Issue 32 – October 2011

Standards New Zealand has just published a New Zealand-only amendment to AS/NZS 3000:2007 Electrical installations (known as the Australia/New Zealand Wiring Rules).

Amendment A:

• modifies the residual-current device (RCD) requirements in primary schools and pre-schools
• specifies new requirements for the types of recessed luminaires that can be installed in residential installations
• sets requirements for the presence of thermal insulation in residential installations.

The New Zealand only Amendment A makes the following changes to AS/NZS 3000:2007:

• The amendment to clause 2.6.3.2.2 on the use of 10 mA RCDs in primary schools, kindergartens, and day-care centres limits achieves three outcomes.
  
  
  1. It changes the requirement for RCD protection from the final subcircuit to the socket-outlet so that socket-outlet RCDs can be used.
     
     
  2. It limits the areas to those within buildings where children are likely to be using portable electrical appliances.
     
     
  3. It provides exceptions for socket-outlets mounted above 1.8 m, and socket-outlets specifically for the supply of electricity to information technology and cleaning equipment that are clearly marked.
     
     Note that the Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 1998, r24(h), requires that the licensee of a licensed centre must ensure that all electrical sockets are either out of reach of children, or adequately shielded to prevent danger to children.
     
     Thus non-RCD protected socket-outlets in these facilities will be out of reach of the younger children. The use of 10 mA RCDs is specified to protect younger children who have a lower let-go threshold in the event of an electric shock.
     
     
• Recessed luminaires (downlights) in residential installations are now required to be of a specific type that can be abutted or covered with thermal insulation providing the thermal insulation has passed a needle flame test.
  
  For situations where non-compliant luminaires are currently fitted and thermal insulation is being installed, the clearances in Figure 4.7 of the Standard have been amended to require a 100 mm clearance for both incandescent and halogen lamps.
  
  
• New requirements are added to require that wiring systems, electrical fittings, and equipment in residential installations must be installed on the assumption that thermal insulation in ceilings, walls, and under floors, if not currently installed, will be installed in the future.

These changes were introduced via a New Zealand-only amendment so that the new requirements could be cited in the forthcoming amendment to the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, which is expected to be published in November 2011.

The EL-001 joint technical committee responsible for AS/NZS 3000 is currently developing a joint amendment to the Standard, which is expected to be published in early 2012. Because of the short time frame between Amendment A and Amendment 2, it is not intended to incorporate the text of the New Zealand only Amendment A into AS/NZS 3000:2007 until the joint Amendment 2 is published early 2012.

Download the New Zealand only Amendment A to AS/NZS 3000:2007 for free from our website.