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# Regulations
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## What are the different types of Regulation?
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There are two types of regulations that we need to worry about: **Statutory Regulations** and **Non-Statutory Regulations**.
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### Statutory Regulations
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In the UK, statutory regulations are laws and requirements created by legislation.
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Here are the key statutory regulations that must be followed within the UK that apply to fire safety and fire alarm systems:
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- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)
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- The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
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- The Fire Safety Act 2021
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- Approved Document B (Fire Safety)
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### Non-Statutory Regulations
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Non-Statutory Regulations are issued by private entities and serve as a guide on how to comply with statutory regulations and establish best practices within the industry. Many non-statutory regulations commonly used in the fire and security industry are issued by BSI (British Standards Institute). The key regulations that apply to the Fire & Security industry are listed below:
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- **BS7671** → Requirements for Electrical Installations
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- **BS5839** → Fire detection & fire alarm systems for buildings
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- **BSEN54** → Fire detection & alarm systems
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- **BS5446** → Fire detection & alarm systems in dwellings
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- **BS7273** → Operation of fire protection measures
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- **BS5306** → Fire Extinguishing Installations
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- **BS5266** → Emergency Lighting
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#### Why should we care about BS7671?
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BS7671 (also known as the IET Wiring Regulations) applies to any electrical installation up to a maximum of 1000VAC or 1500VDC. This includes both Extra Low Voltage (up to 50VAC or 120VDC) and Low Voltage (50-1000VAC or 120-1500VDC). Fire Protection and Security Systems mostly operate within the Extra Low Voltage range, though some operate within the Low Voltage range (such as loudspeakers in event spaces that run on a 100VAC line).
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BS7671 is often overlooked within the fire & security industry, as many assume it only applies to mains electrical installations. However, as explained above, this is incorrect. BS7671 should be applied to Fire & Security installations to the fullest extent.
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## Statutory & Non-Statutory Simplified
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Put simply, the difference is that you can be directly prosecuted in a court of law for breaching a statutory regulation. Non-statutory regulations are not legislation and therefore cannot be used to prosecute you.
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However, it's not quite that simple. Non-statutory regulations, such as BSI standards, are considered the gold standard in the industry and are widely recognized by all industry accrediting bodies. While you cannot be prosecuted under non-statutory regulations, they can be used as evidence to prove incompetence or a lack of due care in legal proceedings.