It’s at the very heart of our cosy, convenient lives – and yet it’s so dangerous when not perfectly controlled. We’re talking about electricity, which will not hesitate to kill and maim when given the chance. It’s why in Queensland, but also every other jurisdiction in our great country, takes electrical compliance extremely seriously – to the point where almost all electrical work at home has to be done by a fully licensed electrician. And once they’re done with that work, they’re likely to sign off with something known as the electrical compliance certificate.
What is the electrical compliance certificate QLD?
But what are electrical compliance certificates, exactly? Let’s take a deep dive into this critical topic by trying to answer every single one of the questions we’re asked about them on almost a daily basis:
Q: Who gives me an electricity compliance certificate?
A: Under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, they’re provided by the electrical contractors themselves, and in one of two forms. First, the ‘certificate of testing and safety’ is for work on electrical equipment, while the ‘certificate of testing and compliance’ for installations.
Q: What exactly does the certificate signify?
A: If the certificate is for work on an electrical installation, like the installation of an electric hot water system or heater, the certificate is you and your contractor’s evidence that the work and the equipment was:
- Installed properly
- Is fully electronically safe
- Is in full compliance with wiring rules and other standards
- Was fully tested.
And for repairs or modifications to electrical equipment, the certificate shows that it was done not only in full regulatory compliance, but that it was also fully tested for safety after the work was done.
Q: What is done with the certificate of electrical compliance?
A: The certificate may be in the form of a plate that is physically attached to the installation, featuring the details of the work, the equipment and the contractor. They may also be in paper format – like the contractor’s own invoice – that the consumer keeps and the contractor needs to store for five years.
Q: Does all electrical work require a certificate?
A: Basically, yes. While you can do basic tasks yourself like changing a light bulb and cutting a hole in the wall for an air conditioner, just about everything else requires a licensed electrician – who then needs to give you one of the two aforementioned types of electric certificate for compliance.
Work requiring a QLD electrical certificate of compliance includes:
- Installing/moving power points & light fittings
- Replacing light switches
- Repairing electrical appliances like heaters.
Q: Are there any penalties for compliance breaches?
A: Absolutely! As a consumer, if you’ve engaged an electrician in good faith and they fail to comply with the compliance certificate rules, they are at risk of warnings, fines, disciplinary interviews and potential legal action.
Need to know more about electrical certificates?
If you’re still feeling stressed or unsure about the ins and outs of electrical compliance in Queensland, we’re here to help! Your Electrical Expert is a friendly team of fully-licensed Brisbane & Gold Coast electricians who take our compliance and your safety extremely seriously – so get in touch any time and rest assured we’ll do the rest!
