New wiring rules
New national wiring rules have been released specifying safety requirements for the design, construction and verification of electrical installations in Australia.
The wiring rules are intended to protect persons, livestock and property from electric shock, fire and physical injury hazards that may arise from an electrical installation. Guidance is also provided so that the electrical installation will function correctly for the purpose intended.
Major changes include:
- extended application of safety switches and testing for correct operation
- protection against arcing faults
- requirements for selectivity (discrimination) between circuits
- strengthening of requirements for the prevention of the spread of fire
- enhanced requirements for recessed luminaires
- requirements for sanitisation areas in the food processing industry
- mandatory requirement for testing safety switches. A copy of the new wiring rules AS/NZS3000:2007 – Electrical installations can be obtained from SAI Global on www.saiglobal.com/wiringrules or by calling 131 242.
A copy of the new wiring rules AS/NZS3000:2007 – Electrical installations can be obtained from the SAI Global web site or by calling 131 242.
Read more on the new wiring rules.