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Jake Green, Head of Technical Engagement at Scolmore Group, explores the role of installation couplers and prefabricated wiring systems in modern electrical installations, highlighting the standards that govern their design, selection and use.
Installation couplers are used in a wide range of installations. These may include prefabricated buildings, showrooms, suspended floors and ceilings and the like.
BS EN IEC 61535:2019, Installation couplers intended for permanent connection in fixed installations, details the requirements for the manufacture of two-wire to five-wire installation couplers (including earth) and a rated connecting capacity of up to 10 mm2.
BS 8488:2009+A1:2010, Prefabricated wiring systems intended for permanent connection in fixed installations – Specification, is a related standard.
Whereas BS EN IEC 61535 covers the couplers themselves, BS 8488 deals with their use in prefabricated wiring systems. Both standards are referenced in a number of instances in BS 7671. These include 521.201, 526.2, 553.2.1, 559.5.1 and 559.5.4.
Manufacturer requirements
When a manufacturer designs and makes installation couplers conforming to BS EN IEC 61535 to place on the UK market, they must provide ‘…connectors (male and female) of one installation coupler system according to the specification of one and the same manufacturer shall be mated together for carrying out the test’ (clause 5.1 BS EN IEC 61535 refers) for type testing.
To be clear, clause 5.1 of BS EN IEC 61535 and the condition for tests requires a ‘system’ of couplers and connectors of one manufacturer only.
The question an installer may have is whether a mix-and-match approach is acceptable – that is, using different manufacturers’ products in the same installation. Manufacturers, understandably, will not provide a warranty for a mix-and-match approach since clause 5.1 of the standard precludes their use.
By way of a similar example, manufacturers will not provide a warranty to one of their consumer units where there is a mixing and matching of overcurrent devices produced by other manufacturers. The reason for this is that manufacturers type-test a consumer unit with all the various components present.
Prefabricated wiring systems
The informative Annex A of BS 8488 provides guidance on the use of prefabricated wiring systems in electrical installations. The use of such systems can make use of rigid or flexible cables and enable changes and repairs to be made swiftly. The connectors are designed to be ‘off-load’ devices.
Prefabricated wiring systems are classified according to standard current ratings from 6 A to 100 A a.c. and a rated voltage not exceeding 500 V a.c.
Installation couplers are not to be used instead of socket-outlets, and are not intended to be used in place of:
(Clause 6.2.1 BS 8488 refers.)
Conformity with BS 7671 when selecting prefabricated systems for use is essential.
Lighting connection and management
Earlier this year, Click Scolmore launched its new Flow 6-Pole range, an advanced addition to the company’s established Flow lighting connection and management system.
Designed to meet the growing demand for flexible, intelligent and future-proof lighting installations, the new 6-Pole solution brings enhanced capability for modern commercial environments – including full support for DALI, switch-dim and (0) 1-10 V dimming solutions.
The 6-Pole Flow connectors provide six dedicated terminals, enabling seamless integration with many lighting control systems, including both DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) and (0) 1-10 dimming. This allows luminaires, sensors and control devices to communicate intelligently, delivering precise lighting management and improved energy efficiency.
Conclusion
Installation couplers used as part of a prefabricated system, or where they are used in isolation, should not be matched with those of other manufacturers. Male and female connections are only type-tested when they are from one manufacturer.
The introduction of the 6-Pole range reflects Click Scolmore’s ongoing commitment to innovation and to supporting contractors with solutions that respond to changing legislation, energy-efficiency targets and the increasing complexity of modern lighting design.
This article appeared in Electrotechnical News September/October 2026 edition – read it here
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