Electrical standards, rules and notes

The wiring rules are essential for electricians, inspectors and regulators, ​as they specify the electrical installation safety requirements for all premises in Australia & New Zealand.

Compliance with the new wiring rules will be applied on a mandatory basis in accordance with relevant State legislation from 1 January 2019.

The 2018 edition of ​Electrical installations (Australian/NewZealand Wiring Rules 3000:2018) is now available. The rules have been developed by Standards Australia in collaboration with industry experts and government.

Key changes to the Wiring Rules Standard include:

• new and revised definitions
• Residual Current Devices (RCD) required for all domestic and residential final sub-circuits
• additional requirements for RCDs for non-domestic installations
• additional requirements for clearance in switch rooms
• improved installation safety requirements for cables
• revised requirements for soft wiring
• enhanced safety requirements for recessed luminaires
• isolator requirements for water heaters, air conditioning and heat pump equipment
• earthing requirements for outbuildings clarified and expanded
• damp situations expanded to include different shower head configuration
• distributors and generation systems in classified zones clarified
• clarification of requirements for lifts that are not safety services
• enhanced protection for arcing faults
• guidelines for electric vehicle charging
• updated and expanded appendices.

The 2007 edition of the Wiring Rules is available from SAI Global and remains in effect until 31 December 2018.

The Quick Reference Guide - Wiring Rules 2018 and Electrical Safety Standards is also available on the SAI Global website.

Advisory notes

NSW Fair Trading has advisory notes for the electrical industry. These provide information on technical solutions, compliance and installation requirements, plus interpretation of rules and standards. Refer to the table below: