New wiring rules
New national Wiring Rules have been released
specifying safety requirements for the design,
construction and verification of electrical
installations in Australia.
The Wiring Rules are intended to protect people,
livestock, and property from electric shock, fire and
physical injury hazards that may arise from an
electrical installation. In addition, guidance is
provided so that the electrical installation will
function correctly for the purpose intended.
Major changes include:
- extended application of safety switches and testing for correct operation
- protection against arcing faults
- requirements for selectivity (discrimination) between circuits
- strengthening of requirements for the prevention of the spread of fire
- enhanced requirements for recessed luminaires
- requirements for sanitisation areas in the food processing industry
- mandatory testing of safety switches.
A copy of the Wiring Rules (AS/NZS3000: 2007 –
Electrical installations) can be obtained from SAI
Global download from www.saiglobal.com/wiringrules (non-Queensland Government link) or call 13 12 42.
Table of contents | Electrical Safety Outlook online
Last updated 22 July 2008