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Construction wiring
With certain exceptions, construction wiring must comply with AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules) (non-Queensland Government link).
What the Standards require
- Use different coloured cables for construction and permanent wiring so that the two can be told apart. Or attach iridescent yellow label marked ‘construction wiring’ every five metres.
- Install wiring and cables so that they are unlikely to be damaged. For example, fixed wiring supplying a switchboard may be on a ceiling. Alternatively provide added protection such as a steel cover strip.
- Visual checks of construction wiring, including switchboards, must be carried out every six months. If damage or sub-standard work is detected, the work must be fixed and tested.
- Relocatable construction premises, fixed and transportable equipment must be tested every six months.
- Flexible cords need to run in a way that protects against damage. For example, held off the floor or run in a manner that provides protection such as a formed trough.
- If natural light is poor, install battery-powered emergency lighting in stairways, passages and next to switchboards (AS 2293.1 Emergency escape lighting and exit signs for buildings - System design, installation and operation (non-Queensland Government link)).
- Install separate circuits for lighting, power points, relocatable construction premises and other specific electrical equipment (AS/NZS 3000).
- Ensure final sub-circuits for construction wiring are protected by a maximum 30mA safety switch at the switchboard where the final sub-circuit originated. This does not apply to equipment where safe operation could be placed at risk, for example, cranes or lifts for people.
- Use insulated aerial conductors. This does not apply to electrical entities. See Section 64A of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB).
- Cables supported by a catenary should consist of stranded or flexible cable, using double insulation as a minimum.
- When setting up overhead construction wiring, avoid crossing roads or access ways that may be used by cranes, high loads or heavy machinery. It would be better to place wiring underground.
- Clearly mark where underground wires travel and record it at the workplace.
- If overhead cables must be used, place warning flags six metres both side and 0.6 metres below the wires and cables.
Last updated July 18, 2005
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