Electrical installations (Wiring rules)

Overview of the Standard 

AS 3000 sets out the requirements for the design, construction and verification of electrical installations, including the selection and installation of electrical equipment forming part of such electrical installations.

This Australian Standard is applied through legislative requirements in each state and territory for the safety of electrical installations.

What does it include?

AS 3000 is broken into 8 sections consisting of:

• Section 1 deals with what the standard covers and the terms used in the standard, where this standard is referenced, other standards reference within this document, guidance on terms and definitions, electrical installation design, selection and installation of electrical equipment, inspection/testing and achieving compliance.
• Section 2 deals with general arrangement, control and protection with specific details on arrangement of electrical installation, control of electrical installation, fault protection, protection against overcurrent, additional protection by residual current devices, protection against overvoltage, protection against undervoltage, switchboards, and protection against fire hazard due to arcing faults. 
• Section 3 deals with the selection and installation of wiring systems with specific detail on types of wiring systems, external influences, current-carrying capacity, conductor size, voltage drop, electrical connections, identification, installation requirements, enclosure of cables, underground wiring systems, aerial wiring systems, cables supported by a catenary, safety services, busways (including rising mains systems) and earth sheath return (ESR) systems.
• Section 4 deals with selection and installation of electrical equipment with specific detail on protection against thermal effects, connection of electrical equipment, socket-outlets, lighting equipment (and accessories), cooking appliances, appliances producing hot water or steam, room heaters, electrical heating cables for floors/ceilings/trace heating applications, electric duct heaters, electricity converters, motors, transformers, capacitors, electrical equipment containing liquid dielectrics, batteries, gas appliances/equipment, lifts, air conditioning and heat pump systems.
• Section 5 deals with earthing arrangements and earthing conductors with specific reference to earthing functions, earthing system parts, earthing of equipment, earthing arrangements, equipotential bonding, earth fault-loop impedance and other earthing arrangements.
• Section 6 deals with damp situations with specific reference to baths, showers, fixed water containers, swimming pools, paddling pools, spa pools, tubs, fountains, water features, saunas, refrigeration rooms, sanitization and general hosing-down operations.
• Section 7 deals with special electrical installations with specific reference to safety services, electricity generation systems, protection by electrical separation (isolated supply), extra-low voltage electrical installations, high voltage electrical installations, hazardous areas (explosive gas or combustible dusts) and standards for specific electrical installations.
• Section 8 deals with verification including visual inspection, testing and verification of records.

The standard also contains 17 informative appendices consist of:

• Appendix A provides referenced documents
• Appendix B outlines circuit protection guide
• Appendix C outlines circuit arrangements
• Appendix D provides minimum sizes of posts, poles and struts for aerial line conductors
• Appendix E outlines electrical installation requirements in national construction codes
• Appendix F outlines surge protective devices
• Appendix G details degrees of protection of enclosed equipment
• Appendix H provides WS classification of wiring systems
• Appendix I outlines protective device ratings and metric equivalent sizes for imperial cables used in alterations and repairs
• Appendix J details symbols used in this standard
• Appendix K details switchboard requirement summary
• Appendix L (deleted)
• Appendix M outlines reducing the impact of power supply outages—continuity of supply for active assisted living and homecare medical situations
• Appendix N lists electrical conduits
• Appendix O outlines the installation of arc fault detection devices (AFDDs)
• Appendix P provides guidance for installation and location of electrical vehicle socket-outlets and charging stations
• Appendix Q details D.C. circuit protection application guide

Is the Standard referenced in NCC or Other legislation?

Yes, AS 3000 is applied through legislative requirements in each state and territory for the safety of electrical installations

Who is the Standard for?

The primary users of this standard are electricians and builders.

Related Australian Standards

• AS/NZS 3500 plumbing and drainage series
• AS/NZS 5601 Gas installations

Related HIA Information Sheets

• HIA resource on AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage Part 1 Water services
• HIA resource on AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage Part 2 Sanitary plumbing and drainage
• HIA resource on AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing structures and drainage Part 3 Stormwater drainage
• HIA resource on AS/NZS 5601 Gas installations

Getting a copy of the Standard

An electronic copy of this Australian Standard can be purchased through the Digital Australian Standards webpage.

To find out more, contact HIA's Building Services team.

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