Electrical safety in construction
Construction wiring in Queensland has been required to meet the same standards as the wiring in the completed building. The change was made in 2003 to ensure greater electrical safety for everyone in the construction industry.
Construction wiring must comply with AS/NZS 3000:2000 Electrical Installations (non-Queensland government site). Wiring that is erected in a temporary manner or does not meet the standard will be breaking the law.
The law requires temporary wiring to be of the same standard as the finished wiring for all construction, housing or demolition sites. The law affects six areas:
- construction wiring
- switchboards
- flexible cords, cord extension sets, flexible cables and accessories
- lighting and luminaires
- inspection and testing
- relocatable construction premises and other electrical equipment on site.
Accidental damage to fixed wiring and flexible cords is an important safety concern on all construction sites. To ensure greater electrical safety for the construction industry, the law requires the following people to comply with revised AS/NZS 3012:2003 Electrical installations (non-Queensland government site)—Construction and demolition sites:
- an electrical contractor installing construction wiring
- a person in control of installed equipment
- an employer
- a self-employed person.
If an Electrical Safety Office inspector visits a site and finds that any of these areas do not comply with the standard, an improvement notice will be issued. Time will be allowed to fix the problem that is appropriate to the risk. If the inspector discovers an immediate electrical safety risk, an electrical safety protection notice will be issued.
The basis of the Wiring Rules and the Construction and Demolition Standard is that wiring and cables must be installed or located in a way that they are protected against likely damage, e.g. the fixed wired supply to a switchboard must be placed in a position where it is unlikely to be damaged. Wiring could also be provided with protection suitable for withstanding damage, e.g. a steel cover strip that protects against damage from machinery or equipment.
The requirements of AS/NZS 3012:2003 (non-Queensland government site) are additional obligations that relate to construction wiring for site supervisors.