16
Electrical
Q&A
Your electrical
questions
answered!
Compiled by ESV’s Electricity Technical
Advisor, Simon O’Leary
energysafe continues its regular series
featuring some of the questions that
ESV receives on a range of electricity
installation issues, some of them relating
to gas installations. Also provided are
the references to the Acts, Standards,
Regulations and Clauses that apply
to them.
Question Answer Standard
When will the new AS/NZS 3000,
wiring rules be out? The new AS/NZS 3000:2018 – The Australian/New Zealand
Wiring Rules, were published on 26 June 2018. AS/NZS 3000:2018
will supersede AS/NZS 3000:2007. AS/NZS
3000:2018
Clause
ESV acknowledges that some electrical installation work would
have started before the publication of the 2018 edition and will
therefore not mandate the 2018 edition until 1 January 2019.
This will allow the electrical industry a six-month transition period
to complete the electrical installation work currently undertaken
to the 2007 edition.
The standards can be purchased online from SAI Global.
Looking at the new 2018 Wiring Rules,
is it correct that all final subcircuits in
a house need to be on RCD?
Yes. The 2018 Wiring Rules states that:
“Additional protection by RCDs with a maximum rated residual
current of 30 mA shall be provided for all final subcircuits in domestic
and residential electrical installations.
AS/NZS
3000:2018 Clause 2.6.3.2.2
AS/NZS
3000:2018 Clause 2.6.3.2.5
Electricity Safety
(Installations)
Regulations
2009. Regualtion 238
Where protection of final subcircuits is required, RCDs shall be
installed at the switchboard at which the final subcircuit originates.”
I am replacing a switchboard in a
house, and only the circuits for the
socket-outlet are on RCDs.
Looking at the new 2018 Wiring Rules,
do I need to put an RCD on all the final
subcircuits if it’s just the switchboard
I am working on?
Yes. You will need to install RCDs to protect all the final subcircuits.
Alterations to installations and replacement of switchboards,
of the new Wiring Rules states that:
“Additional protection by RCDs shall be provided in existing
electrical installations where alterations or a switchboard
replacement is completed.
The following provisions shall apply:
(b) Switchboard replacement
Where all of the circuit protection on a switchboard is replaced,
additional protection by RCDs as required by this Clause (2.6) shall
be provided for the final subcircuits supplied from that switchboard.”
How many apprentice electricians
can an A-class electrician effectively
supervise?
An employer of electrical workers should ensure that the ratio
of supervisors to apprentices is 1:2 under direct supervision and
1:4 under general supervision.
One supervisor is to supervise no more than two apprentices
under direct supervision at any one time. One supervisor is to
supervise no more than four apprentices under general supervision
at any one time.
ESV has produced an extensive guide on the requirements for
the effective supervision of apprentice electricians. This is available
on our website.
ESV has also produced two training videos to assist in supervisors
of apprentice electricians. The first video is designed to provide
guidance for the supervisors of apprentice electricians. The second
video is designed to provide guidance to the apprentice electricians
and make them aware of some of the hazards they might encounter
working in the electrical industry.
These videos along with other information are available on our
website − www.esv.vic.gov.au/electrical-apprentice-safety