per Regulation 411.3.2.3) or TT (per Regulation 411.3.2.4). This is the relaxed disconnection time appropriate to fixed external installations.
Note that this 5-second limit applies to fixed equipment such as street lighting columns. Socket-outlets in outdoor lighting installations follow the general additional-protection rules (30 mA RCD) and shorter disconnection times.
Outdoor luminaires and electrical equipment are exposed to weather, dust and (often) physical impact. BS 7671 sets minimum protection requirements via IP ratings.
Outdoor lighting that operates above the low voltage threshold requires a dedicated firefighter's switch so the supply can be safely isolated from the road during an incident.
A firefighter's switch shall be provided in the low-voltage circuit supplying outdoor lighting installations operating at a voltage exceeding low voltage. This applies to high-voltage floodlighting at sports stadiums, large outdoor venues and similar installations.
The switch must be positioned where the fire service can reach it from ground level, clearly labelled, and operable without keys, tools or unusual force. The local fire authority may have additional requirements on positioning and signage.
16 certificate types, 70+ calculators, RAMS, quoting, invoicing, AI agents, and 46+ training courses — from £6.99/mo.
Start free trial
Outdoor lighting installations need their own readily accessible means of isolation — relying on a distributor's cut-out is not acceptable without explicit approval.
Where luminaires are mounted within reach of the public, BS 7671 requires that access to live parts be deliberately difficult.
A luminaire mounted below 2.80 m above ground must permit access to the light source only after removing a barrier or enclosure that requires the use of a tool. This prevents casual contact with live parts at hand-reachable heights.
Outdoor lighting installations have a harsh duty cycle — weather, traffic vibration, vandalism and UV all degrade equipment. Verification covers:
IET Guidance Note 3 recommends a maximum periodic inspection interval of 6 years for highway lighting (with annual visual surveys), but local authorities and asset owners typically specify shorter intervals based on asset age and condition.
Documentation for outdoor lighting can extend beyond BS 7671 Part 6 — BS EN 62446 series provides additional requirements for system documentation, commissioning tests and inspection for larger installations.
Sequence for an electrician, designer or local authority asset team installing or inspecting outdoor lighting, highway power supplies, or street furniture.
Determine whether the work is genuinely an "outdoor lighting installation", a "highway power supply / street furniture" item, or specifically excluded (luminaires fed from a building's internal wiring, road traffic signals as outdoor lighting, temporary festoons). The classification dictates which subsection applies.
IP44 is the floor — but consider IP55 or higher for installations subject to hosing, hose-down wash, sea spray, or floodlighting on a sports pitch. Add UV stability and an appropriate IK rating where impact damage is foreseeable.
For fixed outdoor lighting circuits, design the earth fault loop impedance and protective device selection to meet a 5 s maximum disconnection time per Regulation 714.411.202, whether TN or TT.
Any outdoor lighting operating above the low voltage threshold requires a firefighter's switch per Regulation 537.4.2(a). Position the switch where the fire service can reach it from ground level without tools, label it clearly, and confirm requirements with the local fire authority.
Each distribution circuit supplying outdoor lighting must have its own readily accessible and properly identifiable means of isolation. Do not rely on a distributor's service cut-out unless you have explicit approval from the distributor in writing.
Where metalwork is close to a lighting column or street-furniture item but not part of it, assess the relationship to the main earthing terminal per Regulation 714.411.3.1.2 and bond where required.
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
Elec-Mate ships the digital EICR tool, 70+ calculators and BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 reference materials UK electricians use on highway, car park and floodlighting projects. 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.
“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