Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019

For the purposes of regulation 224(3)(b) and 224(6)(b), mechanical cover must—

be placed not less than 50 millimetres and not more than 75 millimetres above the consumer's mains; and

be not less than 150 millimetres wide; and

overlap the consumer's mains by at least 40 millimetres on each side; and

touch or overlap each other so that no spaces are left between the slabs or cover strips; and

excluding the transitional portion, be installed with a minimum depth of cover of 500 millimetres from the top of the additional mechanical protection to the surface of the ground; and

consist of one or a combination of the following—

precast concrete slabs having a thickness of not less than 40 millimetres and a classification of not less than grade 20 in accordance with AS 3600;

polymeric cable cover strip complying with AS 4702.

If mechanical cover is used to protect an underground line, the line (other than the transitional portion of the line) must be—

laid on a bed of not less than 50 millimetres of sand or friable soil free of sharp stone; and

covered by not less than 50 millimetres of the same material.