Functioning Safety switches - Housing for Health

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A1.1 Functioning Safety switches

If there is a fault in an electrical appliance or electrical cables are damaged, a safety switch is designed to disconnect the power to prevent injury to residents. Electrical safety switches are also known as RCDs (residual current device) or ELCBs (earth leakage circuit breakers). Safety switches are required in addition to the circuit breakers that are fitted to prevent overloading of the electrical circuits. They are compulsory in all new houses and in renovations that involve electrical works. To minimise the risk of electrocution, electrical safety switches need to be fitted on every circuit in all houses.

Survey data show that most houses had electricity available (97 per cent) but only 67 per cent of houses had at least one working safety switch. This may relate to the age of houses surveyed, with the majority of houses over 10-years old (70 per cent).

Real world examples of problems

Design and Specification

Ensure

A1.1.1.
electrical safety switches are retro-fitted to older houses
A1.1.2.
electrical safety switches are fitted to new houses
A1.1.3.
each circuit, including power, lights, air conditioning, refrigerator and, where appropriate or compulsory the hot water system and stove are protected by an electrical safety switch
A1.1.4.
people can easily reach the electrical safety switch to reset it or to isolate an electrical fault
A1.1.5.
the meter box or switchboard is robust enough for regular access.

Consider

locating the safety switches inside the house in a consumer switchboard
checking the location and height of safety switches, so they can be reached by people with disabilities, but out of children’s reach
specifying a switchboard with the capacity for future expansion; such as a modular enclosure with at least two extra blank circuits
providing a number of circuits for lights and power in large houses
separating the power circuits for the kitchen and wet areas, so that these areas can be isolated for safer cleaning.
switchboard should be able to accommodate an expansion of 25%

Real world examples of Solutions

Quality control

the consumer switchboard is installed in the house at a height that is easy to reach by people with disabilities but not by young children

When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
AT HANDOVER
the consumer switchboard is installed in the house at a height that is easy to reach by people with disabilities but not by young children

When: AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
all safety switches and circuit breakers can be turned on and off, and that the test buttons on the safety switches work

When: AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
TRADE TEST
each circuit is labelled using a permanent marker, and that labels are easy to read and understand; for example, write ‘hot water system’ instead of ‘HWS’

When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
TRADE TEST
a qualified electrician has provided a ‘certificate of compliance’ for the electrical installation.

When: AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
TRADE TEST
electrical safety switches and circuit breakers.

When: AT HANDOVER
FINAL COMPLETION
TRADE TEST

Maintenance

As part of cyclical maintenance:

show residents and community housing staff how to check that electrical safety switches are working properly and encourage regular checks; for example, check every three months as part of a community maintenance program

Who : Local Maintenance Team, Housing Management
When : 3 Months
trade test electrical safety switches and have a licensed electrician fix or replace faulty switches. Ensure electricians lodge a ‘notice of work’ when upgrading electrical safety switches.

Who : Electrician
When : 24 Months