Hazardous Area Audit
Some state government regulations require electrical installations in hazardous areas to be inspected by an accredited hazardous area auditor – in Queenlsand this is performed by an accredited hazardous area installations auditor and in Victoria by a Class H Licensed Electrical Inspector - before being connected or reconnected to a source of electricity.
An experienced hazardous area auditor must have a detailed understanding of the relevant Australian standards, acts and regulations and must be appointed/licensed by Energy Safe Victoria or the Electrical Safety Office in Queensland.
At E-x Solutions our hazardous area installation auditors and electrical engineers have extensive knowledge of all the specific design and installation requirements for electrical installations within hazardous areas.
The following sections detail the requirements in some states plus the information we typically need for an audit inspection.
Class H Licensed Electrical Inspection (Victoria)
Work on an electrical installation in a hazardous area in Victoria is prescribed electrical work and the Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) must also be signed by a licensed electrical inspector.
Unlike in other states, only work on equipment operated at LV or above (exceeding 50 V a.c. or 120 V ripple-free d.c.) is prescribed work. Work on ELV equipment still needs to comply with AS/NZS 60079.14 including the initial detailed inspection requirements. We can help audit compliance, but an additional inspection by a licensed electrical inspector is not required.
We have licensed Class H inspectors on staff.
Accredited Auditor Electrical (Queensland)
Any new electrical installation in a hazardous area in Queensland must be audited by an accredited auditor before being put into service.
We work with a number of accredited auditors in Queensland and can assist with this inspection requirement.
Electrical Safety Inspection Service (Tasmania)
For Tasmania, any installation of electrical equipment in a hazardous area must be notified to the appointed Electrical Safety Inspection Service on behalf of the Department of Justice.
Required information for a regulatory inspection
Typically we need the following to be able to complete a regulatory inspection:
- HA classification for the area where the equipment is installed
- List of all electrical equipment to be covered by the inspection
- Certificates for the equipment
- Certificates for the cable glands, adapters, plugs, etc
- Loop drawings showing all equipment and the supply
- Installation manuals for the equipment (if relevant)
- Records of the initial detailed inspection (to AS/NZS 60079.14)
- Records of the completed mandatory tests (to AS/NZS 3000)