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AS/NZS3760:2010 – In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment

TABLE 4 – Indicative testing and inspection intervals for electrical equipment

(CAUTION: This page must be read in conjunction with AS/NZS 3760 as a whole, and particularly 2.1)

Type of rnvironment and/or equipment Interval between inspection and tests
Equipment including Class I equipment, Class II equipment, cord sets, cord extension sets and EPODs Residual current devices(RCDs)
Push-button test by user Operating time and push-button test
(a) (b) Portable(c) fixed(d) Portable(e) Fixed(f)
1 Factories, workshops, places of manufacture,assembly, maintenance or fabrication 6 months Daily, or before every use, whichever is the longer 6 months 12 months 12 months
2 Environment where the equipment or supply texible cord is subject to texing in normal use OR is open to abuse OR is in a hostile environment 12 months 3 months 6 months 12 months 12 months
3 Environment where the equipment or supply cord is NOT subject to texing in normal use and is NOT open to abuse and is NOT in a hostile environment 5 years 3 months 6 months 2 years 2 years
4 Residential type areas of: hotels, residential institutions, motels, boarding houses, halls, hostels accommodation houses, and the like 2 years 6 months 6 months 2 years 2 years
5 Equipment used for commercial cleaning 6 months Daily, or before every use, whichever is the longer N/A 6 months N/A
6 Hire equipment: Inspection
Test and tag		 Prior to hire Including push-button test by hirer prior to hire N/A N/A
3 months N/A 3 months 12 months
7 Repaired, serviced and second-hand equipment After repair or service which could affect electrical safety, or on reintroduction to service, refer to AS/NZS 5762

AS/NZS3012:2010 – Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites

PERIODIC VERIFICATION INTERVALS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Environment Transportable structures, Class I (earthed conductive parts) and Class II (doubled insulated) electrical equipment Residual current devices (RCDs)
Transportable structures 1, fixed and transportable equipment 2 and construction wiring 3 including switchboards Portable equipment 4 Pushbutton test (by user) Operating time (RCD tester)
Portable 5 Non-portable 6 fixed Portable 5,7 Non-portable 6 fixed
Construction and demolition sites in accordance with Clause 1.1 6 months 3 months After connection to a socket or before connection of equipment, and at least once every day in use. 1 month 3 months 12 months

WORKSAFE QUEENSLAND – Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 – Test & tag frequencies

The class of work determines how often specified electrical equipment and safety switches are tested.

Class of work Portable/specified electrical equipment Type 1 or 2 safety switch (fixed) Type 1 or 2 safety switch (portable)
Construction work At least 3 monthly intervals by a competent person
  • Use the inbuilt test button (at least monthly)
  • An operating time/current test by a competent person at least annually
  • Use the inbuilt test button – immediately after it is connected and immediately before it used, first time each day
  • By a competent person, at least every 3 months
Manufacturing work
  • If equipment is double insulated, at least every 12 months by competent person
  • If not double insulated, at least every 6 months by competent person

and connected to a safety switch
  • Use the inbuilt test button – at least every 6 months
  • An operating time/current test at least every 12 months by competent person
  • Use the inbuilt test button – daily or before each use, whichever is longer
  • By a competent person, at least every 12 months

Note: From 1 March 2008, portable safety switches are not to be used in manufacturing work. Installed safety switches must be used
Service work At least 12 monthly intervals by a competent person or connected to a safety switch
Office work At least 5 yearly intervals by a competent person or connected to a safety switch
  • Use the inbuilt test button at least every 6 months
  • An operating time/current test by a competent person, at least every 2 years
  • Use the inbuilt test button at least every 3 months
  • An operating time/current test by a competent person at least every 2 years
Amusement work (specified electrical equipment)
  • If equipment is double insulated, at least every 12 months by competent person
  • If not double insulated, at least 6 months by competent person and connected to a safety switch
Amusement work (amusement rides and devices) Inspected and tested each after each onsite assembly, and every six months
Rural industry work (all plug in equipment) Visual examination before each use
Rural industry work (Specified electrical equipment used under stated electrical risk factors) Either: test and inspect every 12 months or protect with a safety switch Recommended push button test every three months Recommended push button test every three months