Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019

This regulation applies to an electrical installation or a portion of an electrical installation (other than a domestic electrical installation or portion of a domestic electrical installation) that, because of its unusual requirements, application or intended use, cannot meet the requirements of Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

A person may adopt a design and installation method (an alternative design solution) that—

satisfies the requirements of sections 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 and 1.8 of Part 1 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules; and

will provide a level of safety from physical injury, fire and electric shock that is at least equivalent to the level that would be provided if Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules was complied with.

A person may only elect to adopt the alternative design solution before the person signs the certificate of compliance that relates to the alternative design solution.

Before commencing the installation work related to an alternative design solution, a person must obtain written consent from the owner of the electrical installation to depart from the requirements of Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

Before commencing the installation work relating to an alternative design solution, a person must have a design of that alternative design solution verified as complying with Part 1 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules by a competent person who was not involved with the design of the alternative design solution.

On the adoption of an alternative design solution in relation to an electrical installation, the person must do the following things—

clearly and permanently mark the main switchboard of the installation where the alternative design solution has been adopted and any other switchboard that is associated with the alternative design solution with the following words—

maintain documentation that details—

the nature and extent of the alternative design solution; and

the electrical installation or portions of the electrical installation where the alternative design solution was used; and

why the requirements of Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules could not be met; and

how compliance with subregulation (2) was achieved; and

the verification required by subregulation (5).

A copy of the documentation referred to in subregulation (6)(b) must—

be given to the owner of the electrical installation and to Energy Safe Victoria; and

be retained by the person responsible for the carrying out of the electrical installation work for a period of 3 years commencing after the completion of the electrical installation work.

To avoid doubt, despite an alternative design solution being adopted for a portion of an electrical installation, all remaining portions of the electrical installation must comply with Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

Energy Safe Victoria may require an independent competent person to certify that the materials, equipment and methods adopted under an alternative design solution are equivalent to the requirements of Part 2 of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.