Part Two – Electricity Regulations overview
The Electricity Regulations 1997 require that all electrical installations, fittings, electrical appliances and associated equipment must be designed, constructed, maintained, installed, and used so they are electrically safe (regulation 69(1)).
The term "Electrically safe" means "…that there is no significant risk of injury or death to any person, or of damage to any property, as a result of the use of the…electrical installations fittings, electrical appliances…or the passage of electricity through those…electrical installations, fittings, electrical appliances…".
Certain classes of appliance may require a supplier declaration, or be listed by Energy Safety as a declared article. The supplier declaration is a statement that the appliance meets the requirements of regulation 69(1). The supplier of an electrical appliance requiring a declaration must complete and retain the supplier declaration. If the appliance is of a type that requires a type approval, then the supplier must be able to provide certification from a recognised agency or make an application for approval from Energy Safety.
All low voltage (any voltage exceeding 50 volts a.c. or 120 volts ripple-free d.c. but not exceeding 1,000 volts a.c. or 1,500 volts d.c.) fittings and electrical appliances must comply with basic safety requirements. Regulation 76 requires that low voltage fittings and electrical appliances comply with AS/NZS 3820:1998 (Essential safety requirements for low voltage electrical equipment).
The sale of second-hand appliances is also covered by the requirements of regulation 69(1). An appliance is deemed to be safe if it has been tested (by a competent person) and meets the requirements of AS/NZS 3760:2001 (Inservice safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment).
There are substantial penalties for non-compliance. Failing to comply with the Electricity Regulations is an offence punishable by a fine of up to $10,000.
Further details on the electrical appliance safety regime may be found here on our website.
There are several information sheets on the Energy Safety website that provide specific information, namely:
- Warrants of Electrical Fitness for Recreational Vehicles or Caravans having electrical systems that operate at 110 volts.
- Selling Safe Second-hand Electrical Appliances
- Upgrade of Existing Caravans and Motorhomes to AS NZS 3001 Requirements.
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