Issuing of certificates
Requirements of section 15 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002
Requirements of section 159 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002
ESO example certificate
In the majority of cases after completing work on electrical equipment or connecting electrical installations, sections 15 and 159 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB) (the Regulation) require the licensed electrical contractor, under whose licence number the work or connection was performed to issue either a certificate of testing and safety or a certificate of testing and compliance.
The Electrical Safety Office (ESO) has developed an example certificate that may be used to help meet the requirements under sections 15 and 159 of the Regulation. For more information on this certificate please see the example certificate section below.
Alternatively licensed electrical contractors' may want to use a commercially available certificate or design their own document (for example an invoice or receipt) provided the certificate/document meets the requirements of sections 15 or 159 (as applicable) of the Regulation.
Requirements of section 15 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002
(Certificate of testing and safety)
For electrical equipment: After performing electrical work that required testing under Part 2, Division 4 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002, the licensed electrical contractor needs to:
As soon as practicable after testing, provide the person for whom the work was performed a certificate that states the following:
- the name and address of the person for whom the work was performed;
- the details of the electrical equipment tested;
- the day the electrical equipment was tested;
- the electrical contractor licence number under which the electrical equipment was tested; and
- a statement on the certificate that certifies the electrical equipment (to the extent it is affected by the electrical work) has been tested to ensure it is electrically safe.
Keep a copy of the certificate for at least five years after the certificate is given to the person the work was performed for.
Requirements of section 159 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002
(Certificate of testing and compliance)
For electrical installations: After connecting an electrical installation (on which electrical work has been performed) to a source of electricity, the licensed electrical contractor needs to:
As soon as practicable after the connection, provide the person for whom the work was performed a certificate that states the following:
- the name and address of the person for whom the work was performed;
- the details of the electrical installation tested;
- the day the electrical installation was tested;
- the electrical contractor licence number under which the electrical installation was tested; and
- a statement on the certificate that certifies the electrical installation (to the extent it is affected by the electrical work) has been tested to ensure it is electrically safe and is in accordance with the requirements of the wiring rules and any other standard applying under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 to the electrical installation.
Keep a copy of the certificate for at least 5 years after the certificate is given to the person the work was performed for.
ESO example certificate
This certificate can be used as either a certificate of testing and safety or a certificate of testing and compliance. This could make it easier for contractors (especially if issuing certificates in the field) as the one certificate can serve either purpose.
Example certificates are supplied in both PDF and Word format:
- Example certificate (PDF, 24 KB)
- Example certificate (Word, 84 KB)
The certificate has two pages, the first is the actual certificate, the second is a page of frequently asked questions which you may find useful.
Benefits of the ESO example certificate
- This certificate can be used as either a certificate of testing and safety or a certificate of testing and compliance.
- All you need to do is put a mark in the relevant check-box near the top of the certificate then fill out the other details in the spaces provided, give one copy to the person the work was performed for and keep the second copy as a record for at least five years.
- Printed copies can be filled in by hand and issued in the field.
- Certificates can be personalised by adding your companies details to the box in the top left corner of the certificate by using a stamp or sticker.
- By saving a copy of the Word example certificate (MS Word, 84 KB) to your computer, you get a few additional benefits provided your computer has a copy of Microsoft Word installed, see below:
- You can personalise the certificate by adding your company details to the box in the top left corner of the certificate, which when saved, will appear on every certificate you print.
- You can also fill in the certificate on your computer, print a copy for the person the work was performed for and also save a copy, which you can keep electronically for your records. Remember to keep a copy for at least five years. Please note: the Word version is a locked document. You can only enter information into designated ‘enterable fields' which will appear grey with small circles inside. Click on the area and then enter required information.
For more information on certificates of testing and safety or certificates of testing and compliance see page two (frequently asked questions) of the example certificate.
Last updated 22 July 2009
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