Tips, guides and news about electrical documentation and AREI regulations
Seven item groups, how they derive from the single-line diagram and the position plan, the items that are routinely forgotten — earthing material, boxes, cable allowance, spare ways — and where the AREI fixes a quantity and where it does not.
The straight line is systematically too short. Installation zones under 5.2.9.10, installation method and route, splitting at junction boxes, allowances as trade practice, and when the AREI/RGIE requires the length on the diagram.
The seventeen installation methods of sub-section 5.2.2.1, their specific rules in section 5.2.9, how they govern current-carrying capacity and where the entry is actually mandatory — with the AREI article next to every statement.
When a sub-distribution board per floor earns its place, how to size and protect the riser, what the AREI/RGIE actually says about selectivity, and how storeys appear on the position plan and the single-line diagram — with the article reference beside every statement.
The number of control points decides the wiring arrangement. Symbols from Table 2.23, conductors per variant, referencing on the situation plan and the boundary with home automation — with the AREI/RGIE article beside each statement.
How AREI Table 2.23 symbols work, when a defined legend may fill a gap, and which technical data must accompany symbols on Belgian domestic electrical plans.
Document the outdoor unit, indoor unit, backup heater, protection, cable and manufacturer data of a heat pump under AREI Book 1 V06.
From supply and protective devices to cable data, references and the matching position plan: a complete domestic new-build checklist under AREI Book 1 V06.
Show the PV inverter, EV charger, separate circuits, protection, energy metering and possible reverse power flow correctly on one diagram.
Locate PV modules, inverter, fixed isolators, distribution boards and cable routes on the situation plan using the same references as the single-line diagram.
A single-line diagram shows electrical structure; a position plan locates equipment. Shared circuit references make the two Belgian domestic records work together.
What the Synergrid C10/26 list is, why grid operators and inspection bodies require it, how to read reference, firmware, Smax and restrictions correctly – and how to check a device in seconds.
A factual comparison of PlanElec and Trikker: platform, price, working method and AREI support — including the cases where Trikker remains the better choice.
Calculate the voltage drop of your cable and see when a larger cross-section is needed. Free tool for Belgium, no sign-up required.
1×230 V, 3×230 V or 3N~400/230 V: understand the street network, neutral conductor and connection phase count in Belgium.
Not every renovation needs the same records. Learn how to distinguish substantial changes, existing parts, updated plans and inspection scope.
A practical overview of PlanElec: draw the situation plan, structure circuits and cables, plan the distribution board, run an AREI/RGIE self-check, and export project documents.
Cooker, washing machine, dryer — the AREI requires a dedicated circuit for certain appliances. Here's the complete list.
A step-by-step PlanElec guide: create a project, draw the floor plan and rooms, place devices, review automatic planning, and export documents.
The AREI requires general surge protection (Art. 4.5.1) without mandating a specific SPD type. Learn what the AREI actually regulates.
When does Belgium’s special sale inspection apply, what belongs in the AREI dossier, and when does the 18-month deadline run? A precise Book 1 V06 guide.
Ten recurring checks for Belgian domestic installations, explained without an unsupported ranking, failure rate or cost promise.
Your electrical inspection came back negative? Learn how to read the report, identify the applicable deadline, plan safe corrections and prepare the next inspection.
Does a Smart Home installation need to be AREI-compliant? Yes — the underlying electrical installation must meet regulations. Here's what's allowed and what to watch out for.
How is a home battery installed according to AREI regulations? This guide explains the requirements for dedicated circuits, disconnect switches, single-line diagrams and grid operator registration.
Are smoke detectors mandatory in Belgium? Yes — but the rules differ by region. Here's what applies in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
AREI/RGIE requirements for EV chargers in Belgium: dedicated circuits, RCD and DC residual-current protection, cable design, documentation and grid questions.
How to compare self-documentation and a professional commission for a Belgian single-line diagram without unsupported market prices or savings promises.
Comparison between PlanElec and creating single-line diagrams with Excel or on paper. Why hand-drawn plans fail at inspection and why digital tools save time and money.
Complete guide to documenting a PV system in the single-line diagram. Protection devices, grid operator registration, battery integration, and AREI Art. 7.112.
What applies to older electrical installations in Belgium. AREI Part 8 explained: permitted deviations, periodic inspection, and tips for gradual modernisation.
Complete guide to planning a distribution board. DIN rail, protection devices, row allocation, and example layout for a single-family home.
Complete guide to a reviewable situation plan: from floor-plan preparation through AREI/RGIE symbols and circuit references to professional review.
Comparison of Preflex conduit systems and open cable installation in Belgium. Advantages, disadvantages, and AREI/RGIE fire safety classes at a glance.
RCD types for Belgian domestic installations under AREI/RGIE Book 1 Version 06: Type A, Type B, DC detection, immunity and selectivity.
Why a main switch is mandatory in Belgium and what requirements AREI Art. 5.3.5.1b imposes.
A precise comparison of TT and TN-S: fault-current paths, automatic disconnection, local electrodes and the 30/100-ohm rules for domestic AC installations under AREI Book 1 V06.
Read AREI Book 1 V06 Table 4.11 correctly: its legal ceiling is not a complete cable calculation. See Table 5.1, old EMCB and EMCVB wiring, and voltage drop.
Comparison between XVB sheathed cable and VOB single-core wire for Belgian electrical installations according to AREI/RGIE standards.
Documentation, visual inspection, measurements — learn point by point what the inspector actually checks and measures during an electrical inspection in Belgium.
Maximum 8 points per circuit — but how do you count correctly? Learn the AREI rules for sockets, lighting, and dedicated circuits.
XVB is always permitted, VOB in conduit only with restrictions. Learn which cable types are allowed in each AREI zone and what to watch out for.
A situation plan shows where all electrical components are physically installed in your building. Learn what it must include and how it differs from a single-line diagram.
A 30 mA RCD is not required per socket or automatically per circuit. Learn what AREI Book 1 V06 says for new and existing domestic installations in Belgium.
Which services determine the price of a Belgian electrical plan and how to compare quotations with a transparent, editable calculation model.
Everything you need to know about the electrical inspection — from preparation to the final check.
Learn how to prepare a reviewable single-line diagram with circuits, conductor data, protective devices and unambiguous references.
What actually changed in the Belgian AREI/RGIE on 1 April 2026, and how to assess the consequences for design, documentation and inspection.
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