Electricity FAQs: Installation and Distribution System Safety
[ Last Updated 3 July 2007 ]
Installation Safety
Q. How Can I Know that the House I am About to Purchase is Wired Correctly, and is Electrically Safe?
A. Employ a registered electrical inspector and request that they carry out a full re-inspection of the installation and provide a detailed report, including photos where required, indicating the current state of the installation.
Q. What Should I Do if I Want Lawful and Competent Electrical Work Done on My Home Wiring Installation?
A. First, employ only a licensed electrical worker. Electrical registration and licensing ensures your safety. A licensed electrician (or electrical inspector) installs and works on the fixed electrical wiring in your home, and does servicing and repair work on appliances. A licensed electrical service technician repairs electrical appliances and equipment - but is not allowed to install wiring. The type of work a licensed electrical worker may do is shown on their practising licence. Ask to see the licence before they work on your home or your appliance. It is in the form of a blue and yellow card, issued by the Electrical Workers Registration Board.
Second, Ask for a Certificate of Compliance immediately on completion of any fixed wiring work, including fittings and power points that are connected to that wiring. Electrical workers are required by law to issue customers with a Certificate of Compliance - except for repairs or maintenance. It is your assurance that the work done complies with the safety standards. Keep all Certificates of Compliance in a safe place for insurance purposes, as they will protect you from liability if something goes wrong.
If you have a problem with electrical work that has been carried out, contact them first to see if the matter can be simply put right. If you have any continuing safety concerns about the work, contact the Electrical Workers Registration Board [external link], 0800 66 1000.
Q. Do I Need to Use any Electrical Safety Devices When Working With Electrical Equipment Outside, or in a Wet Area?
A. In general, yes. The power supply you use should be supplied via an RCD (Residual Current Device) suitable for personal protection, or an isolating transformer. In most cases now, people use an RCD. These can be in the form of one mounted on the switchboard, a socket outlet that has one incorporated into it or, more frequently, a portable RCD.
Q. What Work Am I Allowed to Do If I Am Not An Electrical Worker?
A. The law applying to electrical work provides three mechanisms under which unlicensed workers may do electrical work.
- work which is not prescribed electrical work;
- work which may be done provided no payment or reward is given for that work;
- work which may be done by the owner of a domestic installation or by the owner or relative of the owner of an electrical appliance
In general, these three provisions allow the public to carry out simple electrical work which does not involve significant safety risks or work on their own equipment (appliances) or household wiring. In the latter two cases, the work must be carried out in accordance with instructions issued by the Ministry and where new electrical wiring is involved, the work must be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector.
For details on the range of work that may be carried out, refer to the Electricity Regulations 1997, Regulations 17 and 17 (2), 47 and 48.
Note: The legislation also provides for persons to carry out electrical work under the supervision of a registered person or an employer licence holder and for other tradespersons, trainees and 'qualified engineers' to carry out prescribed electrical work under certain circumstances.
Q. Am I Allowed to Do Prescribed Electrical Work in the Work Place, as an Unlicensed Electrical Worker?
A. You may only carry out electrical work in a workplace under the supervision of a licensed electrical worker, or under the authority of an employer licence.
Distribution System Safety
Q. What Should I Do if The Power Line that Connects My House to the Street Breaks?
A. Always treat a fallen cable as if alive and stay clear, and keep others clear from the broken ends. Contact your electrician if the cable has broken away from your house or building or contact your supply authority if the cable is broken away in the street.
Q. How Can I Be Sure I'm Safe When Painting My House Around the Inwards Power Cable?
A. Before starting the job, contact your electricity retailer and ask for your power supply to be disconnected. If during a weekday, then often there is no charge for this service. During weekends, however, there may be a charge. Continue to treat the line as if it were live, just in case. When finished, arrange for reconnection.
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