Home ceiling insulation and electrical safety for householders
For ceiling insulation installed after 9 March 2010
I’m thinking of installing ceiling insulation in my house myself. What electrical safety precautions do I need to take?
You should comply with all the provisions of the Ministerial Notice. A house ceiling space can be a dangerous environment for anyone installing their own insulation. Further, any insulation you install incorrectly in the ceiling space can lead to extreme risks for all those living in the house and workers - now and at a later date.
Before taking any further action, you should read the factsheet: “Insulation - installing ceiling insulation and your health and safety” published by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, available at www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/alert-insulation_installing.pdf. It contains vital information for anyone considering installing their own ceiling insulation.
It covers:
- identifying and assessing risks
- steps to take before entering the roof cavity
- precautions while installing the insulation
- what to do after you have installed the insulation.
In addition to these steps you must get a licensed electrical contractor to do a pre-installation electrical safety test.
Am I entitled to any Government subsidy for the installation of ceiling insulation?
The Federal Government recently announced changes to its arrangements for the subsidy of home insulation. For further information please contact the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on 1800 808 571or at www.environment.gov.au
Who is allowed to do the pre-installation electrical safety test?
The pre-installation electrical safety test must be performed by an electrical contractor who has an unrestricted licence issued in Queensland. Licensed electrical contractors usually advertise in community newspapers and the Yellow Pages.
To check that your electrical contractor is licensed in Queensland, the Electrical Safety Office maintains a register of licensed electrical contractors and licensed electrical workers - call 1300 650 662 or check the website at www.electricalsafety.qld.gov.au
How do I know that the person testing the house/dwelling electrical wiring is a licensed electrical contractor?
Ask to see their gold card. In Queensland, a business with an unrestricted electrical contractor licence is issued a gold card and is licensed to perform all types of electrical work for the public - e.g., installing or altering a switchboard or safety switches and testing domestic electrical installations.
Holders of silver cards are restricted to specific types of electrical work and are not licensed to perform testing of domestic electrical installations.
The Electrical Safety Office maintains a register of licensed electrical contractors and licensed electrical workers – phone 1300 650 662 or check on the website at www.electricalsafety.qld.gov.au
Who is responsible for meeting the cost of the Ministerial Notice requirements?
As the decision to install ceiling insulation rests with the householder, any costs, including those associated with compliance with the requirements of the Ministerial Notice will be met by the householder. The householder should discuss this with the installer of the ceiling insulation.
If the house electrical installation is tested and electrical faults are found during the pre-installation inspection, what needs to be done?
In accordance with the Ministerial Notice a pre-installation inspection is only required where the householder intends to install electrically conductive (foil) ceiling insulation other than metal foil batts.
This may be arranged by the ceiling insulation installer, though this does not preclude the householder from engaging their preferred licensed electrical contractor. The Electrical Safety Office recommends you ask to see the gold card of the licensed electrical contractor engaged by the insulation installer.
If electrical faults are found during the inspection, these must be rectified or the electrical installation made safe by a licensed electrical contractor. Any rectification work to make the electrical installation safe must also be carried out before installation of electrically conductive (foil) ceiling insulation can proceed. The Electrical Safety Office recommends all final sub-circuits are protected by having safety switches installed on them by a licensed electrical contractor.