Before main switchboards are given authorisation to be energised by ACT Government electrical inspectors, the following summary of the Wiring Rules requirements must be complied with:

The switchboard must:

• be fixed permanently in position and installed to meet the requirements of AS/NZS 3000:2007 Clause 2.9 of the Wiring Rules 
• be installed in a suitable well-ventilated place
• be protected against the effects of moisture and dust
• have clear access – access must not be obstructed by contents of the building or by fittings and fixtures within the building
• have all doors installed
• be labelled and main earth and bond locations marked
• have all labels in place as required by the Wiring Rules for safety services
• be 100% complete
• have all penetrations filled for fire sealing and vermin.

Other requirements include:

• All smoke doors and fire doors are to be fitted.
• Prescribed clearance (in all situations 600 mm) around the switchboard on all sides where people are to pass to allow for servicing and maintenance.
• All sub-mains shall be terminated, danger tagged and locked off.
• No cables are to be drawn into cabinets after the switchboard is energised.
• Bollards are to in place for mechanical protection of the switchboard.
• Bollards are required in front of switch room doors to stop doors being blocked.

Switch room environment

• In case a switchboard is installed in a car park or installed lower than parking bays, all bunds or barriers shall be in place to prevent spillages reaching the main switch room.
• Signage must be in place for the location of the main switch board at the fire indicator panel or at each entry for the building.
• Signage is affixed to the doors of more than one switch room indicating the location of other switch rooms on the same site.
• The main switch room and switchboard internals are clean of dust and metallic debris.
• All foreign objects removed from against the switchboard and switch room floor area.
• Main switch room is not to be used as an office or storage room during final construction stages of the project.
• Permanent lighting in the main switch room shall be completed and maintained from the temporary supply before connection of the network supply.
• Emergency lighting plus emergency exit signage must be working and tested.
• Advise construction safety officers that tagged installation cables emanating from the main switch room are live as from ACTPLA’s authorisation date.

Switchboards with maximum demand 80Amps per phase or higher

• Maximum demand figures must be available to the electrical inspector when on site.
• Where maximum demand is between 80Amps and 100Amps per phase, consideration should be given to installing a commercial switchboard. Consult with ACTPLA before you proceed and get approval for your proposed switchboard.
• Where maximum demand is 100Amps or greater per phase, a commercial switchboard is required. Consult with ACTPLA before you proceed and get approval for your proposed switchboard.

Safety Services

Clause 7.2.2.2 of the Wiring Rules – Discrimination of circuit-protective devices says:

Protective devices shall be selected such that;
• (b) A fault on the general electrical installation will not result in loss of supply to safety services.
• Fault-current limiters used to protect safety services shall not be used to provide protection to any part of the general electrical installation.

To comply with this clause:

• In all cases, the metering arrangements of the electrical installation shall not cause the loss of supply to safety services if a fault occurs in the general electrical installation. In some electrical installations, this may require separate electricity  metering for safety services in order to comply with the Wiring Rules.
• All labels required by the Wiring Rules for safety services are to be in place prior to inspection.

Note:

All points in this notice also need to be checked against ActewAGL service and installation rules. Any point above is an ACTPLA requirement. ACTEWAGL requirements must also be met. 

For further information or enquries, please contact an electrical inspector on 02 6207 1923 or email electrical.inspections@act.gov.au

Service and installation rules for the ACT can be found on the utilities website, www.actewagl.com.au