The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is set to release the 5th Edition of the National Rules for Electrical Installations, known as IS 10101:2020, on March 6, 2020. This new standard will replace the previous 4th Edition, ET 101:2008.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is the governing body responsible for overseeing restricted and controlled electrical work in the Republic of Ireland. It acts through its designated Safety Supervisory Body, Safe Electric, to ensure that electrical contractors adhere to the latest standards. To facilitate this transition, the CRU has established a 24-month period during which compliance with the new standard, IS 10101:2020, will be enforced.

Starting from April 1, 2020, the transition period officially commences, allowing electrical installations to be designed in accordance with the new standard.

As of October 1, 2020, a six-month grace period begins, during which all new electrical installations must be both designed and certified to meet the new standard.

By April 1, 2022, which marks the end of the 24-month transition period, all electrical installations must be certified to meet the new standard.

However, during this transition phase, it is permissible to design installations in accordance with the old standard until September 30, 2020, as long as they are certified to at least a pre-connection stage by March 31, 2022.

It is crucial for the Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs) performing these works to ensure that they certify them according to the correct standard and within the specified timeframe. If RECs submit certificates based on the old standard after the specified deadlines, Safe Electric will not process those certificates. In such cases, RECs will be required to update the installation to comply with the new standard, IS 10101:2020.

It's important to note that the implementation of the new standard will not result in any changes to the certificates of completion or the certification process facilitated by Safe Electric.