as/nz wiring rules 3000:2007 (PDF) - Energy Safe Victoria

urgent recallfor pool andspa heatersRaypak Australia Pty Ltd has issuedan urgent nationwide recall noticefor pool and spa heaters installedafter 1 July 2005.There are about 5000 of the heaters inquestion in Australia, 3000 of them in Victoria.Heaters with a built in control panel asillustrated in the recall notice are likely to beaffected. Water inadvertently entering the unitcould lead to a partial malfunction of the overtemperaturethermostat control resulting in arisk of scalding.Raypak have provided a toll free number –1800 063 018 – for consumers. On site servicemodifications will be carried out to eliminatethe potential for the malfunction.Meanwhile, owners of spas, fully enclosedindoor pools, plunge pools or small lap poolswith the units should disable them until repairsare carried out. For other pools, the unit shouldbe turned off and water temperature checkedbefore anyone gets into the water.See www.recalls.gov.au for Australian ProductRecall Information.Don’t forget to tell us what you would like to particularlysee in energysafe. Contact us by fax at (03) 9686 2197,or by email at info@esv.vic.gov.auman injuredwhen newbbq eruptsinto flamesESV was called in by the CFA to investigate anincident at Frankston recently after a 70-yearoldman received serious injuries when hisbrand new BBQ erupted into flames.The victim was taken to Frankston Hospitalsuffering burns to his right leg, arms and face.He also experienced breathing difficultiesafter his airways were damaged.The flames extended up to the roof of anexternal patio area, while the heat affectedhanging plants adjacent to the BBQ.When interviewed by ESV, the victim saidhe bought the new BBQ from a store inFrankston and paid an additional $70 for itto be assembled by a specialist company.The BBQ was assembled and the victim wasprovided with a brief demonstration on how tooperate it. Later in the day he decided to usethe appliance, followed the instructions hehad been given and activated the igniter.The BBQ then erupted into flames, The CFAattended to put out the fire and the victimwas taken by ambulance to hospital.During its inspections of the BBQ, ESV foundthat the POL screwed connection into thecylinder valve was loose. This threaded brassPOL connection could be hand tightened intothe cylinder valve socket an additional one andone half revolutions.ESV’s investigations included interviews withrepresentatives of the assembly companyand its contractor who assembled the BBQin question.21SUMMER/AUTUMN 2008 ISSUE 11thepotential ofproducingelectricityfrom hotrocksExploration work is already underwayin parts of Victoria assessing thepotential for producing base loadelectricity from naturally occurringsubterranean heat – in other words“hot rocks”.Permits for exploring geothermal energysources were awarded in 12 areas to fivecompanies last year, with a further 19 permitsto be offered in April this year, the Ministerfor Energy and Resources, Peter Batchelor,announced just before Christmas.He said the five companies already awardedpermits had committed to spend more than$64 million over five years, with work alreadygetting underway in Gippsland.“The next tranche of permits will allowcompanies to search for geothermal energypotential across more than 154,000 sq km ofVictoria previously unexplored.“In the last two years, the number ofcompanies exploring for geothermal energysources in Australia has doubled.“This second release of permits will help ensureVictoria’s geothermal potential is realised,” saidthe Minister.He said the geothermal industry in Victoria hadhuge potential and was entering an excitingperiod of growth.Apart from reducing dependence on carbonemitting forms of electricity generation,producing baseload power from naturallyoccurring subterranean heat will boost regionalcommunities and the State economy.“The geothermal industry is still in the earlystages of development in Victoria. TheState has abundant renewable resources,but at this stage, renewable energy onlyaccounts for around four per cent of electricityconsumption,” he said.In hydrothermal geothermal systems, deepgroundwater that has been naturally heated tosteam temperatures is brought to the surfaceand used to turn turbines.In dry rock systems, water is injected into hotrocks and returned to the surface once heated.