The BR electrical authorization is intended for all professional electricians who carry out general interventions on Low Voltage electrical installations, as defined by the NF C18-510 standard: fault detection/troubleshooting, repair operations, preventive or corrective maintenance, live connection/disconnection.
Obtaining this authorization requires completing BR electrical authorization training: this lasts from 1.5 to 3 days.
Depending on the operations performed and the type of electrical installations, the BR electrical authorization can be supplemented with other levels (B2, BC, BR PV, etc.) which we will detail below.
Table des matières
What is BR electrical authorization?
The BR electrical authorization is the employer’s recognition of an employee’s ability to carry out general interventions in compliance with the safety measures recommended by the NF C18-510 standard.
The NF C18-510 standard defines a general intervention as a simple electrical operation in the LV or ELV domain, of short duration, performed on electrical equipment or on a limited section of an installation, or on the ancillary parts of power transmission or distribution facilities.
The BR electrical authorization notably allows:
- Fault finding and troubleshooting
- Replacement of defective equipment (relays, terminal blocks, modules)
- Connection and disconnection of conductors, including live disconnection within clearly defined limits
- Supervising one (and only ONE) performing electrician authorized B1V
- Performing lockout/tagout for their own work and/or for their performing electrician
- Carrying out testing, measurement and verification within the scope of their intervention
- Partial and temporary commissioning of an installation
BR PV electrical authorization – Photovoltaic scope
For professional electricians operating on low voltage photovoltaic installations, a specific BR authorization level has been defined by the standard: the BR PV electrical authorization:
- Carry out electrical work on PV installations
- Perform maintenance and troubleshooting interventions on PV installations
- Carry out testing, measurements and verifications on a photovoltaic string
- Lock out a PV installation for their own work
BR authorization intervention limits
All interventions carried out by a BR-authorized person must fall within the limits defined by the standard for this level.
Authorized intervention zones
The holder of BR authorization is permitted to intervene in the following electrical environment zones:
| Zone | Official designation | Access / Authorization | BR authorized? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Investigation zone | Free access, no authorization required | ✔️ Yes (not necessary) |
| Zone 1 | Simple vicinity zone | Accessible to all authorization symbols | ✔️ Yes |
| Zone 2 | Reinforced vicinity zone HV | Reserved for High Voltage authorizations | ❌ No |
| Zone 3 | HV live work zone | Prohibited zone for LV authorizations | ❌ No |
| Zone 4 | Reinforced vicinity zone LV | Accessible with PPE | ✔️ Yes, with conditions |
Voltage and current limits
The BR operates exclusively in Low Voltage under conditions strictly governed by the NF C18-510 standard:
General characteristics of authorized circuits:
- Supplied in Low Voltage (LV) or Extra Low Voltage (ELV)
- Protected against short circuits by a device with a rated current of:
- ≤ 63 A in alternating current
- ≤ 32 A in direct current
For live connection/disconnection operations:
- Maximum authorized voltage:
- ≤ 500V in alternating current
- ≤ 750V in direct current
- Maximum conductor cross-section:
- Power circuits: ≤ 6 mm² copper (10 mm² aluminium)
- Control and monitoring circuits: ≤ 10 mm² copper (16 mm² aluminium)
Specifics for photovoltaic installations (BR PV): interventions authorized on DC circuits not protected against short circuits.
Extended maximum cross-section for DC power circuits: ≤ 10 mm² copper (16 mm² aluminium)
Important: any intervention exceeding these criteria must be reclassified as work and follow the corresponding procedures per the standard. They will require complementary electrical authorization levels.
Operational limits
The holder of BR authorization:
- Is not authorized for loaded live work
- Cannot carry out major installation creation or modification (extension, complete rewiring)
- Cannot perform operations exceeding the limited scope defined by the standard
- Cannot work on High Voltage installations
Differences between BR and BS authorizations
The BR authorization is intended for qualified professional electricians to carry out general technical interventions. It requires in-depth electrical competence, circuit analysis skills, electrical risk identification and work preparation capabilities. The BR holder operates on limited-scope installations with a high level of autonomy. This authorization level is suited for example to electrical maintenance in Low Voltage.
The BS authorization, on the other hand, covers elementary and limited interventions: like-for-like replacement of small electrical equipment (lamp, switch, socket, fuse), resetting a circuit breaker, connecting electrical equipment to a standby network. Operations can only be carried out de-energized, with a prohibition on working in the LV vicinity zone, unless the holder additionally holds the BE Switching level (in which case only a switching operation may be performed in Zone 4). This authorization is intended for non-electrician personnel.
The choice between BR and BS depends on the qualification level of the personnel, the nature of the interventions to be carried out and the type of installations.
Who is BR authorization for?
Here are some examples of professions that require BR electrical authorization:
- Industrial maintenance technician / manager
- General services maintenance electrician
- HVAC technician (heating, ventilation, air conditioning)
- Lift/elevator technician
- Photovoltaic installation technician
- Building electrician
- Electric vehicle charging station installer
This list of professions is not intended to be exhaustive. These professions may also require complementary electrical authorizations depending on the operations performed.
Prerequisites for BR authorization training
BR training is intended for professionals with solid electrical competence. You must master electrical quantities (voltage, current, power, resistance), Ohm’s law and be able to read electrical diagrams. A minimum of 2 years’ experience as an electrician is required, or a state diploma (CAP, Bac Pro, BTS in electrical engineering), or equivalent qualifying training.
You must be able to recognize and identify the function of equipment in an electrical panel: residual current device, circuit breaker, disconnector, relay, contactor. The training also requires the ability to understand and apply safety instructions, analyze risk situations and make appropriate decisions.
How to obtain BR electrical authorization?
Certification pathway
- Enrollment with a certified training body (Qualiopi)
- Completion of initial training (21h): theoretical + practical components
- Passing the assessment: MCQ + practical scenario (safe intervention)
- Issuance of a post-training assessment (skills review)
- Issuance of the authorization certificate by the employer (after verifying technical skills and medical fitness)
Choosing the right training provider
Look for: expert field instructors, representative technical platforms and equipment, flexible delivery (in-person and/or e-learning for the theoretical component), strong trainee support and high pass rates.
How long is BR / BR PV training?
For initial training and recertification, the BR and BR PV programs are the same.
- Initial training: 21h over 3 days (14h theoretical, 7h practical)
- Recertification: 11h (in-house) or 14h (inter-company), every 3 years
Special cases: if you already hold the standard BR authorization, one additional day of training is sufficient to obtain the PV supplement. If not, you will need to complete the full initial training program.
Training objectives
Upon completion of BR authorization training, the trainee will be able to carry out electrical interventions applying the NF C18-510 safety requirements, including:
- Analyzing risks and working in the vicinity of live bare parts
- Supervising a performing electrician during the intervention
- Locking out an electrical installation for their own work and for their performing electrician
- Connecting and disconnecting conductors in the presence of voltage
- Carrying out testing, measurements and verifications within the scope of the intervention
BR training program: theoretical and practical components
Theoretical component (approx. 14h initial, 3.5h recertification)
- Regulatory framework (NF C18-510 standard, French Labour Code)
- Voltage domains and electrical risks (electrocution, arc flash, burns)
- Vicinity zones and live bare parts
- De-energization, lockout/tagout, Voltage Absence Test (VAT)
- Role of the lockout supervisor and work supervisor
- BR PV: DC current and module specifics
At VoltWork, the theoretical component can be completed in person or via e-learning, to accommodate your team’s constraints.
Practical component
- Perform a lockout/tagout procedure
- Verify and use a measuring instrument
- Carry out equipment replacement work
- Perform a connection and disconnection in compliance with the standard
- Carry out a test or troubleshooting operation
BR training assessment
Theoretical assessment (MCQ)
The theoretical assessment takes the form of an MCQ covering the entire training program. Topics include regulations (NF C18-510 standard), voltage domains, electrical risks, vicinity zones, lockout and de-energization procedures, and protective equipment.
To prepare effectively, you can access a BR authorization practice test that will help you evaluate your knowledge before the training.
Practical assessment
The practical assessment of the BR electrical authorization verifies mastery of essential safety procedures during a Low Voltage intervention. It is based on several scenario-based exercises designed to assess the trainee’s ability to apply the procedures set out in the NF C18-510 standard.
It includes in particular:
- Three minimum practical scenarios:
- a troubleshooting operation requiring a lockout/tagout,
- a connection or disconnection,
- installing an insulating blanket.
- a troubleshooting operation requiring a lockout/tagout,
- Verification of key competencies: preliminary risk analysis, implementation of collective and individual protections, compliance with the steps of a general LV intervention and information handover.
Post-training assessment
At the end of the assessment, the training body issues a post-training assessment, an essential document enabling the employer to officially issue the BR electrical authorization.
What training formats are available for BR authorization?
In-house: training at your premises, adapted to your specific installations and procedures.
Inter-company: sessions bringing together professionals from different sectors.
Blended learning: theory via e-learning + practical on-site at a technical platform, for greater flexibility.
Which authorizations complement BR?
H0 / H0V authorization
To operate in environments with High Voltage risks, without working on HV installations. For example, if a BR-authorized person needs to replace a terminal block on a Low Voltage electrical panel located in an electrical room with High Voltage installations (HV switchgear cells, HV→LV transformer), they will need H0 authorization (possibly supplemented with H0V). This authorization does not permit work on HV installations.
B1 B1V authorization
B1: carry out LV electrical work under the direction of a work supervisor.
B1V authorization: with the vicinity supplement for working in Zone 4 (LV reinforced vicinity).
B2 B2V authorization
B2: supervise electrical work in Low Voltage and manage a team.
B2V authorization: with the supplement for supervising in Zone 4 in the vicinity of live bare parts.
BC authorization
Carry out the lockout/tagout procedure to secure interventions for your teams or external teams.
Which complement to your BR authorization? Take the test
Complement my BR qualification
Check the operations you perform during your troubleshooting and maintenance interventions in low voltage. The tool then suggests the most relevant complementary electrical qualifications to associate with your BR.
In your professional activity, you are required to:
BR electrical authorization training pricing
For inter-company training (at our training centers), we offer sessions covering all B2 B2V B2V Testing BR BC H0(V) symbols in 21h for initial training and 14 hours for recertification.
| Training | Inter-company price |
| BR B0 H0(V) Training – Initial | €500 excl. VAT / Trainee |
| BR B0 H0(V) Training – Recertification | €350 excl. VAT / Trainee |
For in-house training, the duration can be adjusted, particularly depending on group size. Do not hesitate to contact us for a quote.
Funding an electrical authorization can be arranged in several ways: OPCO, skills development plan, France Travail schemes depending on your profile.
FAQ – Essential Questions
You will need to complete a full initial training (21h) rather than a simple recertification. It is therefore recommended to anticipate renewal before the 3-year deadline.
A BR-authorized professional must have at minimum class 0 insulating gloves, a face shield, a Voltage Absence Tester, and lockout/tagout devices. Depending on the work environment, additional PPE may be necessary: helmet, insulating mat, leather overgloves for mechanical protection, etc.
Yes. It is the employer who issues the authorization certificate, even after successful training. They assess whether your skills and position justify this authorization.
