Chronology
BS 1363 is periodically revised, and with supplements and amendments issued between major revisions. BS 1363:1984 and earlier versions dealt only with 13 A plugs and sockets. From 1989 onwards the standard was rearranged into five parts as follows:
- Part 1: Rewirable and non-rewirable 13 A fused plugs;
- Part 2: Switched and unswitched socket-outlets;
- Part 3: Adaptors;
- Part 4: 13 A fused connection units: switched and unswitched.
- Part 5: Fused conversion plugs
The following chronology shows revisions, supplements and significant amendments.
June 1947: BS 1363:1947 "Fused-Plugs and Shuttered Socket-Outlets" published.
May 1950: BS 1363:1947 Amendment 3, title changed to "Specification for two-pole and earthing-pin fused-plugs and shuttered socket-outlets for A.C. circuits up to 250 Volts (not intended for use on D.C. circuits)".
January 1957: BS 1363:1947 Amendment 5, added clause permitting operation of shutters by simultaneous insertion of two or more pins (in addition to original method using only earth pin).
January 1957: BS 1363:1947 Supplement No. 1 added specification for surface mounted sockets.
1957: Complementary standard published, BS 2814:1957 "Two-pole and earthing-pin flush-mounted 13-Amp switch socket-outlets for A.C. circuits up to 250 Volts". A separate standard specifying a switched version of the BS 1363 socket for use with BS 1363 plugs.
December 1960: BS 1363:1947 Supplement No. 2, added specification for Resilient Plugs.
December 1961: BS 2814:1957 Amendment 2, title simplified to "13 Ampere Switch Socket outlets".
1962: BS 2814:1957 Supplement No. 1 added specification for surface mounted switch outlets.
September 1967: BS 1363:1967 "Specification for 13A plugs, switched and unswitched socket-outlets and boxes" published. This standard superseded both BS 1363:1947 and BS 2814:1957. Only 3A and 13A fuses are specified. Resilient Plugs are included.
August 1984: BS 1363:1984 "Specification for 13A fused plugs switched and unswitched socket-outlets" published. This standard superseded BS 1363:1967. Changes include introduction of sleeved pins on Line and Neutral, metric dimensions replacing inches, specifications added for non-rewireable plugs and portable socket outlets. The standard was aligned, where possible, with the proposed IEC standard for domestic plugs and sockets.
February 1989: BS 1363-3:1989 "13A plugs socket-outlets and adaptors - Part 3: Specification for adaptors" published. This new standard covers adaptors for use with BS 1363 sockets and includes conversion adaptors (those which accept plugs of a different type), multiway adaptors (those which accept more than one plug, which may or may not be of a different type) and shaver adaptors. All adaptors (except for those accepting not more than two BS 1363 plugs) require to be fused. All socket outlets, including those to other standards, must be shuttered.
1994: A Product Approval Specification, PAS 003:1994, "Non-Rewireable 13A Plugs with Plastic Socket Shutter Opening Pins" published. PAS 003 allowed for the design and approval of plugs without earthing intended for class II applications only.
February 1995: BS 1363-1:1995 "13A plugs socket-outlets adaptors and connection units - Part 1: Specification for rewireable and non-rewireable 13A fused plugs" published. This standard, together with BS 1363-2:1995, supersedes BS 1363:1984. The provisions of PAS 003 are incorporated, but the plastic pin is redesignated as an "ISOD"
September 1995: BS 1363-2:1995 "13A plugs socket-outlets adaptors and connection units - Part 2: Specification for 13A switched and unswitched socket-outlets" published.
September 1995: BS 1363-3:1995 "13A plugs socket-outlets adaptors and connection units - Part 3: Specification for adaptors" published. Supersedes BS 1363-3:1989
November 1995: BS 1363-4:1995 "13A plugs socket-outlets adaptors and connection units - Part 4: Specification for 13A fused connection units switched and unswitched" published. A new standard.
August 2008: BS 1363-5:2008 "13A plugs socket-outlets adaptors and connection units - Part 5: Specification for 13A fused conversion plugs" published. A new standard.
May 2012: BS 1363-1:1995 +A4:2012 (Title unchanged) published. This amended standard allows switches to be incorporated into plugs, and introduced new overload tests amongst others. BS 1363-1:1995 will remain current until 31 May 2015.
May 2012: BS 1363-2:1995 +A4:2012 (Title unchanged) published. This amended standard adds a requirement that it shall not be possible to operate a shutter by the insertion of a two-pin Europlug, and introduced new temperature rise tests amongst others. BS 1363-2:1995 will remain current until 31 May 2015.
May 2012: BS 1363-4:1995 +A4:2012 (Title unchanged) published. Minor changes to BS 1363-4:1995 which will remain current until 31 May 2015.
(Note, a revised draft of the amended version of BS 1363-3:1995 was published in August 2012, but BS 1363-3:1995 +A4:2012 had not been published as at 21 October 2012.)
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