Cable routing is the most critical aspect of first fix. Every cable must follow a route that minimises the risk of damage during and after construction, complies with BS 7671, and allows the cable to carry its design current without overheating.
What counts as a prescribed zone
Regulation 522.6.202 requires a cable installed in a wall or partition to comply with Table 52.1. The footnote to that table defines the prescribed zones:
- Within 150 mm from the top of the wall or partition.
- Within 150 mm of an angle formed by two adjoining walls or partitions.
- Horizontally and vertically from any point, accessory or switchgear located on the wall. Wiring from any circuit can be installed in such a zone.
Where the location of the accessory, point or switchgear can be determined from the reverse side, a zone formed on one side of a wall or partition 100 mm thick or less extends to the reverse side.
There is no prescribed zone at the floor line. A run dropped to skirting level and taken horizontally gets nothing from the zone rules — plan routes accordingly.
Table 52.1 — what a cable in a wall actually needs
A4:2026 relocated the old Regulation 522.6.203 requirements into Table 52.1, so the protection now depends on two things: how deep the cable sits below the finished surface, and whether the wall or partition contains metallic parts.
| Wall construction | Cable less than 50 mm deep | Cable 50 mm or more deep |
|---|
| Without metallic parts | Installed in a prescribed zone and given additional protection by an RCD with the characteristics of Regulation 415.1.1; or comply with Regulation 522.6.204 | No additional impact protection required |
| With metallic parts | Installed in a prescribed zone and given additional protection by an RCD with the characteristics of Regulation 415.1.1; or installed in a prescribed zone and comply with Regulation 522.6.204 | Given additional protection by an RCD with the characteristics of Regulation 415.1.1; or comply with Regulation 522.6.204 |
Regulation 415.1.1 is the 30 mA figure: an RCD with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA, recognised in AC systems as additional protection. The practical catch is the bottom row — a metal-stud partition contains metallic parts, so a cable in it needs protection at any depth, not just under 50 mm.
The Regulation 522.6.204 alternatives
Where Table 52.1 allows Regulation 522.6.204 instead of an RCD, the cable shall:
- incorporate an earthed metallic covering complying with the requirements of BS 7671 for a protective conductor of the circuit concerned, the cable complying with BS 5467, BS 6724, BS 7846, BS 8436 or BS EN 60702-1; or
- be installed in earthed conduit complying with BS EN 61386-21 and satisfying the requirements of BS 7671 for a protective conductor; or
- be enclosed in earthed trunking or ducting complying with BS EN 50085-2-1 and satisfying the requirements of BS 7671 for a protective conductor; or
- be provided with mechanical protection against damage sufficient to prevent penetration of the cable by nails, screws and the like; or
- form part of a SELV or PELV circuit meeting the requirements of Regulation 414.4.
Cables through joists and battens
Regulation 522.6.201 covers the floors and ceilings. A cable installed under a floor or above a ceiling shall be run in a position where it is not liable to be damaged by contact with the floor or ceiling or their fixings. A cable passing through a joist within a floor or ceiling construction, or through a ceiling support such as under floorboards, shall be installed at least 50 mm measured vertically from the top, or bottom as appropriate, of the joist or batten — or comply with Regulation 522.6.204.
That 50 mm is the electrical rule. The structural rules for where you are allowed to drill a joist at all — position along the span, hole diameter relative to joist depth, spacing between holes, and the general preference for drilled holes over notches — come from the Building Regulations and the timber design guidance, not from BS 7671. On a new build, confirm them with the frame designer before you start boring holes.
Two A4:2026 changes that decide your board
Both of these are consumer unit decisions, and both have to be made at first fix — before the board position is fixed and the unit is ordered.
Regulation 411.3.4 — 30 mA RCD on domestic lighting
Within domestic (household) premises, additional protection by an RCD with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA shall be provided for AC final circuits supplying luminaires. This is a "shall", not a recommendation. At first fix it means every lighting circuit you run has to be assigned to an RCD-protected way on the board schedule.
Regulation 421.1.7 — AFDDs, required in four building types
A4:2026 redrafted this regulation, and it is no longer a flat recommendation. AFDDs conforming to BS EN 62606 shall be provided for single-phase AC final circuits supplying socket-outlets with a rated current not exceeding 32 A in high rise residential buildings (HRRBs), houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), purpose-built student accommodation, and care homes. For all other premises, AFDDs are recommended for the same circuits. Where used, AFDDs shall be placed at the origin of the circuit to be protected, which drives both the type of board and the number of ways you need. The note to the regulation assumes a high rise residential building is over 18 m in height or in excess of six storeys, whichever is met first.
In practice, planning cable routes before drilling and chasing saves significant time. Mark out accessory positions on the walls, plan the runs from each position back to the consumer unit, and identify any crossings or shared routes where containment will be needed.