When to submit a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW)

Purpose

This advisory note has been produced in response to enquiries we have received from licensed electricians about CCEW requirements. It provides guidance on the relevant legislation requirements, including when a CCEW must be submitted to Building Commission NSW.

Issue

Building Commission NSW has received enquiries from industry about when a CCEW must be submitted and the types of electrical work that require one.

Questions have been raised about whether a CCEW is required for minor work or the like-for-like replacement of electrical equipment.

References

• Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act
• Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation
• Crimes Act 1900

When a CCEW must be submitted

Since the introduction of the BCNSW eCert portal, licensed electricians have asked when they need to submit a CCEW and the types of work it applies to.

Licensed electricians must submit a CCEW using the BCNSW eCert portal (or approved API) no later than 7 days after completing the work, including the safety and compliance test.

A CCEW must be submitted for any type of electrical work that involves installing, repairing, adding or altering electrical equipment to an electrical installation.

This includes like-for-like replacement of electrical equipment such as water heaters, ovens, stove tops and electrical accessories.

Legislative requirements for CCEW

The Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act provides the definition for an electrical installation. It also provides the definitions of electrical installation work and electrical wiring work. These definitions specifically state that electrical work and electrical wiring work means the work of installing, repairing, altering, removing or adding to an electrical installation or the supervising of that work. 

Section 34(4)

Section 34 (4) of the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation states: 

'An electrical installation, or part of an electrical installation, must not be energised unless its safe operation and compliance with the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules have been established by a safety and compliance test'. 

Section 36

Section 36 of the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation states:

1. A safety and compliance test on electrical installation work on an electrical installation, or part of an electrical installation, must be carried out by a qualified person in accordance with the requirements of this clause after the completion of the work. 
2.  A safety and compliance test on electrical installation work must verify whether the work complies with the requirements of the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules, including in relation to (but not limited to) the following:
   1. continuity of the earthing system,
   2. insulation resistance,
   3. polarity,
   4. circuit connections. 
3. A safety and compliance test on electrical installation work must:
   1. include an inspection of switchboards and any other electrical equipment that is required by the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules, and
   2. ensure that the electrical equipment used is designed to enable the electrical installation concerned to function for the use intended.
4. If one or more residual current devices are installed or replaced as part of electrical installation work, each device must be tested in accordance with the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules to determine whether it complies with the requirements of those Rules for such devices.

Section 37A

Section 37A of the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation states: 

Requirement to give electrical work certificate of compliance — the Act, ss 38 and 75(2)(n)

A qualified person who conducts a safety and compliance test on electrical installation work (a tester) must:

1. give an electrical work certificate of compliance for the test to the Secretary:
   1. no later than 7 days after completing the test, and
   2. by lodging the certificate on the BCNSW eCert portal, or
2. give the relevant information to an eligible entity no later than 7 days after completing the test.

Maximum penalty:

1. for an individual — 20 penalty units, or
2. otherwise — 40 penalty units.

Note: It is an offence under the Crimes Act 1900, sections 307B and 307C to give false or misleading information or documents.