Electrical Work that May be Undertaken by Unregistered Persons
Proposal
- To prohibit homeowners from working on connectable installations.
- To allow homeowners to replace fuses with a safer alternative.
- To recognise that tradespeople may be competent enough to do certain electrical work.
The Act provides that unregistered people can undertake certain types of electrical work. This work is not excluded from the Regulations under Regulation 3 as the work is actually prescribed electrical work, nor is it exempted from the definition of prescribed electrical work as it needs to be controlled. Specific regulations around the limitations of homeowner work are therefore required.
Homeowners' and Tradespersons' Work
Existing Regulation 47 specifies what work the homeowner can complete, that they must follow ECP 50 and ECP 51, and they must get the work inspected by an inspector if they have installed, extended or altered subcircuits. It is proposed to carry forward an equivalent regulation but to prohibit homeowners from working on a connectable installation (such as caravans and recreational vehicles). Connectable installations are a high risk area.
It is proposed that in carrying forward the equivalent of Regulation 47(1)(b)the wording be amended along the following lines to say remove and replace fuse links with fuse links or plug-in circuit breakers. This type of wording clarifies that an acceptable and safer alternative to fuse wires may be installed in their place.
Maintenance of Domestic Appliances
The current Regulation 48 sets out that an owner of an electrical appliance may do prescribed electrical work on that appliance provided the work is carried out according to ECP 50. It is proposed that this regulation is carried forward to the new regulations with no changes.
Limits and Requirements of Exemption for Tradespersons
Currently under Regulation 49, plumbers and gasfitters, as long as they comply with certain requirements, can be given an electrical work certificate. However, other tradespeople, such as paperhangers, GIB fixers, lino fitters, etc are even more restricted than homeowners in what electrical work they can undertake. In the course of their work, they are frequently exposed to electrical appliances and installations, where it would be advantageous for them to mitigate the risk to themselves and the homeowner.
The Ministry is interested in feedback as to whether limits and exemptions for tradespersons regulation are still needed. It may be more appropriate for the Board to issue tradespeople with a form of restricted licences.
Regulation 49 is also the only regulation for which AS/NZS 3760 (In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment) is mandatory (all other regulations refer to it as a means of compliance). If an equivalent of Regulation 49 continues AS/NZS 3000 may be a more suitable replacement.
Questions
Do you agree with restricted licences for other tradespeople?
Should AS/NZS 3760 continue to be a mandatory requirement for Regulation 49 (8)?
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