Get step-by-step installation guidance for any electrical task. Cable routing with safe zone compliance, containment sizing, first fix and second fix checklists, and GN3 testing procedures. Every instruction includes the BS 7671 regulation reference.
Free for 7 days · No charge until day 8 · Cancel anytime · Used by 1,000+ UK electricians
1,000+
UK electricians
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer — DP Electrical
The AI Installation Specialist is one of eight specialist Elec-AI agents in the Elec-Mate platform. It provides step-by-step installation guidance for any electrical task, from simple accessory changes to complete rewires and complex commercial installations. Every instruction includes the relevant BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 regulation reference, so you can verify compliance at each step.
The agent is designed for two primary use cases. First, as a reference tool for experienced electricians who need quick guidance on tasks they perform less frequently — for example, a domestic electrician taking on a commercial project, or an electrician installing a solar PV system for the first time. Second, as a learning tool for apprentices and less experienced electricians who need detailed, step-by-step guidance with explanations of the reasoning behind each step.
The AI understands the full range of UK electrical installation work. It covers domestic installations (consumer units, rewires, additional circuits, bathroom and kitchen installations, garden offices, EV chargers), commercial installations (distribution boards, submains, three-phase systems, lighting controls, fire alarms, emergency lighting), and specialist installations (solar PV, battery storage, data cabling, EV charging infrastructure).
Every response is tailored to the specific context you describe. If you say the cable route passes through a loft with thermal insulation, the AI applies the correct insulation derating factor. If you say the property has a TT earthing system, the AI adjusts its guidance on earth fault loop impedance and RCD protection accordingly.
Cable routing is one of the areas where mistakes are most costly — both in terms of non-compliance and in terms of rework if cables need to be repositioned. The AI Installation Specialist provides comprehensive routing guidance based on BS 7671 Chapter 52 and the IET On-Site Guide.
The safe zone rules (Regulations 522.6.100 to 522.6.103) specify where cables can be installed within walls and partitions without additional mechanical protection. The AI explains these rules for each specific situation: solid walls, stud walls, walls with metal fixings, and horizontal cable runs. It also covers the circumstances where cables outside safe zones require additional protection — either by RCD protection, earthed metallic covering, or installation at a depth of 50mm or more.
For cable runs through structural elements, the AI provides guidance on notching and drilling rules for floor and ceiling joists. These are derived from Building Regulations Approved Document A and specify the permitted positions and sizes of notches and holes in joists without structural engineering approval. The AI explains the rules clearly: notches in the top of joists between 0.07 and 0.25 of the span, up to a depth of 0.125 of the joist depth; holes at mid-depth, between 0.25 and 0.4 of the span, up to a diameter of 0.25 of the joist depth, and at least 3 hole diameters apart.
Fire stopping at compartment boundaries is another critical requirement. The AI identifies when cables pass through fire-rated walls, floors, or ceilings, and specifies the appropriate fire stopping method — intumescent sealant, fire-rated compound, fire sleeves, or proprietary fire stopping systems — in accordance with Building Regulations Approved Document B and the specific fire rating of the compartment boundary.
Describe the cable route and the AI provides safe zone compliance, joist drilling rules, fire stopping requirements, and derating factors.
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The correct selection and sizing of cable containment is essential for both compliance and practical installation. The AI Installation Specialist helps you choose the right containment system and verify that it is correctly sized for the cables it will carry.
The AI calculates trunking fill using the cable factor method from the IET On-Site Guide. Each cable has a cable factor based on its overall diameter, and the total of all cable factors must not exceed 45% of the trunking internal cross-sectional area. The AI selects the smallest standard trunking size that satisfies this requirement and specifies the appropriate fixing method and spacing.
For conduit installations, the AI uses the conduit factor tables to determine the correct conduit size based on the number and size of cables and the number of bends in the run. It accounts for the increased difficulty of drawing cables through conduit runs with multiple bends and recommends draw-in boxes where necessary.
For cable tray and basket installations, the AI considers the load rating of the tray, the support bracket spacing, the method of cable installation (clipped to the tray or laid on the tray), and the grouping derating factors that apply. It also advises on the arrangement of cables on the tray — single layer versus stacked — and the impact on current-carrying capacity.
The AI also advises on the transition between containment types (for example, where trunking transitions to conduit or where cables leave containment to enter accessories), the requirements for segregation of different circuit categories within containment, and the earthing requirements for metallic containment systems.
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Start free trialThe AI provides structured checklists for both first fix and second fix stages of an electrical installation. These checklists ensure that nothing is missed and that work is carried out in the most efficient sequence to avoid rework.
First fix covers all work done before plastering and decoration. The AI guidance includes: back box installation (correct depth for the accessory type, secure fixing to the substrate), containment installation (trunking, conduit, tray — correctly sized and fixed), cable installation (correct cable type, correct route following safe zone rules, correct derating for grouping and insulation, sufficient length left at each termination point), earth bonding (main protective bonding conductors to incoming services, supplementary bonding where required), and fire stopping at all compartment boundary penetrations.
Second fix covers all work done after plastering and decoration. The AI guidance includes: accessory installation (correct termination, torque settings for screw terminals, conductor identification with coloured sleeving where required), consumer unit or distribution board final connections, circuit labelling and identification (Regulation 514.9.1), and the complete initial verification test sequence. The AI also covers the documentation requirements — producing the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) with Schedule of Inspections and Schedule of Test Results, or Minor Works Certificate as appropriate.
For each stage, the AI identifies inspection points — moments where you should stop and verify your work before moving on. These are based on the Schedule of Inspections in BS 7671, covering items like correct polarity, connection integrity, presence of fire barriers, and appropriateness of cable selection.
The AI Installation Specialist provides testing guidance that follows the sequence specified in IET Guidance Note 3: Inspection and Testing (9th Edition). The correct test sequence for initial verification is critical — tests must be carried out in the specified order because each test depends on the results of the previous one.
For each test, the AI specifies the correct instrument, the connections to make, the expected results for a compliant installation, and what to do if results are outside limits. This guidance is invaluable for electricians who test frequently but also for apprentices learning the test sequence for the first time.
The AI Installation Specialist walks you through the GN3 test sequence step by step. Instrument selection, connections, expected values…
Try it free for 7 daysFour steps from task description to complete installation guidance with testing procedures.
Tell the AI what you are installing — for example, "I need to install a 7.4 kW EV charger in a detached garage 15 metres from the consumer unit. TN-C-S supply, cable route through the loft and along the garage wall."
The AI provides a complete sequence of operations: cable sizing, protection device selection, routing requirements, containment specification, termination details, testing procedures, and certification requirements.
Drill into specific steps. "What derating factor applies for the cable in the loft insulation?" or "What Zs value should I expect at the charger?" The AI provides precise answers with regulation references.
Follow the guidance through the physical installation, testing, and certification. The AI covers the full lifecycle from design through to handover documentation.
Your on-site installation reference. Every feature is designed to guide you through the job correctly and efficiently.
Safe zone rules, depth requirements, notching and drilling limits for joists, fire stopping requirements, and derating factors for grouped cables.
Trunking fill calculations, conduit sizing, cable tray selection, and appropriate fixings for masonry, plasterboard, steel, and timber.
Complete checklists for first fix (back boxes, containment, cable installation) and second fix (accessories, termination…
GN3-compliant test sequences with instrument selection, connection diagrams, expected values, and guidance on what to do when results are outside limits.
Every instruction includes the specific regulation reference so you can verify compliance and document your work correctly.
Access installation guidance without signal. Ideal for new-build sites, basements, and plant rooms where connectivity is unreliable.
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Join 1,000+ UK electricians using Elec-Mate's AI Installation Specialist for step-by-step guidance on every task. 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
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