Certifying Electrical Works – Where Do You Stand?

Have you come across an electrician completing electrical works for you and not providing a Certificate for; Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC), Code of Compliance (CoC) or Record of Inspection (ROI) within 20 working days.

If yes, where do you stand?

1. Let it go and take a “she’ll be right” approach.
2. Make contact and chase it up after five working days.

How should you deal with these?

1. Letting it slide and the she’ll-be-right approach is definitely comes with a huge risk that could be putting your personal safety, property and others at risk. Are you willing to risk it?
If no then make a compliant after 20 working days of not receiving the certificate. Ensure you do your due diligence and follow up with the electrical contractor by requesting the document. Failing this make a compliant to the EWRB https://www.ewrb.govt.nz/complaints/making-a-complaint/

2. If you haven’t received certification for electrical works completed whether it be an Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC), Code of Compliance (CoC) Record of Inspection (ROI) from the tradesmen, follow it up immediately. At times communication can be lost between parties. If the document is lost in the post they are legally required to issue a Certificate and get it to you within 20 working days after it’s issued.

When you re-request the Certification the Electrical Worker will have ten working days to get it to you, asking again can be done up to seven years later from the date of issue.

That Certification gives you legal standing that knowledge of the installation of work has been completed to standard and proven electrically safe. Any thing else other than this process would invalidate the works and could be an offence under current New Zealand Law’s Regulations and Standard’s for the electrical worker that completed or supervised the works.

How to avoid this

Getting the right tradesmen that completes the electrical testing requirements of AS/NZS 3000 section 8, AS/NZS 3017:2017 and issues on time accordingly to NZ Electricity Regulations 2010 by ensuring the ESC, CoC, ROI is received by the engaging party is extremely important. Asking your electrical worker conducting the work if it has been tested and certified is with in your rights to ask.

I believe at OME Testing the electrical installation after electrical work has been completed is more important than issuing a CoC to prove its safe. Although issuing the ROI, COC, ESC is a legal requirement for registered electrical worker to complete the certification. When issued the tests result will stand up in the courts covering of completed electrical works when it goes wrong.

Blank certificates can be found below

https://www.ewrb.govt.nz/for-registered-electrical-workers/cocs-and-escs/

Published date: 04 May 2022