Electrical news
Autumn 2019
energysafe issue 53
Description of installation work
By David Bibby, Compliance Officer, Electrical Installation Safety
A summary of what it is used for and how filling it out correctly can
ensure your installation is compliant within Regulations and Standards.
Non-Prescribed COES—
Auditing purposes and
customer satisfaction It also provides the customer with a
detailed description of the work for
their own record keeping. Prescribed COES—
Inspection purposes and
customer satisfaction
The description of work provided by
the Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW)
on a Non-Prescribed COES is used
by ESV authorised auditors to identify
what non-prescribed electrical
installation work has been completed
at an electrical installation. This allows
the auditor to visually inspect and test
the completed work for compliance
and safety. If the description of work is inaccurate
or incomplete, the auditor may have
doubts about the electrical installation
work performed and where it was
completed in the installation. The description of work provided by
the Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW)
on a Prescribed COES is used by
Licensed Electrical Inspectors (LEI)
to identify what prescribed electrical
installation work has been completed at
an electrical installation. This allows the LEI
to visually inspect and test the completed
work for compliance and safety.
Accurate detailed descriptions of
what electrical installation work was
performed, and its location in the
installation, help an auditor complete the
audit inspection and testing effectively.
This may render the audit ineffective
in its purpose, as the auditor cannot
ensure:
» » the electrical installation work is
compliant to the legislation and
pursuant standards, and
» » the installation is safe to be left
on supply and safe to use.
Accurate, detailed descriptions of the
prescribed electrical installation work
performed and where it was completed
in the installation, help the LEI complete
the inspection and testing as required to
ensure compliance.
Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) and Responsible Person (RP)
Doc
Section and title Standard/Clause
ESA 44 Compliance and
testing of electrical
installation work 3. A licensed electrical installation worker must not sign a certificate of compliance in relation to any
electrical installation work carried out by that worker unless the certificate—
a. describes the work; and
b. states that the work complies with this Act and the regulations; and
c. contains any other details in relation to the work required by the regulations.
ES(I)R 251 Certificates
of compliance 1. For the purposes of section 44(3)(c) of the Act, a certificate of compliance must contain all the details
required by the certificate of electrical safety.
2. Despite subregulation (1), detail as to the maximum demand of the installation at the time of completion
of the work in amps per phase need only be completed if the work has increased the maximum demand
of the installation.
3. Despite subregulation (1), detail as to the consumers mains capacity of the installation in amps need
only be completed if the work has increased the maximum demand of the installation.
ES(I)R 252 Details to be
accurate and legible—
certificate of compliance A licensed electrical installation worker must ensure that the details required by regulation 251
are complete, accurate and legible on each copy of the certificate of compliance.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
Licensed Electrical Inspector (LEI)
Doc
Section and title Standard/Clause
ESA 45 Inspection of electrical
installation work 4. A licensed electrical inspector must not sign a certificate of inspection of any prescribed electrical
installation work unless the certificate—
a. describes the work; and
b. states that the inspector has inspected the work; and
c. states whether or not the work complies with this Act and the regulations; and,
d. contains any other details in relation to the work required by the regulations.
ES(I)R 241 Details to be accurate
and legible—certificate of
inspection A licensed electrical inspector must ensure that the details required by regulation 240 are complete,
accurate and legible on each copy of the certificate of inspection.
14
Penalty: 20 Penalty units.