REBT in August 2026. Which framework already applies and which deadlines are still open?
The updated ITC-BT-02 list has applied since 4 April 2025. As of 6 August 2026, the general coexistence period has already ended, several specific periods for continuing to use previous editions have also expired, and three key dates remain open: 24 August and 7 September 2026, and 6 January 2027.
The 2025 list is now the reference framework; in 2026 it is essential to distinguish what has expired, what remains open and what is still only a draft
El Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation continua aprovat pel Royal Decree 842/2002, with its subsequent amendments. The Resolution of 20 March 2025 did not replace the entire REBT: it updated the annex to ITC-BT-02, that is, the standards editions used as the technical reference.
The general coexistence period for the replaced editions ended on 1 October 2025. By August 2026, among others, the periods during which the previous editions replaced by UNE-EN 50626-1:2024, UNE-EN 62196-1, -2 and -3:2023 and UNE-EN 60335-2-60:2024+A11:2024 could continue to be used have already ended. However, the specific coexistence periods associated with UNE-HD 60364-4-43:2024, UNE-EN IEC 61439-5:2024 and UNE-EN IEC 60079-17:2024 are still open.
To determine the applicable edition, looking only at the project date is not enough. Two different legal mechanisms must be distinguished: edition coexistence i the limited safeguard for certain installations that were already under execution. This second route only applies under the strict conditions laid down by the resolution.
What exactly has changed in ITC-BT-02?
The Directorate-General for Industrial Strategy and SMEs replaced the previous list with a new list of standards editions. Since April 2025 this has been the reference framework, but in 2026 the specific deadlines and the documentary status of each file still need to be checked.
It changes the technical reference layer, not the entire architecture of the regulation
Article 26 of the REBT allows the technical instructions to refer to UNE or international standards. When these standards are revised, a resolution must identify the new editions and, where appropriate, set the end date for the previous editions.
The dates that determine which standards edition may be applied
The resolution regulates two independent mechanisms. Coexistence allowed a choice between the new and previous edition until a certain date. The safeguard for installations under execution is more restrictive and only applies when a new installation standard is incorporated and all the established conditions are met.
Edition coexistence and safeguard for works under execution
As of 6 August 2026, the general date has already passed, but some specific deadlines remain open. Separately, certain installations under execution may retain the previous installation standards for a maximum of two years if they fully meet the conditions in the BOE note.
It allowed the previous or new edition to be used until 1 October 2025, except where the “Coexistence” column set a later date. It did not require the work to have already been under execution.
Only when the list incorporates a new installation standard. It requires the installation to have already been under execution on 4 April 2025 and the project to have been electronically signed or officially endorsed beforehand; where no project is required, the licence must have been requested or the technical report electronically signed beforehand. The maximum two-year period is not a general extension.
UNE-HD 60364-4-43:2024
Protection against overcurrents. The 2013 edition may coexist with the 2024 edition until 24 August 2026.
Until 24.08.2026UNE-EN IEC 61439-5:2024
Assemblies for public distribution networks. The previous edition indicated in the BOE may coexist with the 2024 edition until 7 September 2026.
Until 07.09.2026UNE-EN IEC 60079-17:2024
Inspection and maintenance in explosive atmospheres. The previous edition indicated in the BOE may coexist with the 2024 edition until 6 January 2027.
Until 06.01.2027UNE-EN 50626-1:2024
Buried conduit systems. The previous edition indicated in the BOE was allowed to coexist with the 2024 edition until 22 July 2026.
Until 22.07.2026UNE-EN 62196-1:2023
General requirements for plugs, socket-outlets, connectors and vehicle inlets. The 2015 edition was allowed to coexist with the 2023 edition until 10 November 2025.
Until 10.11.2025UNE-EN 62196-2 i -3:2023
Connectors and couplers for conductive charging of electric vehicles. The previous editions were allowed to coexist with the 2023 editions until 24 November 2025.
Until 24.11.2025UNE-EN 60335-2-60:2024 + A11
Safety of whirlpool baths and similar equipment. The previous edition indicated in the BOE was allowed to coexist with the 2024+A11:2024 edition until 30 May 2026.
Until 30.05.2026Where can the update have a technical impact?
The revision is not equivalent to a single new requirement. It affects different standards families and may change product, selection, coordination, testing, verification or documentation requirements depending on the type of installation.
Protection and switchboards
Updates relating to circuit breakers, switchgear, overcurrent protection, surge protection and low-voltage assemblies.
- Coordination and characteristics of the devices.
- Marking and standards edition of the equipment.
- Verification of the assembly and intended protection.
Cables and wiring systems
The list incorporates updated editions for cables, conduit systems, trunking and buried wiring systems.
- Reaction-to-fire performance.
- Environmental and mechanical conditions.
- Compatibility between product, use and installation system.
Photovoltaics and storage
Specific references appear for photovoltaic cables, DC surge protection, arc detection and stationary lithium batteries.
- Direct-current side and inverters.
- Surge protection in PV installations.
- Safety of storage systems.
Electric vehicle charging
The list updates connectors, couplers and specifications linked to protection systems for the main supply line.
- Applicable edition of IEC 62196 connectors.
- Compatibility of the charging point.
- Traceability with ITC-BT-52.
ATEX and explosive atmospheres
UNE-EN IEC 60079-17:2024 updates the inspection and maintenance criteria for electrical installations in classified locations.
- Inspection programme.
- Personnel competence.
- Record of defects and actions.
Verification and special installations
References in the UNE-HD 60364 series are also updated for protection, earthing, verifications, construction sites, agricultural premises, campsites and other locations.
- Initial inspection and tests.
- Protection measures against electric shock.
- Specific conditions for each location.
Selector of representative standards from the new list
The following table does not replace the full BOE annex. It is intended to locate some of the most relevant references for common installations and identify their technical family.
Search by number, scope or keyword
Filter the editorial summary and always consult the full BOE text before closing a project.
| Standard | Category | Cited edition | Indicative scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNE-EN 60898-1 | Protection | 2020 | Circuit breakers for household and similar installations, Part 1. |
| UNE-EN 60898-2 | Protection | 2022 | Circuit breakers for alternating and direct current. |
| UNE-EN 60947-2 | Protection | 2018 + A1:2020 | Circuit breakers for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear. |
| UNE-EN 61643-11 | Protection | 2013 + A11:2018 | Surge protective devices against transient overvoltages in low-voltage networks. |
| UNE-EN 61643-31 | PV and protection | 2021 + AC:2022-07 | Surge protection for photovoltaic installations on the direct-current side. |
| UNE-EN IEC 63052 | Protection | 2022 | Protective devices against permanent overvoltages at power frequency. |
| UNE-EN IEC 61439-1 | Switchboards | 2021 + AC:2022-01 | General rules for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. |
| UNE-EN IEC 61439-5 | Switchboards | 2024 | Assemblies for public distribution networks; specific coexistence until 7 September 2026. |
| UNE-EN 50575 | Cables | 2015 + A1:2016 | Reaction to fire of power, control and communication cables in construction works. |
| UNE-EN 50618 | Photovoltaics | 2015 | Electric cables for photovoltaic systems. |
| UNE-EN 50626-1 | Wiring systems | 2024 | Buried conduit systems for the protection and routing of insulated cables. |
| UNE-EN IEC 61386-21 / 22 / 23 | Wiring systems | 2022 + A11:2022 | Rigid, pliable and flexible conduits for cable routing. |
| UNE-EN IEC 63027 | Photovoltaics | 2024 | Arc detection and interruption in photovoltaic direct-current circuits. |
| UNE-EN IEC 63056 | Storage | 2020 + AC:2021-07 | Safety requirements for lithium cells and batteries in stationary systems. |
| UNE-EN 62196-1 | Electric vehicle | 2023 | General requirements for plugs, socket-outlets, connectors and vehicle inlets. |
| UNE-EN 62196-2 | Electric vehicle | 2023 | Dimensional compatibility of contacts for AC charging. |
| UNE-EN 62196-3 | Electric vehicle | 2023 | Dimensional compatibility for DC or combined charging. |
| UNE Specification 0048 | Electric vehicle | 2017 | Protection system for the main supply line in charging infrastructures. |
| UNE-EN IEC 60079-17 | ATEX | 2024 | Inspection and maintenance of electrical installations in explosive atmospheres. |
| UNE-HD 60364-4-41 | Installation | 2018 + A11:2018 + A12:2019 | Protection against electric shock. |
| UNE-HD 60364-4-43 | Installation | 2024 | Protection against overcurrents; specific coexistence until 24 August 2026. |
| UNE-HD 60364-4-443 | Installation | 2016 | Protection against overvoltages of atmospheric origin or due to switching. |
| UNE-HD 60364-5-52 | Installation | 2022 + A12:2023 | Selection and installation of wiring systems. |
| UNE-HD 60364-5-54 | Installation | 2015 + A11:2018 + A1:2023 | Earthing arrangements and protective conductors. |
| UNE-HD 60364-6 | Verification | 2017 + A11:2018 + A12:2018 | Initial and periodic verification of electrical installations. |
| UNE-HD 60364-7-704 | Special installations | 2018 | Installations on construction and demolition sites. |
| UNE-HD 60364-7-712 | Photovoltaics | 2017 | Solar photovoltaic power supply systems. |
New project, work in progress or existing installation?
Select the case that most closely matches the file. The result is an initial guide: the final decision must be documented on the basis of the date, the scope of the intervention and the criterion of the competent authority.
What is your situation?
Choose an option to see the points that should be checked before drafting, executing or legalising.
Apply the current ITC-BT-02 list
Projects and technical reports dated after 4 April 2025 must be prepared using the editions in the current list, bearing in mind that as of 6 August 2026 the general coexistence period has ended and only the specific deadlines that are still open remain.
- Identify all ITCs applicable to the installation.
- Review the edition of the products, tests and standards cited in the project.
- Check whether any reference still has a specific coexistence deadline.
- Maintain consistency between the project, specifications, certificates and final verifications.
What should engineering firms, installers and maintenance teams review?
The most common risk is not only using an incorrect product, but also losing traceability between the editions applied, justified substitutions, project modifications, specific product legislation and the final documentation.
Project templates
Update specifications, calculation annexes, lists of standards and standard text that still cite replaced editions.
Datasheets and declarations
Verify marking, declaration of performance or conformity, certificates and the actual standards edition of the product offered.
Protection coordination
Review breaking capacity, selectivity, overcurrents, overvoltages, residual-current protection and disconnection conditions.
Wiring systems and cables
Confirm classification, reaction to fire, temperature, mechanical stresses and compatibility with the environment.
Final tests
Align verification protocols, instruments, acceptance criteria and records with the applicable editions.
Date traceability
Keep the project or report signature, licence, start of work, material changes and commissioning dates.
Another current change: the amendment to ITC-BT-03 in September 2025
Royal Decree 770/2025 formally amended the human-resources requirement for installation companies. It was published on 3 September 2025 and entered into force on 4 September 2025. This is an organisational and contractual change, not a new electrical design requirement.
At least one installer in the same category through a permitted contractual arrangement
The current wording requires the installation company to have the necessary contracted staff, in sufficient numbers and for the necessary time, and at least one low-voltage installer in the same category for which the company is authorised. The requirement may be met through any contractual arrangement permitted by law.
The regime introduced in 2021 expressly established this restriction, which Royal Decree 770/2025 reversed in order to adapt it to European services law.
The obligation to have at least one authorised installer in the corresponding category remains.
In Catalonia: national regulation and regional procedures
The REBT is a national regulation, but commissioning and registration are processed before the Government of Catalonia. In August 2026, it is important to distinguish what must be submitted to start the procedure from what the owner must hold and keep throughout the service life.
Submit the responsible declaration and keep the complete technical file
To begin commissioning, the responsible declaration signed by the owner must be submitted before the installation is put into operation. Not all technical documentation necessarily has to be attached to the initial procedure.
In addition, the owner must hold and keep throughout the service life the relevant documentation: project or technical design report, installation certificate, works supervision and completion certificate where applicable, inspections, use and maintenance instructions, and proof of registration with RITSIC. For installations using a MTD, Canal Empresa expressly includes the report template, the single-line diagram and the route sketch.
Classify the installation
Use, power, special characteristics, need for a project and inspection regime.
Prepare project or MTD
Where a MTD applies: technical report, single-line diagram and route sketch, in addition to the other required documents.
Execute and verify
Authorised company, regulatory checks and initial inspection where applicable.
Submit and keep
Submit the responsible declaration and keep certificates, inspections, instructions and RITSIC proof throughout the service life.
ITC-BT-53: the draft regulation for direct-current systems
The Ministry submitted a draft to public participation to create ITC-BT-53 and adapt several instructions to direct current. As of 6 August 2026, it has not been approved or published in the BOE; therefore, it remains a proposal and not a current obligation.
What would it regulate if approved?
The proposal would establish specific conditions for direct-current electrical energy distribution installations and would amend several existing instructions to integrate this architecture.
Six common mistakes when interpreting the change
A hasty reading can turn an update of references into a false general obligation. These are the misunderstandings to avoid.
“A completely new REBT has been approved”
The REBT remains Royal Decree 842/2002. In 2025, the ITC-BT-02 list of standards was updated and a point in ITC-BT-03 was subsequently amended.
“All existing installations must be upgraded”
The resolution does not order a mass upgrade. In periodic inspections, the technical criteria are generally those of the regulations under which the installation was approved; modified, repaired or extended parts have their own regime.
“All old standards expired on the same day”
The general coexistence period ended on 1 October 2025, but the resolution set specific deadlines. This coexistence must not be confused with the safeguard for installations under execution.
“The future ITC-BT-53 already requires projects to be redesigned”
As of 6 August 2026, it has not been approved or published in the BOE. A future approval could introduce requirements and transitional provisions different from the draft consulted.
“A standard on the list applies in full to any installation”
Its application depends on the regulatory reference, purpose, scope and conditions of the product or installation.
“Changing the project bibliography is enough”
The standards edition may affect material selection, verifications, declarations, test criteria and final documentation.
Official documents
Always verify the consolidated version and the full annex
Summaries are useful for orientation, but a project, quotation or inspection must be based on the official text and the standards applicable to the case.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a completely new REBT in 2025 or 2026?
No. As of 6 August 2026, the Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation remains Royal Decree 842/2002, with its subsequent amendments. The main technical development analysed is the update of the ITC-BT-02 list of standards published on 3 April 2025.
When did the updated ITC-BT-02 list start to apply?
The Resolution of 20 March 2025 was published on 3 April 2025 and took effect the following day, 4 April 2025.
What is the difference between edition coexistence and the safeguard for installations under execution?
Coexistence allowed the previous or new edition to be used until the indicated general or specific date. The safeguard is different: it only applies when a new installation standard is incorporated, for installations that were already under execution and meet the documentary conditions of the resolution, with a maximum of two years to put them into service under the previous standards.
What happens to work started before 4 April 2025?
An earlier project date alone is not enough. When the new list incorporates a new installation standard, the safeguard may apply to installations that were already under execution on 4 April 2025 and that meet the established documentary conditions: a project electronically signed or officially endorsed before the application date or, where no project is required, a licence requested or technical design report electronically signed before that date.
Do all existing installations have to be upgraded?
No. A periodic inspection does not automatically mean adapting the entire installation to the new editions. The applicable criteria depend on the regulations under which it was approved, the parts that have been modified, repaired or extended, and any defects, risks or disturbances detected.
Is the future ITC-BT-53 on direct current already mandatory?
As of 6 August 2026, no ITC-BT-53 has been approved or published in the BOE. The Ministry file still corresponds to a draft regulation submitted to public participation.
What change did Royal Decree 770/2025 introduce to ITC-BT-03?
It formally amended the wording on human resources. The company must have the necessary contracted staff and at least one low-voltage installer in the same category; the requirement may be met through any contractual arrangement permitted by law. It was published on 3 September 2025 and entered into force on 4 September 2025.
What documentation must be submitted and kept in Catalonia?
To begin commissioning, the responsible declaration must be submitted. In addition, the owner must hold and keep, throughout the service life, the relevant technical documentation: project or technical design report, single-line diagram, route sketch where applicable, certificates, inspections, use and maintenance instructions, and proof of registration with RITSIC.
Can later editions than those shown in the list be used?
Article 26 of the REBT allows a later edition to be considered compliant, in the absence of an express resolution, only when it does not modify basic criteria and is limited to updating tests or increasing intrinsic safety. It is not an automatic authorisation to use any newer version.
Can equivalent technical solutions be applied?
Yes, but Article 23 requires them to provide at least an equivalent level of safety, to be duly justified by the designer and to be approved by the competent authority of the autonomous community.
