
This manual aims to familiarise readers with the requirements of standard AS/NZS 3000:2018
, commonly known as Australia-New Zealand Wiring Rules. For those installations covered in the scope of this standard, its provisions are mandatory and must be followed. Any engineer involved in planning and design of electrical systems, their installation or maintenance must have a clear idea about the various requirements contained in the standard.
The introductory sections of this manual outline the basic principles that should be understood for a better appreciation of the standard. These include sections which illustrate the calculation for the power demand of a system and the computation of earth fault current as discussed in the appendices of the standard, which are informative in nature but yet are very important in making an electrical system safe for operation. The actual provisions of the standard are then discussed in detail in the subsequent sections. Note: This manual is NOT the standard itself, it is a guide to the implementation of the standard.
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Introduction to AS/NZS 3000:2018
The latest edition of AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules was published in the year 2018. This standard, approved by the council of standards in Australia and New Zealand, defines the regulations to be adopted in selection, design and installation of Electrical distribution systems mainly falling under low voltage category. In this chapter we will go through the history of this standard and the objectives with which this standard had been framed along with a review on the needs and benefits of such regulations. The chapter also includes an overview on the scope of this standard with brief introduction to the various topics covered in the standard and how they are organized in the latest publication before going into a more detailed discussion on each of the sections and their importance in the subsequent chapters.
Learning objectives
The objective of this course is to familiarize the participants with the Australian / New Zealand Wiring Rules (Fifth edition) published as Australia / New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3000: 2018. This standard covers the requirements to be adopted for electrical installations of nominal voltages up to and including 1000V ac and 1500V dc. It contains stipulations covering issues of safety, selection, installation testing and verification of electrical equipment in common areas as well as in special locations. The topics contained in the standard are of interest and relevance to all practitioners of electrical technology whether they are designers of electrical installations, erection engineers or personnel responsible for operation and maintenance of the installations.
In order to appreciate the requirements and stipulations contained in the standard better, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the fundamental principles that the standard aims to address. In preparing this manual an attempt has been made to give the reader an insight into the relevance of the stipulations of the standard by first touching upon the basics of the relevant aspects of electrical theory before going on to study the requirements contained in the standard. As such the chapters of this manual cover the following main objectives of this course.
Today the rules and regulations have become necessary to ensure that the people in the society get fair deal in every aspect of their daily life. These can range from the basic need for food to specific needs related to the travel, dresses, etc. With electricity becoming an important commodity in the modern society it is necessary to ensure that it is used in a safe and reliable manner. The electrical system today comprises of power generation limited to specific locations in a country but its transmission, distribution and consumption being extended to all the parts and remote corners, in an extensive and elaborate manner. Hence it is absolutely essential that the distribution systems and consumer equipments are designed and installed with features that would ensure safe consumption of electricity and also help regular maintenance, revamping, additions/ alterations, etc in a safe way. With due consideration for the same, regulations have been brought in to specify the kind of features essential for the safe use and also strictly enforced as rules to fulfill the following.
We will illustrate few of these major objectives further.
1.2.1 Ease of Interfacing
Imagine for a moment, that there are no standards for electrical appliances. The result would be that each product manufacturer might choose a different voltage rating for his product. It would mean that we will have electrical heaters, ovens, toasters etc. each of different voltage, different plugs, etc that cannot work on a common electrical system but would require tailor made system to serve their purpose. Your power supply company might have a distribution voltage that is unsuitable for any or all of your gadgets. This obviously is not helpful and not desirable.
Thus a standard has to be established and its adherence made mandatory within a national or geographical entity so that generation, transmission, distribution and utilization of electrical energy are done at stipulated voltages and frequency which will vary only within acceptable bands specified for each parameter.
Such a standard enables the designer of an appliance to choose a suitable voltage and frequency at which the appliance can function and also the variations of these parameters which have to be taken care of in the design for the operational range of the appliance. It also allows the designer to select appropriate conductors and configuration of power supply connectors forming part of the appliance.
In turn, this enables people to buy an off-the shelf appliance and connect it to the electrical outlet at home and use it without worrying too much about the suitability of the appliance for the electric supply provided by the power company. Anyone who has traveled with a device made in one country and tried to use in another where different standards prevail would certainly appreciate the convenience which uniform standards provide us with.
Also the use of standards reduces the number of variant appliance designs a manufacturer has to plan and manufacture; an issue which will have adverse cost implications to the manufacturer and hence to the buyer. Low cost mass production is thus a direct result of standards benefitting millions across the globe.
1.2.2 Ensuring Quality of supply, equipment and installation
Equipment and installations have to deliver functionalities for which they are designed without any undue hazards to the users or the environment for their entire design life under varying operating conditions. The provisions of a standard therefore define the parameters for functionality, safety and maintainability. They also contain stipulations that lay down the tests that the device has to withstand to either prove a design (by what are called Type tests conducted on prototypes or selected samples) or ensure that the output and quality parameters are met (by Routine Tests done on each piece manufactured). Thus when you buy an appliance or equipment that is declared as conforming to a particular standard, you have an assurance that it will perform under conditions defined by the standard, is safe to use and will deliver the output or functionalities which the manufacturer furnishes in accordance with the standard for the period it is expected to serve.
An installation standard has a similar objective too. When an installation is carried out in accordance with a standard, it has to follow the methodologies stipulated in the standard using recommended accessories which, in turn will ensure that the installation achieves the intended quality minima, is safe for personnel and environment, and will have adequate provisions for maintainability. An installation standard also usually lays down the procedures for initial inspection and testing for certifying that the installation is fit to be put in service and the periodicity and detail of subsequent inspections and testing to ensure that it is fit to remain in service till the next scheduled inspection.
1.2.3 Ensuring safety
The regulations also specify some of the finer aspects related to the practices to be adopted right from basic design, during selection, installation and also tests/ verifications to be carried out periodically so that the people and livestock in close proximity to these systems are protected against various hazards commonly prevailing in such systems. The following are some of the main regulations defined in the standards and are expected to be followed by the system designers so that safety becomes part of the design, selection and installation when the systems are put into use.
This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee EL-001, represented by the following agencies/ authorities.
The earlier 2000 edition superseded Australian standard AS 3000:1991, Electrical installations – Buildings, structures and premises (known as SAA Wiring Rules). In New Zealand the 2000 edition had superseded selected parts of NZS 3000:1997 Electrical installations – Buildings, structures and premises (known as the NZS Wiring Rules). The 2000 edition was further updated with Amendments No. 1 (September 2001), No. 2 (April 2002) and No. 3 (July 2003).
The development of the 2018 edition of the standard had been based on the following considerations by the council of standards.
During preparation of this Standard, reference was made to IEC 60364, Electrical installations of buildings (all parts) and acknowledgment is made of the assistance received from this source. The 2007 edition had been published on 12 November 2007 after being approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 19 October 2007 and on behalf of the Council of Standards New Zealand on 9 November 2007. This Standard was superseded by AS/NZS 3000: 2010 from its date of publication. The edition was improved with additional diagrammatic representation of concepts and by including more practical examples adopted in the user installations as desired by the industry. The edition is divided into two parts with Part 1 (Section-1) covering Scope, application and fundamental principles of safe electricity use and is generally made complete in itself without cross-referencing to Part 2. The edition also establishes the ‘deemed to comply’ status of AS/NZS 3018 relating to simple domestic applications.
National requirements
Certain provisions of the Standard have a different application in Australia and New Zealand. The following symbols appearing in the outer margin indicate that the identified Section or Clause is:
(i) Applicable in Australia only.
(ii) Applicable in New Zealand only.
Informative appendices
An informative appendix is for information or guidance only. Informative appendices provide additional information intended to assist in the understanding or use of the Standard.
Deemed to comply
The term ‘deemed to comply’ means that a requirement can be met by following a specified Standard or method. So, where an installation is carried out in accordance with the specified Standard or method, within the text of this Standard, the installation is ‘deemed to comply’ with the requirements of this Standard. Conformance to a deemed to comply Standard may exceed the minimum requirements of this Standard.
Objectives of AS/NZS 3000
The main objective of regulations for electrical installations in any country is to provide the rules for the design and erection of electrical installations for safety and proper functioning. It is also necessary that when use of a new material or invention in an installation results in deviation from one or more stipulations already prevailing in the regulations, the degree of safety shall not get compromised by such deviation. The fact of such use shall also be recorded on the electrical installation certificate as reference for anyone who is concerned with the safe functioning of the installation. Keeping these basic objectives and to enable ease of understanding of the regulations, the AS/NZS 3000 Wiring rules standard is divided into two main parts – Part 1 and Part 2.
This Standard comprises two parts, as set out below, with both parts bound as one document.
Part 1 provides uniform essential elements that constitute the minimum regulatory requirements for a safe electrical installation.
Part 1 also provides an alternative regulatory vehicle for Australian and New Zealand regulators seeking to move from the present prescription of AS/NZS 3000 in electrical installation safety and licensing legislation.
Part 1 satisfies the following objectives:
Part 2 provides installation practices that are deemed to comply with the essential safety requirements of Part 1.
Part 2 satisfies the following objectives:
This Standard sets out requirements for the design, construction and verification of electrical installations, including the selection and installation of electrical equipment forming part of such electrical installations.
These requirements are intended to protect persons, livestock, and property from electric shock, fire and physical injury hazards that may arise from an electrical installation that is used with reasonable care and with due regard to the intended purpose of the electrical installation.
In addition, guidance is provided so that the electrical installation will function correctly for the purpose intended and takes into account mitigating the foreseeable adverse effects of disruption to supply.
Changes to AS/NZS 3000:2018 include the following:
Section 1:
Section 2:
Section 3:
Section 4:
Section 5:
Section 6:
Section 7:
Section 8:
Appendices:
Italic print in the Code indicates exceptions or variations to requirements. Exceptions generally give specific examples where the requirements do not apply or where they are varied for certain applications. They may contain requirements. Examples are also presented in italic text. As applicable in any country, the wiring rules does NOT cover the requirements for design/manufacture of electrical equipment but limits itself to their selection and application in electrical installations.
Appendix A of the standard provides detailed list of other regulations and standards that are referenced in the rules. Table 1.1 tries to identify some of the important standards that are to be additionally reviewed by the practitioners to ensure compliance with the stipulations in AS/NZS 3000.
Table 1.1
Partial list of standards/ regulations referred in AS/NZS 3000
Standard |
Title |
AS 2067 |
Switchgear assemblies and ancillary equipment for alternating voltages above 1 kV |
AS 60269 |
Low-voltage fuses |
AS 60947 |
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear |
AS 60947.2 |
Part 2: Circuit-breakers |
AS 60947.4.1 |
Part 4.1: Contactors and motor-starters—Electro mechanical contactors and motor-starters |
AS 60947.8 |
Part 8: Control units for built-in thermal protection (PTC) for rotating electrical machines |
AS/NZS 2430 |
Classification of hazardous areas |
AS/NZS 3008 |
Electrical installations—Selection of cables—Cables for alternating voltages up to and including 0.6/1 kV |
AS/NZS 3008.1.1 |
Part 1.1: Typical Australian installation conditions |
AS/NZS 3439 |
Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies |
AS/NZS 3439.1 |
Part 1: Type-tested and partially type-tested assemblies |
AS/NZS 3439.2 |
Part 2: Particular requirements for busbar trunking systems (busways) |
AS/NZS 3439.5 |
Part 5: Particular requirements for assemblies intended to be installed outdoors in public places—Cable distribution cabinets (CDCs) for power distribution in networks |
AS/NZS 3820 |
Essential safety requirements for low voltage electrical equipment |
AS/NZS 5000 |
Electric cables—Polymeric insulated |
AS/NZS 5000.1 |
Part 1: Electric Polymeric insulated cables for working voltages up to and including 0.6/1 (1.2) kV |
AS/NZS 5000.2 |
Part 2: Electric Polymeric insulated cables for working voltages up to and including 450/750 V |
AS/NZS 61009 |
Residual current operated circuit-breakers with integral |
ABCA and NZBC |
Building Code of Australia (ABCA) and the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) |
A number of other standards covering fire protection systems, storage battery systems, hoists, elevators, etc are also listed for further reference and guidance, which are not covered in this table.
The regulations are needed to ensure uniform practices adopted in all equipment and installation practices for safety and reliability of the installations. AS/NZS 3000 standard covers regulations to be followed for design, selection and installation of LV electrical systems of common and special premises in Australia and New Zealand. The 2018 year edition had been updated with many illustrations and worked out examples compared to the earlier edition based on the feedback from industry and the end users. The standard is divided into two parts. Part-1 of the standard provides basic compliance requirements to be met in the design, selection and installation of the systems with an objective to achieve high level of safety in the systems without referencing part-2. The second part is divided into a number of sections and outlines guidelines and procedures to be adopted by the designers and installation contractors for achieving the high level safety objectives of part-1 in specific application areas.
This book is not intended to replace the AS/NZS Wiring Rules as a work of reference but is merely an introduction to it. As all of us are aware, the standards are dynamic in nature in the manner that they continuously undergo amendments and revisions to match the pace of the growth in the technology. In case further information is required it is recommended that the participants shall directly refer the standard as well as other references such as the reference documents identified in appendix A of the standard. A lot of published literature is available on these topics by industry bodies and reputed manufacturers of electrical equipment as well as on the Internet and can be referred for assistance in solving specific problems one may come across.
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