Electrical safety advice to licensed electrical contractors and licensed electrical workers - flood affected installations

SAFETY ADVISORY 1/2011

The Electrical Safety Office (ESO) reminds all licensed electrical contractors and licensed electrical workers of their electrical safety obligations during the period of repair and restoration following Queensland’s floods, and provides the following advice to assist you in meeting those obligations.

Flood damaged electrical equipment

• Where flood water has entered electrical equipment then the manufacturer's advice should be sought on how this equipment can be made electrically safe before it is re-energised. In the absence of this advice, the equipment should be replaced or disconnected prior to re-energisation of the electrical installation/equipment. 
• If a safety switch is disconnected for this purpose it must be replaced before circuits protected by it are energised.

Electrical testing of flood affected installations

• The need to check the whole installation before arranging the reinstatement of supply to the property depends on the scope of damage and extent to which electricity is required. If the installation is subject to major rectification then it may be practical to provide supply at a single point to enable repairs - e.g. the installation of a power point to enable basic supply may be required.
• Refer to the Wiring Rules for inspection and testing installation wiring and fixed equipment. The test results should be in accordance with Section 8. Some equipment may need to remain disconnected from supply while repair or replacement advice is sought from the equipment manufacturer.
• Refer to the Wiring Rules regarding the requirements to install a safety switch.  Circuits with an existing safety switch must continue to be protected by a safety switch. The ESO recommends all circuits be protected by safety switches.
• For portable electrical equipment assess the damage and refer to AS/NZS 3760, or recommend to the client they dispose of the equipment appropriately. For electrical safety purposes rendering plug and cord equipment unsuitable for use could be achieved by twisting off the pins from the plug top.

Solar photo-voltaic (PV) systems

• Even if the network supply is turned off, PV systems will continue producing voltages during the day and the PV cells and associated wiring will be live. Consider disconnecting the PV wiring at the solar panels.
• Where a solar PV system was flood inundated, check the system and safely isolate water-damaged components. Ensure the system is electrically safe before it is re-commissioned or before work commences in the area of the PV cells and associated electrical wiring.

Conductive building material

• Conductive material such as metal foil insulation and metal building material (sarking)  located in the ceiling, roof or walls, may have been damaged or dislodged and may now present an electrical risk.  Always treat such material as live until it has been proven safe. Likewise, thermal ceiling insulation may have become dislodged and present an electrical risk.

Peter Lamont
Executive Director
Electrical Safety Office