AUTUmN/WiNTER 2010 ISSUE 20 (PDF) - Energy Safe Victoria

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Guidance notes for the electricaltrades and electrical inspectors onthe Electricity Safety (Installations)Regulations and other issues28www.energysafe.vic.gov.auThe following information was preparedby ESV for guidance and information onthe new Electricity Safety (installations)Regulations and other issues foreveryone involved in the electricaltrades and in particular licensedelectrical inspectors.Guidance notes such as these are preparedperiodically and published on the ESV website.A reminder: up until 1 July this year, ESVproposes to use its discretion in enforcing thenew installations regulations unless safety iscompromised. ESV is suggesting that all LEIsshould use similar discretions.When is it necessary or required to install acurrent limiting device (circuit breaker) to protectthe consumers mains?Clause 2.5.1.1 of AS/NZS 3000:2007 requiresthe consumers mains to be protected againstover current in the following method:1. Short-circuit protection and overloadprotection at the origin; or2. Short-circuit protection at the origin andoverload protection at the switchboard; or3. Short circuit protection need not be providedwhere the consumers mains are installed withadditional mechanical protection and overloadprotection is provided at the switchboard.1 Short circuit and overload protection atthe origin.The service fuse provided by the distributor insupplies up to 100 amps will only provide shortcircuitprotection not overload protection.For consumers mains greater than 100 ampsoverload protection would only be providedwhen the protection at the origin is fixed(not adjustable) and is rated at the capacityof the consumers mains conductors andarranged that the overload protection cannotbe increased.For existing installations where additionalload is connected such as a split system airconditioningunit the circuit breaker to protectthe consumers mains conductors will onlybe required if the maximum demand of theinstallation and added load exceeds the currentcarrying capacity of the consumers mains.SOLAR INSTALLATIONS.Isolation of dc supply at the photovoltaicarrays.The DC solar supply requires an appropriatelyrated DC isolator at the commencement of theDC circuit this requirement complies with clause1.5.2 and 7.3.4.1 of AS/NZS 3000:2007 andClause 5.5 of AS 4777.1. It is important to havethis isolating device installed so emergencyservices can isolate supply under emergencyconditions.Solar main switch –plug in circuit breakers.Clause 5.3.3 of AS/NZS 4777.1 requires themain switch for the solar supply to be a lockableswitch.Where solar energy systems are being installedand the installation has semi enclosed rewirablefuses the installation of a plug in circuitbreaker will not meet the requirements.Solar main switch – domestic installationswith multiple main switches.In domestic installations where the protectiondevice for each final subcircuit is a mainswitch and as additional main switch for thesolar energy systems is being installed theswitchboard is required to be altered to complywith Clause 2.3.3.2 of AS/NZS 3000:2007where only one main switch is allowed persupply and to conform with the connectionmethod shown in the AS/NZS 4777 series.PREMISES WITH CONSUMERELECTRICITY GENERATION SYSTEMS.In premises where electrical generation systemsare installed or connected additional signageis installed stating:This sign must be placed at the fire indicatorpanel, main switchboard and all switchboardsthat will be energised by that consumersgenerating system.The sign must be clear, durable and permanentand white lettering no smaller that 5mm on adark green background to comply with AS 1319emergency information signs. This sign does notreplace the requirements AS/NZS 4777 or theelectricity distributor’s signage requirements.LIFTS IN PRIVATE RESIDENCES.A lift installed within a SINGLE private residenceinstalled in accordance with AS/NZS 1735.18need not comply with the requirements ofClause 7. 2. of AS/NZS 3000:2007.PRESCRIBED ELECTRICALINSTALLATION WORK.Regulation 238 of the Electricity Safety(Installations) Regulations 2009 has addedsafety services and equipment operating atextra low voltage installed in a patient areaas prescribed electrical installation work.SAFETY SERVICES.Circuit protective devices, switchgear, controlgear,wiring systems and accessories (otherthan fire detection and alarm systems) installedto provide control and protection for passengerlifts, fire pumps and air handling systemsintended to exhaust and control the spreadof fire and smoke.Inspection requirements for.Lifts – from the point of supply to the liftswitchboard.Air handling systems that control thespread of fire and smoke – from the pointof supply to the connection of the air handlingsystems control switchboard and all theassociated wiring to equipment for control offire and smoke.2 & 3 Short-circuit protection at theorigin and overload protection at theswitchboard or where no short circuit andoverload protection at the switchboardwhere additional mechanical protection isprovided as per Clause 3.9.7.1.2 of AS/NZS3000:2007 for the consumers mains.Installations connected from 1 July 2008 (whenAS/NZS 3000:2007 became mandatory) statesthat if the sum of the current capacity of thecircuit breakers is greater than the currentcarrying capacity of the consumers mainsconductors the consumers mains must beoverload protected with an appropriate sizecircuit breaker.This also applies to existing installations wherethe consumers mains and/or switchboards arereplaced.ORWarningThis premise contains an electricity generation system.The isolation switch is located WarningThis premise contains an electricity generation systems.The wind generation isolation switch is located The solar isolation switch is located
Fire Pumps – the entire electrical installationfrom the point of supply to the motorconnections including control circuits.PATIENT AREAS.PATIENT AREAS of hospitals, medical anddental practices, and dialyzing locations.Inspection requirements for ELVinstallations.Extra low voltage (ELV) control systemsassociated with other fixed medical equipmentand illumination systems in patient areas, butdoes not include telecommunications, datatransfer and alarm or intercom systemsoperating at ELV.SUPPLY CAPACITY CONTROL DEVICE.Regulation 232 of the Electricity Safety(Installations) Regulations 2009 prohibits anelectricity supplier from requiring a person toinstall protective equipment between the point ofsupply and any main switches for safety services.REPLACEMENT OF EXISTINGSWITCHBOARDS.A switchboard containing semi-enclosedrewirable fuses may be replaced with a newcircuit breaker switchboard in the existingposition under the following conditions;1. The switchboard location complies withthe regulations that were in force when theswitchboard was first installed this includesswitchboards that were installed when theregulations had no height restrictions; and2. No other electrical work is being carried oute.g. installation/rewiring of final sub-circuits orreplacement of the consumers mains; and3. The new switchboard complies with the RCDrequirements stated in Clause of 2.6 andAmendment 1 of AS/NZS 3000:2007.Note – switchboards installed in cupboards orsimilar storage areas shall comply with Clause2.9.2.5 of AS/NZS 3000:2007.REQUIREMENTS FOR FIXED WIREDAIR-CONDITIONING UNITSAll fixed wired air-conditioning units shall be installedto comply with the following requirements;1. Have an isolating switch capable of beinglocked in the off position installed adjacentto or on the external compressor unit.Exception – An isolating switch capable of beinglocked in the off position may be installed in theswitchboard when the switchboard is dedicatedto the air-conditioning equipment only; and1. Be installed as per the manufacturesinstallation instructions as required by AS/NZS3000:2007 Clause 1.7.1(c); and2. Only cables enclosed in flexible conduits are tobe attached to the air-conditioning pipe work.Note: The means of attachment must bepermanent and secure, the use of pvc tape is notacceptable. Where the wiring enclosure and wiringsupport including pvc cable ties are subject todirect sunlight they must be UV protected.Victoria’s energy market mostcompetitive in Australia29Victoria has the most competitive retailenergy market in Australia – and is likelyto retain its title of the most competitivein the world, says a survey releasedin early May by Energy and ResourcesMinister Peter Batchelor.He said that the independent survey foundthat in 2009 customers switched their energyretailer in Victoria at the highest ever rate for anycompetitive retail energy market in the world.Yourquestionson gas – andthe answersCompiled by ESV’s Gas Installation andAppliance Safety divisionenergysafe is pleased to introduce a regularseries featuring some of the questions whichESV receives on a range of gas installationissues on the 1800 technical helpline. Themagazine looks forward to extending thisfeature over coming issues.Question: The gas retailer advised me I needan ESV number to get a gas meter installed. Isthat correct?Answer: Yes, before any gas retailer can installa gas meter assembly onto any Complex gasinstallation, the gas retailer requires an ESVgas supply approval number to confirm that allgas fitting work is carried out to a compliantstandard.“Since electricity retail price competition wasintroduced in Victoria in 2002, over 60 per centof the state’s residential and small businessenergy customers have chosen to changeretailers,” Mr Batchelor said.“The switch has saved them between 5 to10 per cent on their energy bills,” he said.Mr Batchelor said Victoria was on track to benamed the number one market in the WorldRetail Energy Market Rankings for the thirdconsecutive year.A gas supply approval number is issued afteran ESV Start Work Notice and ComplianceCertificate have been lodged with ESV, and aninspection of the complex gas installation hastaken place.If the complex gas installation is found to becompliant, the inspector will then issue theplumbing contractor with a gas supply approvalnumber, which the person ordering the gasmeter installation then passes onto the gas retailcompany of the owner’s choice.Q. Where can I get an ESV Start Work Noticeand Compliance Certificate?A. Copies of ESV Start Work Notice andCompliance Certificates are available on theESV web site along with instructions on how tolodge all certificates. www.esv.vic.gov.auQ. Is the job I am working on a Standard gasinstallation or Complex gas installation?A. ESV information sheet number 33 describesthe building classifications for all gas installationsand states which compliance certification isrequired,> > ESV Start Work Notice is required, or,> > Plumbing Industry Commission ComplianceCertificate for a Standard gas installation isrequired.“More than 26 per cent of Victorian electricityand gas customers chose to switch to anotherretailer in 2009, compared to just 11.5 per centin Queensland, 12.2 per cent in South Australiaand 9.2 per cent in New South Wales.“Gas figures showed 27.4 per cent of Victoriancustomers chose to switch their retailer in2009, compared to just 11.9 per cent in SouthAustralia and 7.6 per cent in Queensland.”Q. When is a building isolation valve required?A. It is not uncommon to find building isolationvalves not considered by architects, consultantsand plumbers in new/additional buildingapplications – AS 5601 2004 4.2.8 Buildingisolation.Q. AS5601 table 3.1 states; Plastic pipe (notcomposite) is not permitted in the ground undera building.A. The Building Control Act refers to a coveredwalkway or veranda as “part” of a building if itis attached to a building which prohibits thesematerials being installed in the ground underthese areas.Q. What is the required clearance between adomestic cooking appliances and a combustiblerear or side wall.A. ESV information sheets are available on theESV website):> > number 25 – Domestic cooker clearances,> > number 3 – Fire resistant boards.> > number 6 – Glass feature walls.All cover the installation requirements fordomestic gas cooker.Autumn/Winter 2010 ISSUE 20
Page 6 and 7: 6www.energysafe.vic.gov.auESV alert
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AUTUmN/WiNTER 2010 ISSUE 20 (PDF) - Energy Safe Victoria

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