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

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electrical homesafety inspectionTHESE ORIGINAL VACUUM VOLTAGE SENSING RELAYS ACHIEVED UNDER ANDOVER VOLTAGE PROTECTION. IF THEY TRIPPED, THEY WOULD BRING ON THEGENERATOR SUPPLY. INSTALLED IN 1960, THEY WERE CRITICALLY IMPORTANTFOR THE SUPPLY TO THE HOSPITAL. THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS REPLACED IN 2006.Mike and Bev Ballagh with the certificate ofelectrical inspection issued after the installationof their new meter.brings peace of mindfor Victorian couple24www.energysafe.vic.gov.auThe following is an article prepared by ESV forpossible publication in specialist newspapersavailable for Victorian holders of the SeniorsCard. It is hoped the article will further promoteESV’s electrical Home Safe Inspection Schemeand the $50 rebate available for Seniors Cardholders who book and pay for an inspection.East Doncaster couple, Mike and Bev Ballagh, now have peace of mindthat their home is electrically safe thanks to an authorised electrical HomeSafety Inspection of their property arranged through Victoria’s electricityand gas safety regulator, Energy Safe Victoria (ESV).ESV introduced the scheme in 2005 to help address concerns about thepoor and sometimes possibly dangerous state of electrical wiring systemsand other installations existing in many homes across Victoria.The electrical Home Safety Inspections are conducted by experts– licensed electricians and/or licensed inspectors who have undergonefurther training and assessment to become authorised for the task byESV.Last year ESV introduced a new initiative – a $50 rebate for SeniorsCard holders, who arrange and pay for inspections.“We read about the scheme in ‘The Senior” newspaper and thought itwas a great idea particularly for people in our position. We now have asafe home electrically and at our stage of life such peace of mind is veryimportant,” said Mike, a retired Tattersall’s employee.The couple built their home 38 years ago and to make more room for theirthree sons, a daughter and an aged mother, who was living with them,they added an additional storey to the property some 15 years later.They arranged the inspection through the ESV website atwww.esv.vic.gov.au“When the extension was built, the electrical installation was not upgradedin any way. After reading the article about the scheme we did not knowif we had any problems but decided it would be a good idea to find out.After all one often hears about house fires put down to electrical causes.”Following the inspection, the couple received a comprehensive reporton the state of the electrical installation with a follow-up email from theinspection company explaining in “layman’s” terms what issues neededto be addressed. The report recommended that some remedial workshould be undertaken as soon as reasonably practical.Mike said: “A significant problem detected during the inspection was aninadequate supply of electricity to the house. When the house was builtwe had one television and nothing like the electrical equipment whichwe have obtained over the years. The inspection detected heat damagebecause of overloading of the electrical installation.“It was recommended that we needed a new consumers mains, mainswitchboard with surge and safety switch protection and main earth,and we were happy to arrange for the work to go ahead.“I would strongly recommend that other home owners arrange anelectrical Home Safety Inspection. I would even go so far as suggestingthat people have a social responsibility to ensure their property iselectrically safe.“Receiving the $50 rebate off the cost of an inspection for Seniors Cardholders was certainly a bonus as far as we were concerned, and hopefullyit will be for others.“I think ESV does a great job promoting the electrical Home SafetyInspection scheme and providing the rebates. The scheme providespeace of mind for older people,” said Mike.In particular, ESV encourages everyone with a property that is 25 yearsold or more to arrange an inspection. The electrical wiring needed forlights, cookers, televisions and other appliances may no longer be upto scratch.Government inquiries into the Yallourn Mine collapseIn early December last year, Minister for Energyand Resources Peter Batchelor announced twoinquiries into the collapse at the Yallourn opencut mine.The northern wall of TRUenergy’s minecollapsed on 14 November 2007 resulting in theLatrobe River flowing directly into in the mineuntil a diversion could be put in place.Although the incident disrupted mining andpower production at the Yallourn W powerstation, power supplies to the state were notdisrupted.The Minister said the inquiries would separatelyinvestigate the facts and causes of whatoccurred and compliance with mining licenceobligations.“This was a major incident resulting in potentialsignificant environmental impacts and while noonewas hurt, we need to ensure the highestsafety standards are in place across theindustry.“It is crucial that we understand what causedthis incident, so we can prevent further incidentsof this kind.“Achieving maximum safety and protecting theenvironment during mining activities is a toppriority for this Government, and I know it is alsoa top priority for the industry,” said the Minister.The first investigation by Department of PrimaryIndustries’ (DPI) inspectors into TRUenergy’sperformance against its mining licenceobligations started at the end of last year.A second inquiry into the facts and causesof the mine wall collapse was scheduled tostart early this year. It will be independentlyconducted by a person with specialist expertisewho will be appointed as Mining Warden by theGovernor in Council.“There are two investigations because DPIis responsible for regulation of the miningindustry under the Mineral Resources(Sustainable Development) Act and willtherefore investigate the compliance issues.“A Mining Warden, however, has broaderpowers of investigation including the abilityto enter any land, summons a person to giveevidence on oath and require the productionof documents.“By setting up this second inquiry we aremaking sure that all the facts can be thoroughlyinvestigated independently of government.The DPI investigation team will cooperate fullywith the mining warden’s investigation,”said Mr Batchelor.The investigations are expected to becompleted during the first half of this year.
electricityQsand AsQ. Is a refrigeration mechanic with a D licence permitted to install240v interconnect cables for split system air conditioners? Someunits are direct wired through an isolator and some units plug into asocket outlet. Under what circumstances if any are the interconnectcables regarded as part of the appliance and able to be installed bya competent person?A. The installation of interconnect cables that are 240 volts is deemedto be electrical installation work under the Section 3 definitions in theElectricity Safety Act 1999, and is therefore not within the scope of aD licence holder. The person undertaking this work needs to be anA class (formerly E licence) holder.Q. If I have installed a cover over my extra low voltage (ELV) downlightscan the distance be decreased from those that are shown in Figure4.7 of AS/NZS 3000:2007?A. The requirements are outlined in Clause 4.5.2.3, which states:“4.5.2.3 Recessed luminairesRecessed luminaires and their auxiliary equipment shall be installed ina manner designed to minimise temperature rise and prevent the riskof fire. The temperature rise at the rear of a recessed luminaire shall belimited to prevent damage to adjacent materials.This requirement shall be satisfied by one of the following methods:(a) The use of a luminaire specifically designed and certified by themanufacturer to permit—(i) contact with combustible materials; or(ii) enclosure or covering by thermal insulation material, asappropriate to the location of the luminaire.(b) Installation of the luminaire within a suitable fire-resistant enclosure.(c) Provision of required clearances from combustible and thermalinsulating material as specified by the manufacturer of the luminaire.(d) Provision of the default clearances from combustible and thermalinsulating material as specified in Figure 4.7.Where manufacturer’s installation instructions that specify requiredclearances are not available, the luminaire shall be installed in accordancewith (b) or (d).NOTE: In the case of a suitably designed luminaire, the installation instructions may specify thatno clearance is required.Recessed luminaires and their auxiliary equipment shall be installed insuch a manner that necessary cooling air movement through or aroundthe luminaire is not impaired by thermal insulation or other material.Where thermal insulation is of a type that is not fixed in position, e.g.loose fill, a barrier or guard constructed of fire-resistant material shall beprovided and secured in position to maintain the necessary clearance(see Figure 4.7).”Therefore if there are no other measurements stated with themanufacturer’s instruction then (b) and (d) are to be applied. With no otherinformation the default measurements of Figure 4.7 are to be adhered to.Q.On a large site that is multiple occupancy where does the prescribedelectrical work end? Do I require more than one prescribed certificateof electrical safety?A.In the Electricity Safety (Installation) Regulations 1999 the requirementsof prescribed electrical installation work are outlined in Regulation 406.When seeking to identify the parts of the electrical installation work thatare prescribed electrical work Regulation 406 (a) and (b) provide theanswer by stating:“406. Prescribed electrical installation work(1) For the purposes of section 45 of the Act, “prescribed electricalinstallation work” means work on all or part of any of the followingelectrical installations if they are ordinarily operated at low voltage ora voltage exceeding low voltage—(a) consumers mains, main earthing systems, consumers terminalsconnection devices and those parts of main switchboards thatare related to the control of installations and the protectionagainst the spread of fire;(b) sub-mains, earthing systems and any distribution boardsrelated to the control of individual occupiers’ portions of multipleinstallations unless the occupier has immediate and unimpededaccess to the main switch or switches controlling the whole ofthe multiple installation.”It is important to understand that Regulation 406(b) details therequirements for the distribution boards related to the control of theindividual occupiers portions of the installation. This means that theperson who owns the individual occupancy needs to be able to haveunimpeded access to the main switch or switches or otherwise theprescribed electrical work continues to the switch that the individualoccupier does control. This is usually the isolating switch contained inthe switchboard in their unit/apartment or townhouse, so this is wherethe prescribed electrical work ends.With respect to the number of prescribed certificates of electrical safetythat are issued, then the Electricity Safety (Installation) Regulations1998 provides the answer in Regulation 410(3) which in Part (c) requiresthe address and postcode of the electrical installation. Therefore if theelectrical installation address is Unit 3012, XYZ Towers, Melbourne,it would be understood that each unit would require its own prescribedcertificate of electrical safety, to accurately record the electrical installationwork performed at that address.25SUMMER/AUTUMN 2008 ISSUE 11esv reminder on IP 23 light fittingsFor many years there have been IP 23rated light fittings available for useon electrical installations and manyregistered electrical contractorsand electrical workers have soughtto use them.ESV recently received complaints from somecustomers about these light fittings andtherefore reminds RECs and LEIWs of thefollowing.When installing any fitting or equipment inan area that requires a degree of IP rating,the installer must meet the fundamentalrequirements in AS/NZS 3000:2007. Clause1.7 details the requirements for the selectionand installation of electrical equipment andcovers the essential fundamentals, installationwork practice, equipment selection and dampsituations.The fittings that have been bought to theattention of ESV are a PVC composition and area batten holder style. The fitting itself is IP ratedand when the consumer inserts a standardglobe they are finding out that the globe failswhen it rains due to the heat of the globe.These fittings have been installed on the outsideof the buildings and used in place of a spotlightor other fitting. Customers experienced theproblems during heavy rain experienced onoccasions recently.ESV urges RECs and LEIWs who install thesetype of fittings on the outside of buildings toreconsider this method and instead adoptthe requirement of Clause 1.6 of AS/NZS3000:2007, which covers the design of theelectrical installation, and ensure that any lightfitting installed on the outside of buildingsfunctions correctly as intended.
Page 1 and 2: A publication brought to you by Ene
Page 3 and 4: New Wiring Rules -what ESV is doing
Page 5 and 6: During early industry consultation,
Page 7 and 8: esv assistsinvestigations into fire
Page 9 and 10: A front end loader dislodged apower
Page 11 and 12: 11SUMMER/AUTUMN 2008 ISSUE 11
Page 13 and 14: The badly damageed Broadford RSL Ha
Page 15 and 16: Chris Bakes, REC and Director of Oz
Page 17 and 18: Live antenna mounting bracketwarnin
Page 19 and 20: esv fines two importersfor supplyin
Page 21 and 22: urgent recallfor pool andspa heater
Page 23: split system airconditioners- clear
Page 27 and 28: wiring rules information sessions 2

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