AS/NZS 3760:2010 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment
Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
Supersedes: AS/NZS 3760:2003 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment
This Standard specifies procedures for the safety inspection and testing of low voltage single phase and polyphase electrical equipment, connected to the electrical supply by a flexible cord or connecting device. It also include procedures for the safety inspection and testing of: Residual current devices (RCDs) except those within the scope of AS/NZS 3003 and NZS 6115; and Portable inverters that generate or produce low voltage.
This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee EL 036 – In-service testing of electrical equipment to supersede AS/NZS 3760:2003 and its Amendment No. 1 (2005) from the date of publication. This edition has undergone a complete revision.
In-service testing is a necessary part of any safety program to help ensure the safety of persons using electrical equipment in the workplace. This Standard specifies in-service safety inspection and testing protocols and criteria that satisfy these obligations, and provides a cost-effective approach to safety without jeopardizing personnel safety or involving excessive equipment downtime.
The philosophy of the document is to provide an inspection and testing regime capable of implementation with only simple instrumentation, and performed by a person not necessarily having formal qualifications or registration, but who has the necessary practical and theoretical skills, acquired through training, qualification, experience or a combination of these, to correctly undertake the tasks prescribed by this Standard.
This Standard is not intended to demonstrate that equipment complies with the safety Standard appropriate to the equipment.
The methodology of the inspection and testing process is defined.
The frequency of repetition of that process is determined by the equipment type and by examination of the environment in which the equipment is used or working. For indicative purposes a number of different environments are provided with associated or suggested inspection/testing frequencies. These are based on the perception of the level of hazard and the degree of abuse to which the equipment is typically exposed. However, there will usually be multiple sub-environments within any location and the inspecting/testing frequency will be arrived at by an assessment of the actual environment in which the equipment is placed or used.
Words in bold in the text are defined in 1.4. When a definition concerns an adjective, the adjective and associated noun are also in bold.
AS/NZS 3760 will enable persons responsible for the safety of electrical equipment in the workplace to instigate an inspection and testing programme to achieve that aim. It also enables persons undertaking the inspection and testing to carry out the task in a safe and effective manner.
Edition 1 AS 3760:1990. Edition 2 AS/NZS 3760:1996. Edition 3 AS/NZS 3760:2000. Edition 4 AS/NZS 3760:2001. Edition 5 AS/NZS 3760:2003. Edition 6 AS/NZS 3760:2010. Reissued incorporating Amendment No. 1 (April 2011). Reissued incorporating Amendment No. 2 (December 2012)
This Standard specifies procedures for the safety inspection and testing of low voltage single phase and polyphase electrical equipment, connected to the electrical supply by a flexible cord or connecting device, and that
(a) Is new equipment placed into service for the first time;
(b) Is already in-service;
(c) Has been serviced or repaired;
(d) Is returning to service from a second-hand sale; or
(e) Is available for hire.
This Standard also specifies procedures for the safety inspection and testing of:
(f) Residual current devices (RCDs) except those within the scope of AS/NZS 3003 and NZS 6115; and
(g) Portable inverters that generate or produce low voltage.
Typical examples of equipment covered by this Standard are:
(h) Portable equipment, hand-held equipment and stationary equipment, designed for connection to the low voltage supply by a supply cord, an appliance inlet or pins for insertion into a socket-outlet (see Figure G1);
(i) Cord sets, cord extension sets and outlet devices (also known as electrical portable outlet devices (EPODs), or power boards);
(j) Flexible cords connected to fixed equipment in hostile environments;
(k) Portable power supplies (includes power adaptor/plug-pack, both of the safety isolating transformer and switch-mode type);
(l) Battery chargers including those for commercial or industrial use;
(m) Portable and transportable heavy duty tools such as high pressure washers and concrete grinders.
Contents:
Section 1: Scope And General
Section 2: Inspection And Tests
Appendix A: Background
Appendix B: Guidelines On The Electrical Knowledge Of A Competent Person
Appendix C: Polarity For Cord Sets And Cord Extension Sets
Appendix D: Test Of Earthing Continuity
Appendix E: Insulation Testing
Appendix F: Insulation Resistance Testing Of Portable Isolating Transformers
Appendix G: Insulation Resistance Testing Of A Power Supply
Appendix H: Test For The Operating Time Of Residual Current Devices (RCDs)
Appendix J: Arc Welders
Appendix K: Regulatory Application Of This Standard
In-service testing of electrical equipment.
EL-036
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Australian Industry Group (AIG); Australasian Lighting Industry Association; Building Service Contractors of New Zealand (Inc.); Consulting Interests Australia; Consulting Interests New Zealand; Consumer Electronic Suppliers Association; Department of Labour New Zealand; Department Fair Trading, New South Wales Consumer Protection Agency; ElectroTechnical Association Inc.; Energy Safe Victoria; Hire and Rental Association Australian; Hire Industry Association of New Zealand; Housing Industry Association Australia; Institute of Electrical Inspectors Australia; Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ); Ministry of Economic Development New Zealand; National Electrical and Communications Association Australia; New Zealand Electric Fence Energizers Manufacturers Standards Working Group New Zealand Council of Elders; Safety Institute of Australia; Schneider Electric Limited New Zealand; WorkCover New South Wales.
