Changes to the 'wiring rules' - a note on the regulatory status of AS/NZS 3000:2018
Standards Australia announced that a new edition of AS/NZS 3000:2018 (the 'wiring rules') is expected to be published in March 2018. Standards New Zealand is likely to approve the new standard soon. It is likely AS/NZS 3000:2018 will be adopted into the Regulations to replace AS/NZS 3000:2007 in late 2019.
Work Safe is considering a 12-month transition because none of the changes in AS/NZS 3000:2018 are necessary to address any critical safety issues.
The Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 cite AS/NZS 3000:2007 including its Amendments 1 and 2. This means the 2007 standard must be used to ensure compliance with the Regulations, until the Regulations are updated to cite the 2018 edition.
AS/NZS 3000:2018 also contains some provisions different to AS/NZS 3000:2007 requirements. For example, the use of AS/NZS 3000:2018 before its inclusion in the Regulations may not comply with the provisions relating to domestic down-lights installation under AS/NZS 3000:2007 and therefore could constitute an offence.
Standards Australia is likely to make amendments to AS/NZS 3000:2018 to include provisions to address aspects not yet accounted for in AS/NZS 3000:2018. Regulatory recognition of AS/NZS 3000:2018, along with any amendments, at the end of 2019, will avoid two rule changes in a short timeframe.
Details of how AS/NZS 3000:2007 is applied can be found in Schedule 2 of the Regulations.
Article adapted from the Energy Safety (Work Safe) website(external link).