Newsletter

Federal Government rebates for installing ceiling insulation are a boost for the industry and the environment, but the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) has warned installers not to underestimate the dangers involved.

Apart from the increased fire risk associated with incorrectly installing insulation around lighting fixtures, installing insulation with metal fasteners such as staples, or working around live cables can result in electric shock injuries or death. If there are any faults in the home’s electrical installation, these can also prove fatal when an installer makes contact with them.

A number of recent incidents, including  fatalities, resulted in the Minister for Industrial Relations approving mandatory requirements for installing insulation, contained in the Electrical Safety (Installation of Insulation) Notice 2009.

There is also the consideration of the effect of the insulation on the electrical cables and ratings for the installation. It is beneficial to advise your electrician and perhaps get the installation inspected before and after the insulation has been installed.

Ph Brett on 3806 0699 or 0411725445 to discuss further.

Ceiling insulation  installation  -  There are a number of things to consider electrically.

Ceiling Insulation - Electrical Dangers

Date: 01/02/2010

Small Enough to Care! Big Enough to be There!!

Pool Fences - Electrical Safety

 

The issue of equipotential bonding for pools is now covered under new pool fencing laws which came into effect on 1 December 2009 for new pools and late in 2010 for existing pools.

 

Electrical safety laws will continue to cover pools to reduce the risk of users receiving an electric shock from nearby conductive material like pool fence supports.

 

The electrical safety laws also apply to pool fencing that has been erected, in some cases, a long time after pool electrical equipment and ancillary fittings have been installed.

 

The requirements on whether to install an equipotential bond are outlined in the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules.

 

The requirements depend on a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, the arrangement of electrical equipment associated with the pool (such as pool pumps and filters) the existence of an equipotential bond to the pool construction, when the pool fence was installed, and the distance the pool fence is away from the pool.

 

The Electrical Safety Office advises electrical contractors and anyone associated with the pool building and pool fencing industries to be aware of these bonding requirements for electrical safety reasons.

 

Please contact Brett on 3806 0699 or 0411725445 to discuss requirements.

New pool fencing laws require some pool fences now to be  connected to an electrical earth!