Technical
NECA - Wiring
Services - Rules
WIRING RULES ARE NOT RETROSPECTIVE
Recently I inspected
a ceiling space in a
commercial building in
Melbourne. Shining a
torch around the ceiling
space.
It was very apparent that it was just a
shamble, with cables thrown around,
data and electrical cables mixed
together, all lying around on the ceiling
tiles.
This is typical of many buildings, where
electrical work has been added over the
years by various electricians. This raised
the immediate question of compliance.
The major issue here is finding out when
was the electrical work actually installed
and what rules were applicable at the
time of installation.
Over the years we have had many
changes to the Wiring Rules. We
have come from supporting cables
on catenary cables and clipped to a
surface, to just laying them without
fixings on continuous flat surfaces,
which unfortunately included the
removable ceiling tiles and now we are
back to supporting cables, especially on
false ceilings with removable ceiling tiles.
As the Wiring Rules change from
time to time, they are not permitted
to made retrospective, therefore we
have hundreds of electrical installations
presently existing that do not strictly
comply with today’s rules. This is not an
issue until alterations or additions are
carried out,then compliance with today’s
rules apply. Remember that a repair
may be carried out under the rules that
applied, at the time, providing they meet
the fundamental safety principles of the
current rules.
Seeing the wiring in the ceiling space,
which had obviously been installed
at different times over the life of the
buildings started me thinking about all
the changes that have occurred during
my 48 years within the trade.
As the Wiring Rules were introduced,
the committee that develops the
Australian Standard AS/NZS3000
(Wiring Rules) expanded. NECA, as an
industry representative, continues to
play a key role in the changes to the
Australian Standard.
Over the years the electrical industry has
gone through many changes including:
94 September/October 2016 Issue 4
• Imperial sized cables to metric sized
cables
• The earthing of all metallic light
fittings, opposed to only metallic
light fittings mounted less than
seven feet from the floor
• The allowing of power points within
the laundry and bathroom
• The requirement to provide an earth
conductor at all socket outlets
including bedrooms
• The use of insulated and sheathed
cables instead of single insulated
cables installed within a wood
casing or split steel conduit
As much as things change over the
years as new technology is introduced,
some things never change, like the
principles of electricity. Apprentices are
still taught Ohms law and the principles
of DC circuits as we were.
Life today is much easier for the
electrical contractor with comfortable
modern vehicles, air conditioning etc.,
and battery powered tools along with
light weight ladders to name a few. At
times it is good to be reminded of how
it was for the early contractors, the ones
that pioneered our industry.
A while ago I was talking to a contractor
about the good old days and how
things were done back then compared
to today. He shared a story about his
grandfather who was an electrical
apprentice. His boss got a job to wire
a domestic residence in the next town,
some 50-60 kilometres away.
Company vehicles at the time were push
bikes. This was not an issue around
the small country town, but became a
challenge for work in the adjoining town.
Loading all the electrical equipment onto
the bikes, they tied all the split conduit
along the frame and then put the drums
of cable on the handle bars. Hand
tools, cable clips and everything else
they needed, including all food, cooking
equipment and sleeping bags, were put
into sacks and secured to the bikes.
They then proceeded to ride their fully
loaded push bikes to the next town to
commence the work.
He then explained that they lived in
the partly constructed house, sleeping
on the floor and cooking all their meals
on site. Once they had completed the
“roughing in” of the wiring work, they
simply rode back home.
A similar process followed, once the
construction was completed, to install
the power points, light switches and
switchboard etc.
I can’t imagine that happening today,
as the Industrial Agreements would not
allow camping on site let alone some of
the OHS issues faced.
Today, NECA is still part of continual
change and evolution in the Wiring Rules
through its technical representation
on the committee. The recent public
comment on the draft Wiring Rules
allowed members to engage and
provide their individual views on the
proposed changes, either directly to the
Australian Standards committee or via
their NECA representative.
This industry is continually changing.
Keep an eye out for the new
AS/NZS3000:2017 (Wiring Rules) being
released early next year.
Roy Sands
Technical Services Officer
NECA Victoria
Ref: 1604-Technical-94