AREI/RGIE Regulations 2026: The Key Changes
What actually changed in the Belgian AREI/RGIE on 1 April 2026, and how to assess the consequences for design, documentation and inspection.
What has applied since 1 April 2026
Belgium's AREI/RGIE consists of three books. Book 1 is the main reference for domestic low-voltage installations. A new consolidated version of Book 1 has applied since 1 April 2026. It incorporates the Royal Decree of 6 October 2025, published on 29 October 2025; an erratum dated 5 November corrected presentation only and did not change the substance.
The official scope is narrower than many online summaries suggest. The amendment integrates earthed direct-current systems into the regulation. It introduces DC forms of TN, TT and IT systems, connects them with protection against indirect contact, and adjusts definitions and cross-references throughout Book 1. The Belgian Federal Public Service Economy describes that scope on its current AREI/RGIE publication page, which also provides the authoritative 2026 consolidated Book 1.
This is not a wholesale rewrite of every domestic rule. Dedicated EV circuits, bathroom volumes, PV documentation and inspection intervals can all matter to a project, but they are not automatically “new for 2026”. The execution date, the nature of the work and the relevant chapter of the consolidated book determine which rule applies.
The substantive change: a systematic place for DC systems
Photovoltaics, batteries, DC distribution and equipment that can feed energy back mean that a building can no longer be analysed as an AC-only environment. The 2026 text therefore extends the familiar system classifications to earthed DC systems. TN, TT and IT still describe the relationship between live conductors, earth and exposed conductive parts, but the protective measure must suit the DC source, earthing arrangement and disconnection behaviour.
This does not mean every home now needs a DC grid. It means that a DC section which goes beyond ordinary equipment-internal wiring, or forms an earthed distribution system of its own, cannot be documented as if it were a conventional AC outgoing circuit. The designer should establish at least:
- where the DC section begins and ends;
- whether it is isolated from earth or intentionally earthed, and at which point;
- which live conductors are switched and isolated;
- what measure responds to an insulation fault;
- which disconnection conditions apply to the selected TN, TT or IT arrangement;
- which manufacturer limits govern voltage, polarity, protection and cable routing.
Those answers are installation-specific. Neither the word “battery” nor “PV” implies one universal earthing system or protective device. A qualified electrical professional must design the arrangement, and an approved inspection body assesses the completed installation against the applicable text and evidence.
What should not be marketed as a new 2026 duty
EV charging
Special chapter 7.22 for conductive charging installations existed before 2026. Among other things, it requires a final circuit dedicated to each connection point, individual additional residual-current protection not exceeding 30 mA for each AC circuit, and protection against smooth DC residual-current components. Whether this is delivered by a Type B RCD, a Type A RCD combined with appropriate DC detection, or another compliant assembly depends on the charger and complete protection chain. The exact equipment instructions remain essential.
Bidirectional or technically bidirectional chargers add a grid-connection question. Synergrid states that these devices fall within C10/11 edition 2.4 and require C10/26 type approval. Purely unidirectional grid-to-vehicle chargers do not require C10/26 merely because they charge a car, according to Synergrid's distributed-generation approval page. This distinction is more accurate than claiming that every wallbox needs Synergrid approval.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms and shower rooms remain a special location under the AREI/RGIE. The applicable volumes, IP ratings, permitted equipment and residual-current protection must be checked against chapter 7.1 of the current consolidated text. The official description of the 2026 amendment does not support a generic “new Zone 3 in 2026” claim. Nor is IPX5 an unconditional Zone 1 requirement: the required degree of protection also depends on whether water jets are used for cleaning. Record the exact geometry and fixed water outlet instead of copying a simplified diagram from the internet.
Surge protection, PV and digital records
Surge protection, PV protection design and electronic documents should likewise not be presented as one new 2026 package. Book 1 contains principles and requirements whose application depends on the installation, risks, equipment and execution date. The fact that an inspection report may be delivered electronically is not itself a new electrical protective measure. The current legal text, the manufacturer's evidence and professional assessment remain decisive.
Which rules apply to an existing installation?
The useful question is not simply “How old is the building?” but “When was each part installed, and what work is being carried out now?” Existing portions may be assessed under applicable derogations while a newly added circuit must meet current requirements. A major modification or extension requires a conformity inspection before use; the review covers the work and any effect it has on the unchanged part.
The Federal Public Service Economy's domestic electrical inspection guidance identifies the main triggers: before first use, after a major modification or extension, for certain capacity increases, when a dwelling is sold and periodically. It also gives adding one socket to an existing circuit as an example of a non-major extension. Classification still depends on the real scope of the job.
A renovation file should therefore include a concise change record:
- identify the existing work and its known or estimated execution period;
- distinguish new and unchanged sections on the plans;
- assess how a new source, battery or charger affects the board and protection chain;
- resolve assumptions with the electrician and inspection body;
- update the single-line diagram and situation plan after installation.
What the inspection file actually contains
For a domestic inspection, the federal guidance asks for at least the single-line diagrams, situation plans and the connection's EAN code if available. The single-line diagram represents circuits, interconnections and electrical equipment with their characteristics. The situation plan locates distribution boards, connection and junction boxes, sockets, lighting points, switches, fixed machines and sources. Both form part of the installation file, together with inspection reports, short descriptions of non-major changes and relevant technical documentation such as PV equipment records.
For a DC system, useful documentation goes beyond naming a device. It should establish source and cable references, rated voltages, polarity, isolation points, protective devices, the earthing concept and the relevant manufacturer document. A clear diagram does not replace calculations or measurements, but it allows the installer, owner and inspector to verify that they are discussing the same system.
A practical 2026 project review
Use three passes before equipment is ordered or installed.
Confirm the regulatory baseline. Work from the consolidated edition in force on the planned execution date. A blog post is orientation, not the legal source. The federal publication and any official interpretation should take priority where wording is uncertain.
Determine the scope. Record whether the project is a new installation, major extension, minor change, sale inspection, periodic review or capacity increase. For an EV charger, also establish the direction of power flow. Bidirectional capability may trigger grid-code duties that do not apply to an ordinary unidirectional charger.
Collect evidence. Keep cable and protective-device selection, manufacturer instructions, measurements and drawings together. DC component data should address permissible earthing, residual-current behaviour and isolation. If those data are missing, a visually complete drawing is not yet a complete engineering justification.
Manage the regulatory version in the project
Keep a small version record with the execution date, consulted Book 1 edition, relevant chapters, open questions and reviewer. Record the exact model and document revision for inverters, batteries and chargers: similar product names can hide different residual-current, earthing or grid behaviour. Separate three layers in decisions — the binding AREI/RGIE text, professional engineering choice, and rules currently supported by software. They overlap but are not interchangeable. Before inspection, reconcile the final drawings, installed model variants and actual wiring; this internal check confirms consistency, not legal conformity.
How PlanElec helps — and where its limits remain
PlanElec supports the workflow from floor plan and electrical topology to a single-line diagram, situation plan and PDF export. Its software-assisted self-check flags supported issues that can be derived from the entered data. It is not a certificate of conformity and cannot replace measurements, manufacturer evidence or site conditions.
The documented regulatory full text is Book 1 V06, effective 1 April 2026. Product validation, however, implements only a documented subset of that text as machine-checkable rules. In particular, earthed DC TN, TT and IT systems, their conductor roles and associated protection logic are not yet modelled completely. Such a project still needs professional design, equipment evidence and official inspection to close those gaps. PlanElec helps keep the information structured and consistent; only an approved inspection body issues the official assessment.
In brief
The defensible key change for 2026 is the systematic integration of earthed DC systems into Book 1. It does not impose a generic retrofit on every existing home, nor does it create a single new bundle of EV, bathroom, SPD and digital-document duties. First classify the work, consult the current official text, and document every new AC and DC section clearly. That gives the electrician and inspector a reliable basis without promising the inspection outcome.