Electrical Safety: Electrocution Protection Devices RCD’s and Safety Switches

All Brisbane property owners and managers have a duty of care under electrical safety laws to ensure that their rental property is electrically safe for all tenants and people that may visit or work on the premises.

Over the course of our Electrical Safety Series we will discuss the 10 main areas of electrical safety and maintenance that the homeowner, landlord and tenant needs to be aware of.

1. Safety Switches

2. Smoke Alarms

3. DIY

4. Roof Spaces

5. Faults, Tingles and Shocks

6. Overhead Powerlines and Service Lines

7. Private Power Pole Maintenance

8. Dial before you Dig

9. Maintaining Electrical Equipment

10. Solar Systems

Landlords and Homeowners

Safety switches are paramount in protecting people from electrical shocks, so it is recommended to have one installed on all circuits. However, Electrical Laws stipulate at the very minimum a safety switch must be fitted to all PowerPoint circuits in rental properties and units. If your home does not have one you must get one installed by a qualified electrician ASAP or face a fine up to $1,500.

People can often confuse circuit breakers with safety switches – they are not the same thing, they are very different. A circuit breaker is designed to protect the wiring and equipment in your home – whereas safety switches protect the people you love and your fur babies from becoming electrocuted possibly leading to death.

Tenants

Electrical laws and regulations protect people in rental properties in the same manner as homeowner occupied homes. The law requires the installation of safety switches within a 3 month period from sale of a domestic residence that was built prior to 1992 (when safety switched were not mandatory).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have a Safety Switch?

When looking inside the switchboard a Safety Switch has a “test” button. If you can’t see any test button, then you DO NOT have a safety switch installed in your home. You need to call your real estate immediately for an electrical safety review and proper installation.

How Often do I have to test a Safety Switch?

It is recommended that the tenant must test the safety switch every 3 months. You do this simply by pressing the test button – the switch should “trip”. Don’t forget to turn it back on after testing. Your real estate agent should do this with each home inspection as well.

Remember although safety switches prevent electrical shock, it is not a substitute for electrical maintenance and all-round safety. It’s important to have a licenced electrical contractor to periodically check the operational and electrical safety of your home – we recommend doing this alongside mandatory smoke alarm testing.

What do I do if my Safety Switch Keeps Tripping?

Please download our fault finding guide and watch the interactive video to troubleshoot your safety switch. If your problem persists please call Triforce Electrical and Air so we can come out and do some fault finding for you. Your safety is paramount.

If there is an obvious fault such as a sparking powerpoint please do not use it or touch it. Call us and we will get someone out there to help you as soon as possible.