Electrical Safety Compliance – Switchboard Inspections and Safety Switch Testing
Electrical Safety Compliance – Switchboard Inspections and Safety Switch Testing
The inspection of main switchboards and testing of communal safety switches is something that we too often see has been overlooked by strata building owners. Not only can lack of inspection and testing be a compliance breach, it can also contribute to major safety hazards that can be avoided. Many older buildings will not be up to the current Australian electrical safety Standards if they have not been upgraded and may even have potential hazards if they have not been periodically inspected and tested.
Australian Standard (AS 3019 -2007) refers to the periodic verification for electrical services within common areas to be completed. It a strong safety recommendation that all Body Corporates complete switchboard inspections every 2 years as a minimum as it a critical piece of infrastructure for the supply of power to the building.
Inside the main switchboards there are usually safety switches for the communal lights and power with safety switches for individual properties located within their individual switchboards. These safety switches should be tested by a licensed electrical contractor to ensure that they are tripping within the required time of 300 milliseconds cutting power to any faulty source. If a safety switch does not trip within the required time, it is deemed faulty and should be replaced immediately. Safety switches must be tested in accordance with AS/NZ 3760:2010, which specifies that inspection and test must be completed every 6mths (push button) and 2 years (operating time test).
To avoid the risk of non-compliance that could lead to electrical safety hazards which commonly cause electrical fires and shock, check your inspection records for currency and if out of date, get in touch with a qualified electrician to bring the safety of your building back up to the required safety standard.
This article was contributed by George Koulouris, Director – Foss Electrical
Leave a Reply
These strata related articles are excellent. Easy reading, informative and educational.
Thanks for sharing this information.
What a great source of knowledge upon electrical safety compliance the switchboard inspection and safety switch testing in detail. I am really happy to come across this exceptionally well written content. I love this article, thanks for producing such great contents. I love your posts always. Thanks for sharing and look for more in future!!
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
It’s nearly impossible to find educated people for this subject, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
It is crazy that the safety switches have to trip within 300 milliseconds of cutting the power. When I was younger my sister would go to our switchboard and cut the electricity to my room at night. My dad would always just say it was faulty wiring but years later my sister confessed that she was the one who would always turn off my power.
We absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome weblog!
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with valuable info to work on. You’ve performed a formidable activity and our whole community will probably be grateful to you.
Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.
After I originally commented I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. There has to be a way you can remove me from that service? Thank you!
Everyone loves what you guys are usually up too. This kind of clever work and coverage! Keep up the fantastic works guys I’ve included you guys to our blogroll.
Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you may be a great author.I will make certain to bookmark your
blog and will often come back in the foreseeable future.
I want to encourage you to continue your great job, have a
nice afternoon!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.
This is something that I have to check. I am not fully aware about this.
Nice and informative as proper electrical maintenance (https://ipasolutions.com.au/) is really important to avoid any accidents.