Special Locations Part 7: Every Section Explained for UK Electricians

Part 7 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 contains supplementary regulations for special installations and locations. These are environments where the general rules of Parts 1 to 6 are not sufficient on their own because the risk of electric shock, fire, or thermal effects is increased beyond normal conditions.

The fundamental principle is additive: the general requirements still apply in full, but Part 7 adds extra requirements or modifies certain general rules for the specific environment. Where a Part 7 regulation conflicts with a general regulation, the Part 7 regulation takes precedence for that location.

Part 7 of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 contains twenty-one special location sections, numbered from Section 701 to Section 753: 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 714, 715, 716, 717, 721, 722, 729, 730, 740 and 753 (Section 700 is the general introduction to Part 7). Not all section numbers are used — the numbering follows the international standard IEC 60364-7 (for example, there is no Section 707). The most commonly encountered special locations in UK domestic and commercial work are bathrooms (701), swimming pools (702), construction sites (704), and solar PV installations (712), and those are the sections this guide covers in detail.

Every electrician working in the UK must be familiar with Part 7. These sections are heavily tested in the C&G 2382 (18th Edition) and C&G 2391 (Inspection & Testing) exams, and failure to apply the correct special location regulations on site can result in a dangerous installation.

Section 701 is the most commonly encountered special location. It applies to any room containing a fixed bath or shower, including en-suites, wet rooms, and shower rooms. A room with only a wash basin does not fall under Section 701.

The key concept is the zone system. Section 701 defines three zones around the bath or shower, each with specific requirements for equipment IP ratings, wiring methods, and permitted accessories:

Socket-outlet siting (Reg 701.512.3): Socket-outlets are prohibited within 2.50 m measured horizontally from the boundary of Zone 1. This is the regulation inspectors check when assessing socket positions in bathrooms. The only exceptions are SELV socket-outlets complying with Section 414 and shaver supply units complying with BS EN 61558-2-5.

All circuits in a bathroom must be protected by a 30 mA RCD (Reg 701.411.3.3). Supplementary bonding (Reg 701.415.2) may be omitted only where the building has a protective equipotential bonding system in accordance with Regulation 411.3.1.2, all final circuits of the location meet the automatic disconnection requirements of Regulation 411.3.2, all final circuits have 30 mA RCD additional protection, and all extraneous-conductive-parts of the location are effectively connected to that bonding — in practice most modern installations meet these conditions, but the electrician must verify it.

Section 702 applies to swimming pools, paddling pools, hot tubs, and their surrounding areas. The hazard level is significantly higher than a bathroom because of the large volume of water, the extended body immersion, and the reduced skin resistance when wet.

The zone system for swimming pools is more extensive than for bathrooms:

Supplementary equipotential bonding is mandatory in swimming pool locations (Reg 702.415.2). All extraneous-conductive-parts in Zones 0, 1 and 2 must be connected by supplementary protective bonding conductors to the protective conductors of the exposed-conductive-parts of equipment situated in those zones.

For a detailed breakdown of swimming pool electrical regulations, including hot tubs, paddling pools, and fountain installations, see our dedicated guide.

Section 703 covers rooms and cabins containing sauna heaters. The primary hazard is extreme temperature combined with humidity, which increases the risk of insulation degradation and reduces the body's skin resistance.

Section 703 defines three zones (Regs 703.32.1 to 703.32.3). Zone 1 is the volume containing the sauna heater, bounded by the floor, the cold side of the ceiling insulation and a vertical surface 0.5 m from the heater. Zone 2 is the volume outside Zone 1 from the floor up to 1.0 m above the floor. Zone 3 is the volume outside Zone 1 above that 1.0 m plane, up to the cold side of the ceiling insulation — it is Zone 3 that carries the heat-resistance requirements, because the hottest air sits high in the cabin.

Regulation 703.411.3.3 requires additional protection by a 30 mA RCD for all circuits of the sauna — but it expressly states that RCD protection need not be provided for the sauna heater itself unless the manufacturer recommends it. A dedicated circuit from the consumer unit, with an appropriate overcurrent device, is standard practice.

Section 704 applies to temporary electrical installations on construction and demolition sites. These are high-risk environments: exposed wiring, water, mud, mechanical damage, and a transient workforce unfamiliar with the electrical layout.

Electricians working on construction sites should also be familiar with the safe isolation procedure (GS38) and the requirements of CDM Regulations 2015 for temporary electrical installations.

Section 705 covers electrical installations in agricultural and horticultural premises including farms, barns, greenhouses, and livestock buildings. These environments present unique hazards: livestock have a lower body resistance than humans, moisture and corrosive atmospheres are common, and there is a high risk of mechanical damage from farm machinery and animals.

Farm installations are often old and have been modified multiple times over decades. EICR inspections on agricultural premises require careful attention to the age and condition of the installation, the presence of corrosive atmospheres (e.g., silage storage, fertiliser stores), and the routing of cables through areas accessible to animals.

Section 706 covers locations where a person is in contact with earthed metalwork and where movement is restricted — for example, inside a metal tank, boiler, or duct. The body is in intimate contact with conductive surfaces, and escape from an electric shock is difficult.

This section is less commonly encountered in domestic work but is critical for industrial electricians working on tanks, vessels, and large metallic enclosures.

Section 708 covers the electrical installation in caravan parks and similar sites where caravans, motor homes, or tents are connected to the site supply. The primary hazards are exposure to weather, temporary connections made by non-qualified users, and the fact that caravans are conductive metal shells.

Caravan park installations must be inspected and tested at intervals not exceeding 1 year. The EICR should note the earthing arrangement at each pitch and confirm RCD operation for every socket outlet.

Section 709 covers electrical installations in marinas and similar locations providing shore-side electrical supplies to boats. The combination of water, salt, and conductive hulls creates an extremely high-risk environment.

Marina installations are inspected at intervals not exceeding 1 year. The corrosive marine environment means equipment deterioration is faster than in standard installations — IP ratings and cable gland integrity must be checked carefully during each inspection.

Section 711 covers temporary electrical installations at exhibitions, shows, and similar events. The hazards include rapid assembly and dismantling by non-specialists, the use of temporary wiring, high public footfall, and the mix of fixed and portable equipment.

Exhibition installations are dismantled after each event, so durability is less of a concern than safety during assembly and the event itself. Electricians involved in exhibition work need to be comfortable with rapid installation and testing to tight deadlines.

Section 712 covers the electrical installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems. With the growth of domestic and commercial solar installations across the UK, this section has become one of the most important in Part 7.

The technical content of Section 712 was extensively revised and expanded by Amendment 2:2022, which also widened its scope to cover PV installations that are off-grid, in parallel with the public distribution system, or an alternative to it. That revised text is carried into BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, which also deleted Regulations 712.443 and 712.551.7.2. Electricians installing or inspecting PV systems must work from BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — earlier editions do not reflect the current requirements.

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Special Locations BS 7671:2018+A4:2026

Special Locations guidance for BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. Section 701–753 rules for bathrooms, saunas, pools, hazardous areas. Instant lookup, no guesswork.

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Part 7 is one of the most examination-heavy areas of BS 7671. Whether you are studying for the 18th Edition exam or preparing for the C&G 2391 inspection and testing qualification, you need to know the zone dimensions, IP ratings, disconnection times, and permitted equipment for every special location.

On site, the challenge is applying the regulations correctly. Is that shower room a Section 701 location or not? Does the hot tub in the garden fall under 702? What earthing arrangement does the caravan park need? These are real questions that come up on real jobs — and getting them wrong can create a dangerous installation or a failed EICR.

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