The Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Residual Current Devices) Regulation 2011 came into effect in 2011, and requires that by 2015, electrical socket outlets in workplaces in NSW are protected by RCDs.

The Regulation goes further, saying that within 12 months (i.e. before 2012), employers and property controllers must ensure that electrical articles must be supplied via an RCD if they are:
(a) a hand-held electrical article,
(b) an electrical article that is moved while in operation,
(c) an electrical article that is moved between operations in
circumstances that could result in damage to the article,
(d) an electrical article that is used for construction work,
(e) an electrical article that is used in an environment in which
normal use of the article exposes the article to operating
conditions that are likely to result in a reduction in its
expected life span, including exposure to moisture, heat,
vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals or
dust.

Immediate RCD protection for any of these articles can quickly be achieved by the use of a portable RCD powerboard.

The reason for these changes is that RCDs dramatically reduce the likelihood of electrocution of a person if they were to come into contact with live parts of an appliance or the power point itself.

New developments in RCD technology have meant that manufacturers can now supply a combined RCD and Circuit Breaker, in a single device known as an RCBO or an RCD/MCB combination. All the major manufacturers such as Schnieder (makers of Clipsal and Merlin Gerin), Legrand (HPM), Hager, Eaton (Cuttler Hammer style Quicklag), Heinemann, and NHP (Terasaki, MOD6) are now supplying 1-pole RCBOs up to 20A and some even up to 32A. 4-pole RCDs for 3-phase articles and socket outlets are also readily available.

This means that the Circuit Breakers in most commercial or industrial switchboards can be directly replaced with an RCD/MCB combination unit of the same size, which makes upgrading to RCDs on all power point circuits achievable and affordable for employers and building owners.

For 3-phase power points, often an easy solution is to upgrade the socket outlet itself to the type that incorporates an RCD.

Sydney electrical contractors, Sydney Electrical & Data are available to inspect and asses your electrical switchboards for the RCD upgrade requirements. Our licensed electricians throughout Sydney can install suitable RCD protection for your power points, electrical appliances and electrical articles to meet the new Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Residual Current Devices) Regulation 2011. Sydney Electrical & Data's electrical contractors can also provide the ongoing RCD inspection and testing that is required by the regulation, helping keep your employees safe, and helping you to comply with the OH&S regulation.

Contact us today for an inspection and quote.

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