Prompted by another thread, I thought this short history of the U.K. IEE Wiring Regulations might be of passing interest. I've taken the following from the introductory pages of my old 1970 edition. Notice the change in title over the early years.

FIRST EDITION. Entitled "Rules and Regulations for the Prevention of Fire Risks arising from Electric Lighting." Issued in 1882.

SECOND EDITION. Issued 1888.

THIRD EDITION. Entitled "General Rules recommended for Wiring for the Supply of Electrical Energy." Issued 1897.

FOURTH EDITION. Issued 1903.

FIFTH EDITION. Entitled "Wiring Rules." Issued 1907.

SIXTH EDITION. Issued 1911.

SEVENTH EDITION. Issued 1916.

EIGHTH EDITION. Entitled "Regulations for the Electrical Equipment of Buildings." Issued in 1924.

NINTH EDITION. Issued 1927.

TENTH EDITION. Issued 1934.

ELEVENTH EDITION. Issued 1939.

ELEVENTH EDITION (REVISED). Issued 1943.

ELEVENTH EDITION (REVISED 1943). Reprinted with minor amendments 1945.
Supplement issued 1946.
Revised Section 8 issued 1948.

TWELFTH EDITION. Issued 1950.
Supplement issued 1954.

THIRTEENTH EDITION. Issued 1955.
Reprinted with minor corrections 1958.
Reprinted incorporating Amendments 1958.
Reprinted incorporating Amendments 1961.
Reprinted incorporating Amendments 1962.
Reprinted incorporating Amendments 1964.
Amendments issued, 1964.

FOURTEENTH EDITION. Issued in 1966.
Reprinted incorporating Amendments, 1968.
Reprinted incorporating Amendments, 1969.
Supplement on use in metric terms issued, 1969.
Amendments issued, 1970.
Reprinted in metric units incorporating Amendments, 1970.

I don't have a copy of the 1981 edition to continue from there (did the 15th edition even include a list?).

Paul
It would be really cool to have a read of them older Reg's (1882- 1897).

Whoa, that's old! The first known code in Austria was issued in 1926!

Yes, the "Regs" have been around while!

I have a copies of the 14th edition, both in the original 1966 issue and the 1970 metric issue, and I also have the ASEE Guide to the 13th Edition Regs., but I can't go back any further than that.