SPECIALIST INSTALLATION

Caravan Park Electrical Installation UK: BS 7671 Section 708

Everything electricians and park operators need to know about caravan park electrical installations — BS 7671 Section 708 requirements, IEC 60309 CEE connectors, 30 mA RCD protection, socket outlet spacing, TT earthing, and annual inspection obligations.

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13 min readUpdated 2026-06-10Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

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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What are the BS 7671 rules for caravan park electrics?

BS 7671 Section 708 covers caravan and camping park installations. Each pitch socket-outlet must be rated at least 16A (Reg 708.55.1.5), individually protected by its own overcurrent device (Reg 708.533) and a 30mA RCD, with no more than four socket-outlets grouped together (Reg 708.55.1.3). Sockets are mounted 0.5–1.5m above ground and rated at least IP44 for outdoor use.

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Key Takeaways

  • 1BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 Section 708 is the specific section governing electrical installations in caravan parks and similar locations. Every pitch supply must comply with its requirements.
  • 2Each caravan pitch must be supplied through an individual supply equipment assembly incorporating overcurrent protection, 30 mA RCD protection, and a socket outlet to IEC 60309 (CEE form).
  • 3RCDs must disconnect within 40 ms at 5× the rated residual operating current. This is a life-safety requirement in the outdoor, damp environment of caravan parks.
  • 4Socket outlets must be positioned so the connecting cable from the pitch supply point to the caravan does not exceed 20 m (Regulation 708.55.1.2).
  • 5TT earthing is common at caravan parks. The product of the earth electrode resistance and RCD operating current must not exceed 50 V.
  • 6The recommended periodic inspection interval for caravan park installations reflects the harsh outdoor environment and seasonal heavy use. Annual inspection is industry practice for sites in continuous operation.
01 · Specialist Installation

BS 7671 Section 708: Caravan Parks and Similar Locations

BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 Part 7 addresses special installations and locations that present particular hazards or operating conditions not fully covered by the general requirements in Parts 1 to 6. Section 708 — Electrical Installations in Caravan Parks, Camping Parks and Similar Locations — is the authoritative technical standard for all electricians and designers working on caravan park electrical systems in the UK.

  • Scope — Section 708 covers electrical installations for supplying electricity to caravans, motorhomes, and other leisure vehicles at caravan parks, camping parks, and similar locations. It applies to the fixed installation from the origin of supply to (and including) the pitch supply equipment. The internal wiring of individual caravans is covered by a separate standard (BS EN 1648).
  • Modifications to general requirements — Section 708 modifies certain general regulations in BS 7671 to reflect the specific hazards of outdoor, semi-public installations. Where Section 708 is silent, the general regulations apply. Where Section 708 is more onerous, Section 708 takes precedence.
  • Risk profile — caravan park installations present elevated risk due to outdoor environments with weather exposure, non-expert users connecting and disconnecting supplies, high pedestrian traffic near electrical equipment, seasonal heavy loading, and proximity of metallic structures (caravan bodies, water pipes) that may become energised in fault conditions.

Electricians carrying out design, installation, or inspection work at caravan parks should hold a current BS 7671 qualification and be familiar with the specific requirements of Part 7. The IET has published supplementary guidance in IET Guidance Note 7 (Special Locations).

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02 · Specialist Installation

Individual Pitch Supply Equipment

Each caravan pitch must be supplied through a dedicated individual supply equipment assembly. Regulation 708.553.1 sets out the minimum requirements for these assemblies, typically housed in a weatherproof enclosure mounted on a post at each pitch.

  • Overcurrent protection — each pitch supply must incorporate an MCB or fuse providing overcurrent protection. The rating is typically 16 A for standard pitches, matching the 16 A IEC 60309 socket outlet. The MCB must be accessible to enable isolation of the pitch without affecting other pitches.
  • RCD protection — a 30 mA residual current device must protect each pitch supply. The RCD and MCB are typically combined as an RCBO in modern pitch supply units, providing both fault current protection and overcurrent protection in a single device per pitch.
  • Weatherproof enclosure — the supply equipment assembly must be housed in an enclosure with a minimum IP rating of IP44. Enclosures in exposed locations may require IP54 or IP65. Enclosures must maintain their IP rating whether a plug is inserted or not.
  • Mechanical protection — IK08 minimum — Regulation 708.512.2.1.3 requires that equipment installed at a campsite be protected against mechanical damage at impact severity AG3. This may be achieved by siting the equipment to avoid foreseeable impact, by fitting local or general mechanical guards, or by specifying equipment rated to a minimum of IK08 (per BS EN 62262). Bollard-style enclosures and protective posts satisfy the location and guarding methods; alternatively, selecting a supply unit with a verified IK08 rating meets the requirement directly.
03 · Specialist Installation

IEC 60309 CEE Connectors (Blue 16 A)

The IEC 60309 standard (implemented in the UK as BS EN 60309) specifies industrial plugs, socket outlets, and couplers for industrial and outdoor use. For caravan park hookups, the blue 16 A, single-phase, 230 V, 50 Hz variant (clock position at 6 o'clock) is the universal standard across the UK and Europe.

  • Colour coding — CEE connectors are colour-coded by voltage and frequency. Blue indicates 200–250 V, 50/60 Hz. Three pins (line, neutral, earth) for single-phase, and the 6h clock position for 230 V single-phase prevents incorrect connection between different voltage systems.
  • IP rating — IEC 60309 socket outlets are available in IP44 and IP67 ratings. IP44 is the minimum for outdoor caravan park use. A self-closing cover on the socket face maintains the IP rating when no plug is inserted.
  • Earth contact first — CEE connectors are designed so the earth contact engages first when connecting and disengages last when disconnecting. This earthing-before-energising sequence is a fundamental safety feature of the IEC 60309 design.
  • EHU cables — caravan users connect via a proprietary electric hookup (EHU) cable with a CEE plug at one end and an inlet socket at the caravan end. These cables must be rated for outdoor use. The 20 m distance limit in Regulation 708.55.1.2 governs pitch layout; EHU cables must not bridge a gap greater than this limit between the supply point and the caravan connection facility.
04 · Specialist Installation

RCD Requirements Under Section 708

Residual current device (RCD) protection is a cornerstone of caravan park electrical safety. The outdoor environment, non-expert users, and proximity to earthed metalwork make 30 mA RCD protection at each pitch a non-negotiable requirement under Section 708.

  • 30 mA maximum IΔn — Regulation 411.3.3 (applied via Section 708) requires each pitch supply socket outlet be protected by an RCD with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA. This threshold provides protection against fatal electric shock: the let-go current for most adults is around 10–15 mA, and a 30 mA RCD limits the duration of a shock to prevent cardiac fibrillation.
  • Type A RCDs — modern caravans and motorhomes contain electronic equipment (battery chargers, inverter-chargers) that can produce pulsating DC residual currents. Type AC RCDs do not detect pulsating DC currents. Type A RCDs are required where such equipment may be connected — in practice, all new pitch supply installations.
  • TT systems and earth electrode resistance — where TT earthing is used, the product of the earth electrode resistance (RA) and the RCD rated operating current (IΔn) must not exceed 50 V: RA × IΔn ≤ 50 V. With a 30 mA RCD this means the earth electrode resistance must not exceed 1667 Ω, though in practice a much lower resistance (under 200 Ω) is recommended.

RCDs must be tested at every periodic inspection using a calibrated RCD tester. Test records should include the operating time at IΔn (must not exceed 300 ms) and at 5× IΔn (must not exceed 40 ms). Results are recorded in the EICR schedule of test results.

05 · Specialist Installation

Socket Outlet Positioning and the 20 m Rule

The positioning of pitch supply units is critical both for safety and user convenience. Section 708 contains specific requirements on the maximum cable length between the supply point and the caravan, which directly governs how supply points must be spaced across the park.

  • 20 m maximum distance — Regulation 708.55.1.2 requires that caravan pitch electrical supply equipment shall be located not more than 20 m from the connection facility on the leisure accommodation vehicle or tent when on its pitch. This limit controls voltage drop and prevents excessive cable lying across the site creating trip hazards.
  • One supply point per pitch — each caravan pitch must have its own dedicated supply point. Sharing a supply point between multiple pitches is not permitted, as it prevents individual isolation, makes metering impractical, and may compromise individual RCD protection requirements.
  • Mounting height — Regulation 708.55.1.6 requires the lowest part of any socket outlet to be placed at a height between 0.5 m and 1.5 m from the ground. Exceeding the 1.5 m maximum is permitted only in extreme environmental conditions (for example, sites at risk of flooding or heavy snow) provided special measures are taken to allow safe insertion and withdrawal of plugs.
  • Maximum 4 socket outlets per enclosure — Regulation 708.55.1.3 states that, in order to avoid any hazard due to long connection cables, no more than 4 socket outlets shall be grouped together in any one enclosure. On older multi-pitch supply pillars with 6 or 8 outlets in a single cabinet, this is a common C2 observation on an EICR.

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06 · Specialist Installation

Earthing Considerations for Caravan Parks

Earthing at caravan parks is one of the most technically demanding aspects of a Section 708 installation. The earthing system must reliably limit touch voltages in fault conditions, support RCD operation, and remain effective across seasonal variations in ground conditions typical of UK sites.

  • TT systems — many caravan parks are supplied by overhead lines where a TN-C-S protective earth is not reliably available at each pitch. TT earthing using local earth electrodes is common. Earth electrode resistance must be measured during commissioning and at each periodic inspection.
  • Equipotential bonding — all metallic structures in the vicinity of pitch supply equipment — fencing, water pipes, drainage channels — must be assessed for supplementary equipotential bonding. Where metallic structures are within arm's reach of live equipment, bonding is required to prevent dangerous potential differences in fault conditions.
  • PME prohibition — Regulation 708.553.1.14 is an absolute prohibition: socket-outlet protective conductors shall not be connected to a PME (TN-C-S) earthing facility. This applies even where the DNO supplies the park via a PME network. Where PME is present, a separate earth electrode must be installed to serve the pitch socket-outlet protective conductors, effectively creating a TT arrangement for the pitch supplies regardless of the incoming supply system.
  • Seasonal variation — earth electrode resistance varies with soil moisture content. Dry summer conditions can significantly increase earth electrode resistance, potentially compromising the RA × IΔn ≤ 50 V requirement. Site owners should be advised to irrigate soil around earth electrodes during prolonged dry spells, and inspection records should note any seasonal concerns.
07 · Specialist Installation

Metering and Submain Distribution

Larger caravan parks distribute electricity to pitches via a hierarchical system: a main incoming supply and metering, submain distribution cables to zone distribution boards, and individual pitch supply units. Metering may be provided at individual pitches or electricity cost may be included in the pitch fee.

  • Individual metering — where per-pitch metering is provided (increasingly common at premium sites), the meter is installed within or adjacent to the pitch supply unit. Prepayment meters are popular as they eliminate billing complexity. Metering equipment must be weatherproof and suitable for outdoor use.
  • Submain cables — submain cables between distribution boards and pitch supply units must be sized to carry maximum expected load with adequate voltage drop performance and fault current capacity. Underground cables must be armoured and installed in accordance with BS 7671 requirements for buried cables.
  • Diversity — maximum demand calculations must apply diversity. Not all pitches will be occupied simultaneously, and caravans rarely run at full connected load. The design must ensure that under realistic worst-case loading the supply is adequate and voltage drop limits are not exceeded.
08 · Specialist Installation

For Electricians: Caravan Park Inspection and Certification

Caravan park electrical work — installation, commissioning, and periodic inspection — requires knowledge of Section 708 and experience with outdoor, TT-earthed installations. Electricians who specialise in this work can build valuable recurring contracts with park operators, who are legally required to have their installations inspected annually.

Complete EICRs On Site

Use the Elec-Mate EICR app to complete inspection reports pitch-by-pitch on your phone. Record RCD test results, earth electrode resistance measurements, and socket outlet observations directly in the schedule of test results. Generate the PDF report before leaving the site.

Annual Inspection Contracts

The recommended annual inspection interval means repeat business for the electrician. Use the quoting app to offer multi-year maintenance contracts to park operators, building predictable recurring revenue.

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10th Edition BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 EICR inspections for caravan sites. Complete test recording, reporting, and compliance tracking.

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