VIC Electrical Safety Requirement (from March 29 2023)

marc171 on 18/03/2022 - 01:33

Hi all.

For those in VIC:

From 29 March 2023, all power outlets and lighting circuits in a rental property must be connected to:

a switchboard type circuit breaker that complies with AS/NZS 3000 for wiring, and
a switchboard type residual current device that complies with AS/NZS 3190 or AS/NZS 61008.1 or AS/NZS 61009.1.

What is the correct interpretation of the above? I have a property which is older and all circuits except lighting and hot water system are protected by an RCD safety switch.

An electrician came today to replace my smoke alarm and he says i need 6 rcbos (currently i have a total of 6 circuit breakers).

Does this sound right? Why would i need that many rcbos? I would have thought i will only need the 1 rcbo to protect both the lighting and hot water circuit breakers?

Thoughts?

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • JimmyF on 18/03/2022 - 09:14
    +1

    Does this sound right? Why would i need that many rcbos? I would have thought i will only need the 1 rcbo to protect both the lighting and hot water circuit breakers?

    What did he say when you asked him why you needed 6 instead of 1?

    • marc171 on 18/03/2022 - 12:22

      he say that is the new requirement.

  • netjock on 18/03/2022 - 10:38
    +1

    Depends on how many circuits you got. 6 breakers makes it sound like you got 6 circuits. You might want to confirm how many circuits you got.

    Generally you will have at least 3. Lights, hot water (if it is electric), another one for electric oven (if you got one, as it is 10A dedicated). Sometimes it is just assumption whatever is there is right.

    • marc171 on 18/03/2022 - 12:23

      yes have 6 circuits from what i can see.

  • marc171 on 18/03/2022 - 12:23

    have been getting quotes from electricians. apparently now it needs to be 6KA and not 4.5KA. but different electricians are saying different things.

  • Jetstream on 18/03/2022 - 12:37

    Not a sparky, but can help you with one part.

    A rcbo is a combination circuit breaker/safety switch and protects one circuit

    If you have two circuits that are not protected by your original safety switch - then you are up for at least two rcbos.

    I think I also remember reading that a safety switch can only (legally) work on three circuits. So you might need to take one off the safety switch and use a rcbo instead for that one.

    So I can account for three, but not a sparky’s (profanity)

  • burningrage on 18/03/2022 - 13:03
    +3

    Another reason to increase rental fee. Last year, Labor mandated test/tags/electrical maintenance subscription (cost about $600 pa) and rental went up.

    This is on top of their no-eviction and keep-pet-don't-tell-owners policy.

    • techno2000 on 18/03/2022 - 13:11

      Yeah soon there will no point keeping an investment property.Costs will outweigh benefits.I might sell mine soon.Too many hassles.

      • burningrage on 18/03/2022 - 13:38

        That is what my agent said about 1.5 years ago. In 2 years, most will exit and those who stays will up the price.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2022 - 00:11

      Vic also want a plumber to provide a safety certificate every 2 years to say all gas appliances are working fine so you're looking at about $1400 in fees to comply every 2 years

      • randomdude14 on 07/06/2022 - 10:28

        its actually not that bad. plenty of companies provide full gas and elec safety check under $500 every 2 years

  • big1964 on 19/03/2022 - 10:48

    These laws are bought in to make rental house’s safer, I would think most landlords would do the right thing, but it’s the minority that stuff it for the majority that don’t do the right thing.

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