Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations 1999. No. 49/1999 Electricity Safety (Installations)...

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Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations 1999 S.R. No. 49/1999

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Regulation Page

PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1

101. Authorising provisions 1 102. Objectives 1 103. Commencement 2 104. Revocation 2 105. Definitions 2 106. Prescribed classes of electrical installation work 3 107. Prescribed classes of electrical contracting 3

PART 2—REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS 4

201. Qualifications for registration 4 202. Prescribed insurance 6 203. Applications 6 204. Conditions of registration 8 205. Obligations of registered contractors 9 206. Cancellation of registration 10 207. The register 10 208. Registration cards 11

PART 3—LICENSING OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS 13

Division 1—Issue, renewal and cancellation of licences 13

301. Classes of electrical work 13 302. Electrician's licence 13 303. Supervised worker's licence 14 304. Occupier's licence 15 305. Disconnect/reconnect worker's licence 16 306. Electrical inspector's licence 17 307. Applications 17 308. Refusal of licence 18 309. Renewal of licences 19 310. Cancellation of licence 20

Regulation Page

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Division 2—General 20

311. Apprentices 20 312. Change of name or address 20 313. Written licence 20 314. Licence to be produced on demand 21

PART 4—ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WORK 22

Division 1—Safety Standards for Electrical Installations 22

401. Wiring methods 22 402. Multiple occupancy buildings, subdivisions and easements 25 403. Private electric lines 26 404. Route of underground lines 27

Division 2—Testing of electrical installation work 27

405. Testing 27

Division 3—Inspection of electrical installation work 28

406. Prescribed electrical installation work 28 407. Inspection of prescribed electrical installation work 29 408. Notification of defects by inspectors 30 409. Notification of defects by Office 30 410. Certificates of compliance 31 411. Certificates of inspection 33 412. Notification of completion of certificate of compliance 33 413. Notification of completion of certificate of inspection 35

Division 4—Reporting and records 36

414. Reporting of incidents 36 415. Records to be maintained 37

Division 5—Exemptions 37

416. Exemptions 37

PART 5—EXAMINATIONS BY OFFICE 39

501. Examinations for registration 39 502. Examinations for licensing 39

PART 6—FEES 40

601. Fees 40

PART 7—TRANSITIONALS AND SAVINGS 41

Regulation Page

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701. Qualifications for registration 41 702. Qualifications for electrician's licences 42

__________________

SCHEDULES 43

SCHEDULE 1—Revoked Regulations 43

SCHEDULE 2—Fees 44

SCHEDULE 3—Classes of work function 45

SCHEDULE 4 46 ═══════════════

NOTES 49

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STATUTORY RULES 1999

S.R. No. 49/1999

Electricity Safety Act 1998

Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations 1999

The Governor in Council makes the following Regulations:

Dated: 28 April 1999

Responsible Minister:

ALAN STOCKDALE Treasurer

BILL ZISIMOPOULOS Acting Clerk of the Executive Council

PART 1—PRELIMINARY

101. Authorising provisions

These Regulations are made under sections 152, 156 and 157 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

102. Objectives

The objectives of these Regulations are to—

(a) provide for the registration of electrical contractors;

(b) provide for the licensing of electrical workers;

(c) prescribe the methods to be followed in carrying out electrical installation work;

(d) prescribe the quality of materials, fittings and apparatus to be used in connection with electrical installations;

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(e) provide for inspection of prescribed electrical installation work;

(f) provide for the testing and certification of electrical installation work;

(g) prescribe fees, penalties and other matters authorised by the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

103. Commencement

These Regulations come into operation on 3 May 1999.

104. Revocation

The regulations listed in Schedule 1 are revoked.

105. Definitions

In these Regulations—

"consumers mains" has the same meaning as it has in the SAA Wiring Rules;

"effective supervision", in relation to electrical work, means being present at the site of the electrical work to the extent necessary to ensure that the work is being correctly performed and carried out in accordance with the Act and these Regulations and being aware of the details of the work being performed and giving detailed instructions and directions with respect to the work;

"high voltage" means a voltage exceeding low voltage;

"licensed electrician" means an electrical installation worker holding an electrician's licence under regulation 302;

"low voltage" has the same meaning as it has in the SAA Wiring Rules;

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"SAA Wiring Rules" means the Australian Standard, 'Electrical Installations—Buildings, Structures and Premises' known as the SAA Wiring Rules, AS 3000–1991 issued by Standards Australia, as amended from time to time;

"the Act" means the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

106. Prescribed classes of electrical installation work

For the purposes of Division 1 of Part 3 of the Act, the installation, alteration, repair or maintenance of an electrical installation ordinarily operated at low voltage or a voltage exceeding low voltage is a prescribed class of electrical installation work.

107. Prescribed classes of electrical contracting

For the purposes of Division 1 of Part 3 of the Act, any contracting or undertaking to carry out electrical installation work of a class prescribed by regulation 106 is a prescribed class of electrical contracting.

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PART 2—REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

201. Qualifications for registration

(1) The Office may register or renew the registration of an applicant if satisfied that—

(a) the applicant is a natural person who will be responsible for the effective supervision of electrical installation work carried out on behalf of the applicant or there is a person or a sufficient number of persons nominated by the applicant to be technical supervisors who will be responsible for that supervision; and

(b) each person to be responsible for the effective supervision of electrical installation work—

(i) is a licensed electrician; and

(ii) has satisfactorily completed the Licensed Electrical Mechanics (LEM) Assessment conducted by a body approved by the Office or a substantially equivalent examination conducted by the Office or a body approved by the Office; and

(c) the applicant is a natural person who will be responsible for the business management and administration of the electrical contracting work or there is a person nominated by the applicant to be the business supervisor who will be responsible for that management and administration; and

(d) the person to be responsible for the business management and administration of the electrical contracting work has successfully completed a course of training about

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establishing an electrical contracting business that is approved by the Office or has passed an examination conducted by the Office or a body approved by the Office.

(2) The Office may register an applicant who is registered or licensed as an electrical contractor in another State or Territory of Australia or in New Zealand if the Office is satisfied that the applicant or any technical supervisor and business supervisor nominated under sub-regulation (1) have successfully completed an assessment or course of training or passed examinations which are substantially equivalent to those required by sub-regulation (1).

(3) The Office may refuse to register or renew the registration of an applicant if it is satisfied that—

(a) a person nominated to be the technical supervisor is employed or appointed as the nominated technical supervisor of another electrical contractor and is not, or will not be, able to provide effective supervision of all the electrical installation work the person is responsible for supervising; or

(b) the applicant has failed to comply with a provision of the Act or these Regulations; or

(c) the applicant has attempted to obtain registration as an electrical contractor by fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of facts; or

(d) the applicant has been convicted of any offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence that was punishable by imprisonment for 6 months or more; or

(e) the applicant has been negligent or incompetent, or was a party to any

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negligence or incompetence, in connection with the carrying out of electrical installation work; or

(f) the applicant has engaged in fraudulent conduct in the carrying out of electrical installation work.

202. Prescribed insurance

For the purposes of section 30 of the Act, the prescribed insurance is insurance against civil liability for personal injury or damage to property in connection with the electrical contracting work of the registered electrical contractor with a minimum cover of $5 000 000.

203. Applications

(1) A person may apply to the Office for registration or renewal of registration as an electrical contractor.

(2) An application for registration must be in writing and contain or be accompanied by the following—

(a) the applicant's name and telephone number and the address of the applicant's residence and place of business;

(b) the declaration of each person nominated to be a technical supervisor of electrical contracting work that sets out the person's name and address and their consent to be such a supervisor;

(c) a declaration of the person nominated to be the business supervisor of electrical contracting work that sets out the person's name and address and their consent to be such a supervisor;

(d) a copy of the certificate of the Commissioner of Corporate Affairs of the registration of

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any business name that the applicant will use;

(e) in the case of an applicant who is a member of a partnership, the name and address of each member of the partnership;

(f) in the case of an applicant which is a body corporate—

(i) a copy of the certificate of registration of the company under the Corporations Law;

(ii) the name and address of each director of the body corporate;

(iii) evidence that any person making an application on behalf of the body corporate is authorised to do so;

(g) evidence of the qualifications required by regulation 201(1) that the applicant relies on for registration;

(h) evidence that the applicant holds or will, at the time of carrying on electrical contracting, hold any insurance required by section 30 of the Act;

(i) the registration fee set out in Schedule 2.

(3) An application for renewal of registration must be in writing and contain or be accompanied by the following—

(a) details of any changes in the information provided in the application for the registration or for the most recent renewal of the registration or in any other circumstances relating to the application;

(b) evidence that the applicant holds or will, at the time of carrying on electrical contracting,

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hold any insurance required by section 30 of the Act;

(c) the renewal of registration fee set out in Schedule 2.

(4) The Office may require the applicant to provide further information or material in respect of an application.

204. Conditions of registration

The following conditions of registration apply to a registered electrical contractor—

(a) if the electrical contractor is qualified in accordance with regulation 201(1)(b), all electrical installation work except that actually carried out by the electrical contractor must be effectively supervised by the electrical contractor;

(b) if the electrical contractor is not qualified in accordance with regulation 201(1)(b) or the electrical contractor is not able to effectively supervise all electrical installation work carried out on behalf of the electrical contractor, that work must be effectively supervised by a nominated technical supervisor;

(c) the nomination of a person as a technical supervisor ceases if that person is nominated to be the technical supervisor of another registered electrical contractor unless the person is able to provide effective supervision of all electrical installation work for which the person is responsible for supervising;

(d) the business of the electrical contracting work of the electrical contractor is

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effectively managed and administered by the nominated business supervisor.

205. Obligations of registered contractors

(1) A registered electrical contractor must notify the Office in writing of the following matters within 5 business days after the event occurs—

(a) any change in the information provided in the application for the registration or for the most recent renewal of the registration;

(b) any change in the circumstances of a person nominated as a technical supervisor that would affect the person's ability to effectively supervise electrical installation work carried out by the electrical contractor;

(c) any change in the circumstances of a person nominated as a business supervisor that would affect the person's ability to be responsible for the management and administration of the business of the electrical contractor;

(d) any other circumstances relating to the name or status as a legal person of the registered electrical contractor.

(2) If the nominated technical supervisor of a registered electrical contractor ceases to carry out that function or is no longer able to effectively supervise electrical installation work carried out by the electrical contractor, the electrical contractor must—

(a) nominate another person qualified in accordance with regulation 201(1)(b); and

(b) send to the Office a declaration by that person that sets out the person's name and address and their consent to be such a

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supervisor within 5 business days of that nomination.

(3) If the nominated business supervisor of a registered electrical contractor ceases to carry out that function or is no longer able to be responsible for the management and administration of the business, the electrical contractor must—

(a) nominate another person qualified in accordance with regulation 201(1)(d); and

(b) send to the Office a declaration from that person that sets out the person's name and address and their consent to be such a supervisor within 5 business days of that nomination.

206. Cancellation of registration

(1) The Office may cancel the registration of an electrical contractor who applies to it in writing for that cancellation.

(2) The Office must cancel the registration of an electrical contractor who fails to apply for renewal of registration by the renewal date.

207. The register

(1) For the purposes of section 33(2) of the Act, the register must be kept in writing and contain the following information about each registered electrical contractor—

(a) the name and business address of the electrical contractor;

(b) details of any prescribed insurance required to be kept under the Act;

(c) the date of registration or renewal of registration;

(d) the registration number;

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(e) the date of any suspension of the registration.

(2) A person may obtain a copy of the register or an extract from the register on payment of the fee set out in Schedule 2.

(3) A person's residential address must not appear on any part of the register that is available to the public unless the person—

(a) has nominated that address as the person's business address; or

(b) so authorises the Office.

208. Registration cards

(1) The Office may issue a registration card to a registered electrical contractor, as evidence of registration, that sets out the details of registration.

(2) A person to whom a registration card has been issued must, upon receipt of the registration card—

(a) sign the card; or

(b) in the case of a body corporate, ensure that the card is signed by the secretary or a director of the body corporate.

Penalty: 10 penalty units.

(3) An electrical contractor whose registration has been cancelled must deliver the contractor's registration card to the Office within 5 business days after the contractor receives notice of the cancellation.


(4) If a registered electrical contractor can demonstrate to the Office that the registration card issued to the contractor has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, the Office may, on payment of the fee

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set out in Schedule 2, issue a duplicate registration card to that electrical contractor.

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PART 3—LICENSING OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS

Division 1—Issue, renewal and cancellation of licences

301. Classes of electrical work

For the purposes of Division 2 of Part 3 of the Act the following classes of electrical work are prescribed—

(a) electrical installation work carried out on an electrical installation ordinarily operated at low voltage or a voltage exceeding low voltage;

(b) electrical installation work required to carry out a class of primary work function relating to low voltage fixed electrical equipment specified in Schedule 3 that involves—

(i) the disconnection of that electrical equipment or a component of that electrical equipment; and

(ii) the reconnection of that electrical equipment or component or the connection of other equipment or any component of equivalent power and current in the same location and without alteration to existing cables;

(c) electrical inspection work of a class specified in Schedule 4.

302. Electrician's licence

The Office may license a person to carry out all electrical installation work of the class prescribed in regulation 301(a) if the Office is satisfied that—

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(a) the person—

(i) has completed a 4 year contract of training as an electrician that included at least 12 months experience in carrying out electrical installation work; and

(ii) holds a Certificate III in Electrical (Electrician); and

(iii) has satisfactorily completed the Licensed Electrical Mechanics (LEM) Assessment conducted by a body approved by the Office; or

(b) the person's standard of qualifications, proficiency and experience in electrical installation work is at least of an equivalent standard to that required under paragraph (a).

303. Supervised worker's licence

The Office may license a person to carry out all electrical installation work of the class prescribed in regulation 301(a) under the effective supervision of a licensed electrician for a period not exceeding 3 years if the Office is satisfied that—

(a) the person—

(i) has completed a 4 year contract of training as an electrical fitter that included at least 12 months electrical installation work; and

(ii) holds a Certificate III in Electrical (Electrical Fitter); and

(iii) has satisfactorily completed a practical examination in safely disconnecting and reconnecting electrical equipment

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conducted by the Office or a body approved by the Office; or

(b) the person has—

(i) completed a 4 year contract of training as an electrician that included at least 12 months experience in carrying out electrical installation work; and

(ii) partially completed the Certificate III in Electrical (Electrician); and

(iii) satisfactorily completed a practical examination in safely disconnecting and reconnecting electrical equipment conducted by the Office or a body approved by the Office; or

(c) the person's standard of qualifications, proficiency and experience in electrical installation work is at least of an equivalent standard to that required under paragraph (a) or (b).

304. Occupier's licence

The Office may license a person to carry out electrical installation work of the class prescribed in regulation 301(a) that is limited to premises which the person to be licensed occupies for residential purposes if the Office is satisfied that—

(a) the person has satisfactorily completed—

(i) a course of study in electrical engineering at a tertiary level that included at least 80 hours experience in carrying out electrical installation work; and

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(ii) the Licensed Electrical Mechanics (LEM) Assessment conducted by a body approved by the Office; or

(b) the person's standard of qualifications, proficiency and experience in electrical installation work is at least of an equivalent standard to that required under paragraph (a).

305. Disconnect/reconnect worker's licence

(1) The Office may license a person to carry out electrical installation work of a class prescribed in regulation 301(b) if the person is primarily engaged in a work function that—

(a) relates to a type of low voltage electrical equipment specified in Schedule 3; and

(b) involves electrical installation work that is incidental to the primary work function.

(2) The Office may license a person referred to in sub-regulation (1) if the Office is satisfied that—

(a) the person has—

(i) the qualifications or training (if any) required to carry out the primary work function; and

(ii) holds a certificate relating to disconnection and reconnection accredited by the National Utilities and Electrotechnology Industry Training Board; and

(iii) satisfactorily completed a practical examination in safely disconnecting and reconnecting electrical equipment conducted by the Office or a body approved by the Office; or

(b) the person's standard of qualifications, proficiency and experience in the primary

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work function and electrical installation work is at least of an equivalent standard to that required under paragraph (a).

(3) The Office must limit the type of electrical installation work that the licensed person may undertake under the licence by reference to a class or classes specified in Schedule 3.

306. Electrical inspector's licence

The Office may license a person to carry out electrical inspection work of any or all of the classes prescribed in Part A of Schedule 4 if that person—

(a) has the qualifications, experience and demonstrated competence and proficiency in the matters set out in Part B of Schedule 4 for the relevant class of electrical inspection work; and

(b) if required by the Office to do so, has satisfactorily completed a practical examination in electrical inspection work conducted by a body approved by the Office.

307. Applications

(1) A person may apply to the Office for a licence for one or more classes of electrical work.

(2) An application must be—

(a) in writing and contain details of the following—

(i) the applicant's name, residential address, postal address and telephone number;

(ii) the name and address of any current or former employer of the applicant, the period of the employment and the

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electrical work carried out under that employment;

(iii) the applicant's experience in electrical work;

(iv) any refusal of any other body empowered to issue an authority to carry out electrical work or the cancellation or suspension of such an authority; and

(b) accompanied by—

(i) evidence of the training and qualifications and experience on which the applicant relies for licensing; and

(ii) in the case of an applicant for a licence under regulation 305, a written description of the person's primary work function and of the electrical installation work required to carry out that function and written evidence that the electrical installation work is a necessary component of the person's primary work function; and

(iii) the application fee for the licence set out in Schedule 2.

(3) The Office may require the applicant to provide proof of identity or any other information or material in respect of an application.

308. Refusal of licence

The Office may refuse to issue a licence to an applicant if it is satisfied that—

(a) the applicant has not complied with the requirements of these Regulations for the class of licence applied for; or

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(b) the applicant has failed to comply with a provision of the Act or these Regulations; or

(c) the applicant has attempted to obtain a licence as an electrical worker by fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of facts; or

(d) the applicant has been convicted of any offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence that was punishable by imprisonment for 6 months or more; or

(e) the applicant has been negligent or incompetent, or was a party to any negligence or incompetence, in connection with the carrying out of electrical work; or

(f) the applicant has engaged in fraudulent conduct in the carrying out of electrical work.

309. Renewal of licences

(1) A licensed electrical worker, other than the holder of a licence under regulation 303, may apply to the Office for renewal of the worker's licence.

(2) An application for renewal of a licence must be in writing and contain or be accompanied by the following—

(a) details of any changes in the information provided in the application for the licence or for the most recent renewal of the licence or in any other circumstances relating to the application;

(b) the renewal of licence fee set out in Schedule 2.

(3) The Office may require the applicant to provide further information or material relating to the competence of the worker to carry out the class of

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electrical work for which the licence is to be renewed.

(4) The Office may refuse to renew the licence of an electrical worker on any of the grounds set out in paragraphs (a) to (f) of regulation 308.

310. Cancellation of licence

(1) The Office may cancel the licence of an electrical worker who surrenders the written licence for cancellation or applies to the Office in writing for the issue of a licence of another class.

(2) The Office must cancel the licence of an electrical worker who fails to apply for renewal of the licence by the renewal date.

Division 2—General

311. Apprentices

For the purposes of section 39 of the Act, an apprentice is required to carry out all electrical installation work under the effective supervision of a licensed electrician.

312. Change of name or address

The holder of a licence must notify the Office within 5 business days after any change in that person's name or address.


313. Written licence

(1) The Office may give to a licensed electrical worker a written licence as evidence that the electrical worker is licensed by the Office to carry out a particular class of electrical work.

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(2) A person to whom a licence has been issued must, upon receipt of the written licence, sign the licence.


(3) An electrical worker whose licence has been cancelled must deliver the written licence to the Office within 5 business days after the worker receives notice of the cancellation.


(4) If a licensed electrical worker can demonstrate to the Office that the written licence issued to the worker has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, the Office may, on payment of the fee set out in Schedule 2, issue a duplicate written licence to that electrical worker.

314. Licence to be produced on demand

A person who is carrying out a prescribed class of electrical work must, at the request of an enforcement officer, produce his or her licence to the enforcement officer or provide details of the person's licence to the officer.

Penalty: 1 penalty unit.

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PART 4—ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WORK

Division 1—Safety Standards for Electrical Installations

401. Wiring methods

(1) A person must not install, alter or repair an electrical installation unless the installation or altered or repaired portion of the installation complies with the SAA Wiring Rules as modified by the following provisions—

(a) revoke clause 0.3;

(b) for clause 0.5.14 substitute—

"0.5.14 Authority, inspecting—the Office.";

(c) for clause 0.5.54 substitute—

"0.5.54 Installation—Electrical Installation within the meaning of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.";

(d) after clause 0.5.65 insert "0.5.65.0 Office—the Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector established under Part 2 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.";

(e) in clause 1.1.6, omit "Supply Authority or";

(f) after the Heading "3.14 AERIAL WIRING SYSTEMS", insert—

'3.14.0 GENERAL. Aerial wiring systems must not be installed or substantially reconstructed in hazardous bushfire risk areas. Aerial wiring systems installed in low bushfire risk areas must comply with the requirements of Clauses 3.14.1 to 3.14.14.

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3.14.01 DEFINITIONS. In this Part—

(a) "hazardous bushfire risk area" means—

(i) an area that a fire control authority has assigned a fire hazard rating of "high" or "very high"; or

(ii) an area other than an urban area within the meaning of section 3 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998 unless a fire control authority has assigned to that area a fire hazard rating other than "high" or "very high";

(b) "low bushfire risk area" means—

(i) an area that a fire control authority has assigned a fire hazard rating other than "high" or "very high"; or

(ii) an urban area within the meaning of section 3 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998, unless a fire control authority has assigned to that area a fire hazard rating of "high" or "very high";

(c) "substantially reconstructed", in relation to an electric line,

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means reconductoring of more than 30% of the line or replacement of more than 30% of the number of poles in a line.';

(g) in clauses 3.14.2(c), 3.16.6.1, 5.4.2(b), 5.6.1, 5.7.1, 5.7.2 and clause F 2.2 in Appendix F for "Supply Authority" (wherever occurring) substitute "Office";

(h) omit clause 5.2;

(i) in clauses 5.4.2(c) and 5.9.3.1(c) for "Supply Authority" (where second occurring) substitute "Office";

(j) in clause 5.10.2—

(i) for "A Supply Authority" substitute "the Office";

(ii) for "the Supply Authority" substitute "the Office";

(k) for clause 6.15 substitute—

"6.15 CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION SITES. Installations on construction and demolition sites must comply with AS/NZS 3012.".

(2) An installation that is supplied from an underground electrical distribution system must have—

(a) a short circuit protective device provided at the point of supply; or

(b) the consumers mains cables sheathed from the point of supply to the first protective device located within the installation.

(3) For the purposes of sub-regulation (2), an electricity suppliers' protective device at the

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installation's metering point, may be treated as the first protective device.

(4) If materials or methods of design, construction or installation are not specifically covered in these Regulations, the Office may require a suitably qualified person to certify that the materials and methods are equivalent to the requirements of these Regulations.

(5) Installations required to be earthed must conform to the requirements for the Multiple Earthed Neutral (MEN) system of earthing set out in the SAA Wiring Rules.

402. Multiple occupancy buildings, subdivisions and easements

(1) If electricity supplies for lots on a subdivision or a multiple occupancy building are established at a single point and the subdivision or the multiple occupancy building contains common property or any common area, individual wiring supplying a lot or occupancy must be placed on that common property or common area.

(2) If electricity supplies for lots on a subdivision or a multiple occupancy building are established at a single point and the individual wiring supplying a lot or an occupancy passes through another lot or occupancy or service ducts in another lot or occupancy—

(a) the section of wiring passing through the other lot or occupancy or the service ducts in the other lot or occupancy must be clearly and permanently identified, by means of marking or attached labels, at intervals not exceeding 2 metres to indicate that the wiring is not controlled from the switchboard of that other lot or occupancy; and

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(b) the switchboard of any lot or occupancy through which the wiring or service ducts pass shall be clearly and permanently marked—"Warning—not all wiring passing through these premises is controlled from this switchboard" or have attached or fixed to it a durable card or other durable material setting out that warning.

(3) If electricity supplies for land are on an easement over other land the switchboard of any land through which the wiring passes shall be clearly and permanently marked—"Warning—not all wiring passing through this land or these premises is controlled from this switchboard" or have attached or fixed to it a durable card or other durable material setting out that warning.

403. Private electric lines

(1) A private electric line to be constructed or to be substantially reconstructed must be placed underground except that overhead private electric lines may be constructed or substantially reconstructed in a low bushfire risk area.

(2) An overhead private electric line to be constructed or substantially reconstructed must be protected at its origin with an accessible over-current protective device other than a fuse link.

(3) In this regulation—

(a) "substantially reconstructed" means reconductoring of more than 30% of the line or replacement of more than 30% of the number of poles in a line;

(b) "low bushfire risk area" means—

(i) an area that a fire control authority has assigned a fire hazard rating other than "high" or "very high"; or

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(ii) an urban area within the meaning of section 3 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998, unless a fire control authority has assigned to that area a fire hazard rating of "high" or "very high".

404. Route of underground lines

(1) A person who carries out electrical installation work on an underground electric line must, in accordance with this regulation, record in a permanent form on durable card or other durable material and fix within the meter box or in a position approved by the Office the route of that underground electric line.


(2) The record referred to in sub-regulation (1) must be fixed within 5 business days after the completion of the work and—

(a) before the electric line is connected to the electricity supply; and

(b) if the electrical circuits or electrical equipment handled in the course of the electrical installation work were not disconnected from the electricity supply, before the electrical work is first used after it is completed.

(3) The route of the electric line must be recorded as accurately as practicable with a margin of error not exceeding 200 millimetres.

Division 2—Testing of electrical installation work

405. Testing

(1) For the purposes of section 44(1)(b) of the Act, electrical installation work must be tested after it

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is completed and before inspection or certification under the Act to verify that—

(a) the insulation resistance of wiring and equipment complies with Division 1; and

(b) the resistance of the earthing complies with Division 1; and

(c) the conductor switching operation of switches and circuit breakers complies with Division 1.

(2) The testing must be carried out by—

(a) a licensed electrician; or

(b) a person who is licensed to carry out the electrical installation work.

Division 3—Inspection of electrical installation work

406. Prescribed electrical installation work

For the purposes of section 45 of the Act "prescribed electrical installation work" means work on all or part of any of the following electrical installations if they are ordinarily operated at low voltage or a voltage exceeding low voltage—

(a) consumers mains, main earthing systems and those parts of main switchboards that are related to the control of installations and the protection against the spread of fire;

(b) sub-mains, earthing systems and any distribution boards related to the control of individual occupiers' portions of multiple installations unless the occupier has immediate and unimpeded access to the main switch or switches controlling the whole of the multiple installation;

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(c) electrical wiring and electrical equipment installed in hazardous areas within the meaning of section 9.0 of the SAA Wiring Rules and protection equipment associated with hazardous areas;

(d) high voltage installations except high voltage wiring and equipment that is—

(i) associated with an electric discharge lighting system; or

(ii) associated with X-ray equipment; or

(iii) associated with high frequency equipment; or

(iv) within self contained equipment supplied at low voltage;

(e) electrical control and protection equipment associated with standby generation or co-generation electricity supply systems;

(f) electric fences used for security purposes but not including electric fences intended primarily for the control or containment of animals;

(g) electrical installations comprising remote area power supplies with a power rating exceeding 500 volt amperes not connected to a supply authority distribution system;

(h) electrical wiring and associated fixed electrical equipment installed in body-protected or cardiac-protected electrical areas of hospitals and medical and dental practices.

407. Inspection of prescribed electrical installation work

(1) For the purposes of section 45(1) of the Act prescribed electrical installation work must be

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inspected by a licensed electrical inspector within 8 business days after the completion of that work.

(2) The inspector must not inspect prescribed electrical installation work unless the inspector has a copy of the certificate of compliance for that electrical installation work.

(3) The inspector must retain a copy of the certificate of inspection for 3 years after the date the inspector signed the certificate.

(4) The licensed electrical inspector inspecting the prescribed electrical installation work must not be the licensed electrical installation worker who carried out the work or any other person referred to in section 41A of the Act who is responsible for the carrying out of the work.

408. Notification of defects by inspectors

A licensed electrical inspector who has inspected prescribed electrical installation work must, if satisfied that the work is not installed in compliance with the Act or these Regulations, notify the electrical contractor or electrical installation worker who was responsible for the carrying out of the work of the defects relating to the work.

409. Notification of defects by Office

(1) If the Office is satisfied, whether by notification under a certificate of inspection or after testing by the Office, that electrical installation work does not comply with the Act or these Regulations, the Office may notify the electrical contractor or electrical installation worker who was responsible for the carrying out of the electrical installation work of the defects in the work.

(2) The electrical contractor or electrical installation worker who is notified under sub-regulation (1)

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must, within 4 business days after receipt of the notice, forward a copy of the notice to the person for whom the work was carried out.


410. Certificates of compliance

(1) For the purposes of section 44(3)(c) of the Act a certificate of compliance must contain the details set out in this regulation.

(2) In the case of electrical installation work under a periodic certificate of electrical safety, the certificate of compliance must state—

(a) the name, user identification number allocated by the Office and registration or licence number of the person who is responsible for the carrying out of the electrical installation work;

(b) the name and licence number of each licensed electrical installation worker who carried out the electrical installation work;

(c) the address and post code of the electrical installation;

(d) the contact details of the person for whom the work is carried out;

(e) the date of completion of the work;

(f) the date of issue of the certificate;

(g) whether or not residual current devices are installed at the address.

(3) In the case of electrical installation work under any other certificate of electrical safety, the certificate of compliance must include—

(a) the name, address, registration or licence number, user identification number allocated by the Office and telephone and facsimile

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numbers of the person who is responsible for the carrying out of the electrical installation work;

(b) the name, user identification number allocated by the Office and licence number of the electrical installation worker who carried out the electrical installation work;

(c) the address and post code of the electrical installation;

(d) contact details of the person for whom the work is carried out;

(e) the date of completion of the work;

(f) the date the certificate of compliance was completed;

(g) whether or not the electrical installation work has been inspected or tested under the Act and found not to comply with the Act or these Regulations and whether any certificate of electrical safety for the electrical installation work has previously been completed stating that the work does not comply with the Act or these Regulations;

(h) the number of the certificate of electrical safety referred to in paragraph (g);

(i) whether or not residual current devices are installed at the address;

(j) the maximum demand in amps per phase of the installation at the time of completion of the work;

(k) the consumers mains capacity in amps of the installation.

(4) In the case of prescribed electrical installation work, the certificate must also state—

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(a) whether or not the installation work includes non-prescribed electrical installation work; and

(b) whether the electricity supply to the installation is single phase two wire.

411. Certificates of inspection

For the purposes of section 45(4)(d) of the Act the certificate of inspection must state details of the following—

(a) the name and licence number of the electrical inspector who inspected the work;

(b) the employer (if any) of the licensed electrical inspector;

(c) the date of the inspection;

(d) the date the certificate of inspection was completed;

(e) the electricity supplier;

(f) any defects in the work.

412. Notification of completion of certificate of compliance

(1) The person who is responsible for the carrying out of electrical installation work must, in accordance with this regulation, give electronic notification of completion of the certificate of compliance (other than a certificate of compliance that is part of a periodic certificate of electrical safety) to the Office within 2 business days after that completion.


(2) The notification must be given in the manner approved by the Office and must include—

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(a) identification of the person who is responsible for the carrying out of the electrical installation work;

(b) the number of the certificate of electrical safety;

(c) the post code of the address of the electrical installation work;

(d) whether residual current devices are installed.

(3) In the case of prescribed electrical installation work notification must also include—

(a) identification of the electrical installation worker who carried out the work;

(b) a description of the prescribed electrical installation work;

(c) the date of completion of the electrical installation work;

(d) the date the certificate of compliance was completed;

(e) the information required by regulation 410(3)(g);

(f) the number of the certificate of electrical safety referred to in regulation 410(3)(h);

(g) whether the installation work includes non-prescribed electrical installation work;

(h) whether the electricity supply is single phase two wire.

(4) In the case of electrical installation work, other than prescribed electrical installation work, notification must also include—

(a) identification of the electrical installation worker who carried out the work;

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(b) the date of completion of the electrical installation work;

(c) the date the certificate of compliance was completed;

(d) the information referred to in regulation 410(3)(g);

(e) the number of the certificate of electrical safety referred to in regulation 410(3)(h).

413. Notification of completion of certificate of inspection

(1) A licensed electrical inspector who carries out an inspection of prescribed electrical installation work must, in accordance with this regulation, give to the Office electronic notification of completion of the certificate of inspection within 4 business days after completion of that inspection.


(2) The notification must be given in the manner approved by the Office and must include—

(a) the identification number allocated by the Office to that inspector;

(b) the number of the certificate of electrical safety;

(c) whether or not the work complies with the Act and these Regulations;

(d) the date of the inspection of that work under section 45(3) of the Act;

(e) details of the electricity supplier;

(f) a description of the defects of the work;

(g) details of the employer (if any) of the licensed electrical inspector.

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Division 4—Reporting and records

414. Reporting of incidents

(1) If a serious electrical incident occurs, the following persons must, as soon as practicable, report all of the details of the incident within their knowledge to the Office—

(a) an electrical worker who becomes aware of a serious electrical incident relating to work carried out by that worker;

(b) the operator of a high voltage electrical installation who becomes aware of any serious electrical incident occurring within that high voltage electrical installation;

(c) any other responsible person within the meaning of section 41A of the Act who becomes aware of a serious electrical incident relating to work for which that person is responsible for carrying out.


(2) A person referred to in sub-regulation (1) must, within 20 business days after the incident, send a written report of the incident to the Office.


(3) If an incident occurs involving electricity in which a person has made accidental contact with any electrical installation or received an electric shock as the result of direct or indirect contact with any electrical installation operated at low voltage, the following persons must, within 20 business days after the incident, send a written report to the Office of all of the details within their knowledge regarding the incident—

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(a) an electrical worker who becomes aware of such an incident relating to work carried out by that worker;

(b) the operator of a high voltage electrical installation who becomes aware of such an incident occurring within that high voltage electrical installation;

(c) any other responsible person within the meaning of section 41A of the Act who becomes aware of such an incident relating to work for which that person is responsible for carrying out.


(4) Nothing in this regulation applies to a person to whom section 142 of the Act applies.

415. Records to be maintained

An electricity supplier which has received a certificate of inspection referred to in section 45(2) of the Act must retain a copy of that certificate together with a record of the date the supplier connected the installation to the electricity supply for 3 years after the date of the certificate.

Division 5—Exemptions

416. Exemptions

(1) The Office may, on the application of any person, exempt any electrical work from any of the requirements of this Part subject to any conditions specified by the Office.

(2) An application must be in writing and—

(a) contain details of—

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(i) the applicant's name, telephone number, and business and postal address; and

(ii) the exemption requested; and

(iii) the reasons for the exemption; and

(b) be accompanied by—

(i) any relevant technical information; and

(ii) the written agreement to the proposed exemption by the owner, occupier or controlling body of the land on which the work is to be carried out; and

(iii) the application fee set out in Schedule 2.

_______________

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PART 5—EXAMINATIONS BY OFFICE

501. Examinations for registration

(1) The Office may conduct an examination of competency or proficiency of an applicant for registration as an electrical contractor or a person nominated by that applicant to be a technical supervisor or business supervisor.

(2) A person may apply to the Office for an examination.

(3) An application must be in writing and be accompanied by the fee for the examination set out in Schedule 2.

(4) If a person fails an examination, the person is not eligible to apply for a further examination by the Office for a period of 3 months unless that person can demonstrate to the Office that it will cause unusual hardship.

502. Examinations for licensing

(1) The Office may conduct an examination of competency or proficiency for a licence in a prescribed class of electrical work.

(2) A person who holds the experience required for a licence of that class may apply to the Office for an examination.

(3) An application must be in writing and be accompanied by the fee for the examination set out in Schedule 2.

(4) If a person fails an examination, the person is not eligible to apply for a further examination by the Office for a period of 3 months unless that person can demonstrate to the Office that it will cause unusual hardship.

_______________

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PART 6—FEES

601. Fees

(1) The fees prescribed for the purposes of these Regulations are the fees set out in Schedule 2.

(2) The Office may rebate the payment of an application fee for the issue or renewal of a licence for an electrical installation worker if the licence is to be issued for a period of less than 5 years.

(3) The Office may refund part of the application fee for the issue or renewal of a licence for an electrical installation worker if the licence is to be cancelled for the issue of a licence of another class.

_______________

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PART 7—TRANSITIONALS AND SAVINGS

701. Qualifications for registration

(1) A person who, immediately before the repeal of Part V of the State Electricity Commission Act 1958 was—

(a) a natural person who was registered as an electrical contractor under that Part; or

(b) approved by the chief electrical inspector as a nominated supervisor of an electrical contractor registered under that Part—

and at the time of that registration or approval—

(c) had successfully completed the technical component of the electrical contractors registration course is to be treated as having the qualifications and completed the course of training required by regulation 201(1)(b); and

(d) had successfully completed the business component of the electrical contractors registration course is to be treated as having completed the course of training required by regulation 201(1)(d).

(2) A person who, at any time before the repeal of Part V of the State Electricity Commission Act 1958—

(a) was a natural person whose registration as an electrical contractor was renewed under regulation 21 of the State Electricity Commission (Registration of Electrical Contractors ) Regulations 19921; and

(b) is deemed to be registered as an electrical contractor under section 160(1) of the Act or who applies for registration within 2 years

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after the commencement of these Regulations—

is to be treated as having the qualifications and completed the course of training required by regulation 201.

702. Qualifications for electrician's licences

Despite Part 3 of these Regulations, a person who, immediately before the repeal of Part V of the State Electricity Commission Act 1958, held a restricted licence Class 'B' under that Part is eligible, at any time before the expiry of that licence to have issued to that person—

(a) a licence under regulation 302 subject to the condition that the person carry out all electrical installation work under the effective supervision of a licensed electrician; or

(b) a licence under regulation 305.

__________________

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SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1

REVOKED REGULATIONS

S.R. No. Title

206/1992 State Electricity Commission (Licensing of Electrical Mechanics) Regulations 1992

240/1993 State Electricity Commission (Licensing of Electrical Mechanics) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

147/1992 State Electricity Commission (Licensing of Electrical Mechanics Exemptions) Regulations 1992

241/1993 State Electricity Commission (Licensing of Electrical Mechanics Exemptions) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

99/1998 State Electricity Commission (Licensing of Electrical Mechanics Exemptions) (Amendment) Regulations 1998

116/1992 State Electricity Commission (Registration of Electrical Contractors) Regulations 1992

242/1993 State Electricity Commission (Registration of Electrical Contractors) (Amendment) Regulations 1993

259/1992 State Electricity Commission Wiring Regulations 1992

243/1993 State Electricity Commission Wiring (Amendment) Regulations 1993

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SCHEDULE 2

FEES

REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

• Registration of electrical contractor $240

• Renewal of registration of electrical contractor $170

• Issue of duplicate registration card $50

• Copy of the register $150

• Extract from the register $25

• Application fee for examination $180

LICENSING OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS

• Application fee for issue of licence for an electrical installation worker

$200

• Application fee for renewal of licence for an electrical installation worker

$130

• Application fee for issue of licence for an electrical inspector $240

• Application fee for renewal of licence for an electrical inspector

$170

• Issue of duplicate written licence $50

• Application fee for examination $180

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WORK

• Application fee for exemption $70

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SCHEDULE 3

CLASSES OF WORK FUNCTION

Class Description

1. Office equipment

2. Domestic equipment

3. Plumbing/gas fitting equipment

4. Commercial equipment

5. Industrial equipment

6. Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment

7. Instrumentation/process control equipment

8. Communication/computing equipment

9. Laboratory/scientific equipment

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SCHEDULE 4

PART A—PRESCRIBED CLASSES OF ELECTRICAL INSPECTION WORK

Class Description

L Electrical wiring and electrical equipment installed in installations comprising a low voltage single phase, 2 wire supply comprising consumers mains, a main earthing system or those parts of a main switchboard that are related to the control of the installation and the protection against the spread of fire.

G Any low voltage installations other than classes H, S, F, R and M.

H Electrical wiring and electrical equipment installed in hazardous areas within the meaning of section 9.0 of the SAA Wiring Rules and protection equipment associated with hazardous areas.

V High voltage installations except high voltage wiring and equipment— (i) associated with electric discharge lighting systems; or (ii) associated with X-ray equipment; or (iii) associated with high frequency equipment; or (iv) within self contained equipment supplied at low voltage.

S Electrical control and protection equipment associated with standby generation or co-generation electricity supply systems.

F Electric fences used for security purposes but not including electric fences intended primarily for the control or containment of animals.

R Electrical installations comprising remote area power supplies with a power rating exceeding 500 volt amperes not connected to a supply authority distribution system.

M Electrical wiring and associated fixed electrical equipment installed in body-protected or cardiac-protected electrical areas of hospitals and medical and dental practices.

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PART B—REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, PROFICIENCY AND EXPERIENCE IN ELECTRICAL INSPECTION WORK

Class Description

L 1. A working knowledge of safety in electrical installations. 2. Testing methods for electrical installations. 3. The requirements of these Regulations for mains,

switchboards and earthing.

G 1. A detailed understanding of safety in electrical installations. 2. Testing methods for electrical installations. 3. The requirements of these Regulations for low voltage

electrical installations.

H 1. A detailed understanding of safety in electrical installations in hazardous areas.

2. The application of the SAA Wiring Rules to hazardous areas and protection equipment associated with hazardous areas.

3. Testing methods in hazardous areas and protection equipment associated with hazardous areas.

4. The requirements of these Regulations for electrical installations in hazardous areas and for protection equipment associated with hazardous areas.

V 1. A detailed understanding of safety in high voltage electrical installations.

2. Testing methods for high voltage installations. 3. The requirements of these Regulations for high voltage

electrical installations.

S 1. A detailed understanding of safety in standby and co-generation electrical installations.

2. Testing methods for standby and co-generation installations. 3. The requirements of these Regulations for standby and

co-generation installations.

F 1. A detailed understanding of safety in security fences that are electrical installations.

2. Testing methods for security fences that are electrical installations.

3. The requirements of these Regulations for security fences that are electrical installations.

Class Description

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R 1. A detailed understanding of safety in electrical installations comprising remote area power supplies with a power rating exceeding 500 volt amperes not connected to a supply authority distribution system.

2. Testing methods for remote area power supplies. 3. The requirements of these Regulations for remote area power

supplies.

M 1. A detailed understanding of safety in electrical installations and associated fixed electrical equipment installed in body-protected or cardiac-protected electrical areas of hospitals and medical and dental practices.

2. Testing methods for electrical installations in those areas. 3. The requirements of these Regulations for those areas.

═══════════════

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NOTES

1 Reg. 701(2)(a): S.R. No. 116/1992.

—— Table of Applied, Adopted or Incorporated Matter Required by

Subordinate Legislation Regulations 1994

Note that the following table of applied, adopted or incorporated matter is included in accordance with the requirements of regulation 6 of the Subordinate Legislation Regulations 1994.

Statutory Rule Provision

Title of applied, adopted or incorporated document

Matter in applied, adopted or incorporated document

Regulation 105 AS 3000:1991 Paragraph (b) of Clause 0.5.95

Regulation 401 AS 3000:1991 The whole as modified by regulation 401

Regulation 401(1)(k) AS/NZS 3012 The whole

Regulation 406 AS 3000:1991 Section 9

Schedule 4 Part A AS 3000:1991 Section 9

Notes

Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations 1999. No. 49/1999 Electricity Safety (Installations)...

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