WorkSafe Energy Safety reminds gasfitters that the requirement to certify gasfitting and complete an entry in the High Risk Database applies when they do gasfitting that involves the alteration of, or addition to, an existing gas installation. This includes removing part of an installation, for example an appliance, and/or plugging the pipework.

Regulation 5A of the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations (GSMR) makes any addition or alteration of a gas installation high risk gasfitting. This includes terminating an open end, because you are adding or altering something to the installation – even if it is just a plug or brazing shut the open end of a pipe.

Because this work is considered high risk, the regulations require that a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) and Gas Safety Certificate (GSC) are issued, and that the details of the CoC are entered into the Electricity and Gas High Risk Database.

For information on gasfitting risk categories, Master Plumbers has produced a guide on Regulation 5A for gasfitters.

This is available on the Master Plumbers website

WorkSafe Energy Safety recently added vehicle adaptors as medium risk declared articles under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, with effect from 2 March 2017.

The relevant Gazette Notice can be accessed here.

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) that are classed as medium risk declared articles now include:

• Vehicle adaptors
• AC electric vehicle charging stations
• DC electric vehicle charging stations
• Cable assemblies for electric vehicle charging
• In-cable control and protection devices.

The original gazette notice for EVSE, which came into effect on 1 December 2016, can be viewed here.

The addition of vehicle adaptors as medium risk declared articles is a result of their inclusion in the new third edition of the IEC standard IEC 61851-1 (IEC 61851-1:2017 Electric vehicle conductive charging system - Part 1: General requirements, Edition 3.0), published in February 2017.

This edition allows adaptors that are approved by the vehicle manufacturer or EVSE manufacturer.  

WorkSafe Electric Vehicle Charging Safety Guidelines currently do not prevent the use of suitable adaptors if they are approved by the EVSE manufacturer.

Any Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) for these products should refer to AS/NZS 3820:2009 Essential safety requirements for electrical equipment, and a test report issued by an independent test laboratory to IEC 61851-1 Edition 3.0.

For further information see the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the WorkSafe Electric Vehicle Charging Safety Guidelines.

If you have queries please use the ‘ask a question’ feature on the Energy Safety website

We have noticed a recent increase in the availability of electrically unsafe travel adaptors. Suppliers must ensure that any travel adaptors they import and sell are safe.

The travel adaptors pictured below are electrically unsafe in New Zealand because:

• they  do not provide an earthing facility even though appliances requiring an earth can be used – which creates a risk of electric shock, and/or
• they provide incorrect polarity when plugged into a power point  so that even when switched off, appliances will be live – which creates a significant risk to users, especially when using appliances requiring an earth facility.

 It is an offence to sell or offer to sell adaptors that have these features. Businesses could receive a maximum fine of $50,000 if convicted for selling these items.