Energy Safety July 2009 Newsletter
General
Safety check-list before insulating your place
The government has recently announced a new insulation and energy efficient heating programme to start on 1 July 2009. Work could include installing thermal insulation in ceiling spaces as well as under floor thermal insulation in dwellings.
Energy Safety has recorded a number of incidents and fires caused by faulty insulation installation work. The incidents include serious injury or death of the installer when insulation material has been accidently stapled into power cables. Fires to houses are generally caused when the insulation is installed too close to a light fitting in the ceiling space predominantly downlight installations.
For information on how to safely install under floor insulation and help prevent serious incidents, installers can refer to the Energy Safety online safety alert: “Installing Under Floor Thermal Insulation – Electric Shock Hazard”.
In the case of installing ceiling insulation the New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice available online for The Installation of Recessed Luminaires (NZECP:54:2001) includes safe distances for combustible materials and thermal insulation to recessed luminaires.
Energy Safety urges insulation installers to refer to the above links and emphasises that prevention is the key.
To mitigate risks and accidents it is critical for installers to perform:
- the pre-installation hazard assessment
- the subsequent isolation of electrical hazards prior to the installation work
- safety checks at the conclusion of the installation
For further advice you may contact Energy safety at info@energysafety.govt.nz or freephone at 0508 377 4636.
Safe use of powerboards, multi-plugs, and multi-boxes
PowerBoards, Multi-Plugs, and Multi-Boxes, or Electrical Portable Outlet Devices (EPODS) as they are more technically known, are multiple electrical socket-outlets mounted onto a portable case, allowing you to plug in several appliances at once.
They are commonly used where there are not enough wall socket-outlets available for the number of appliances the owner wants to plug in simultaneously.
Poor electrical contact and overloading is a major cause of electrical fires, especially if the appliances connected draw heavy current loads, such as heaters, electric jugs/kettles, washing machines and stoves or any other high current appliance. These types of appliances should be directly connected into wall sockets, not EPODs, because if used together they could exceed the total current load rating of the EPOD.
A general rule of thumb is: If it heats, do not use an EPOD
Common examples of EPODs use are for low current devices including:
- computers and associated equipment including a monitor, printer, scanner and modem
- televisions and DVD players, video recorders, satellite receivers and stereo systems.
Safe use of EPODs includes:
- only low current appliances should be connected
- never use them in damp or wet areas, if marked “For indoor use only”
- if damaged stop using immediately and replace
- check regularly for wear and tear
Related link to EPODs safe use
New Zealand government website provides compliance requirements for energy appliances
The New Zealand government website at www.business.govt.nz brings together in one central place free business resources, tools and information to help people start, manage and grow their business and deal with the day-to-day challenges they face. i.e: compliance, government business services, private sector information and access to government business transactions online.
Part of the continual improvements of this NZ government website, Energy Safety has been actively involved in the design of the energy appliance compliance section. It provides a comprehensive overview of the NZ requirements for industry and guidelines on how to meet NZ compliance obligations.
This one-stop-e-government-shop for business has a huge potential and is designed to save busy people the most important of all commodities: time.
Users can personalise business.govt.nz by registering for the “my business” service which allows them to:
- Keep track of events and important dates with the business calendar
- Quicklink favourite topics and places to come back to
- Set alerts on the information that interests you and receive email updates
- Subscribe to the ‘businessINSIDER’ e-newsletter for the latest business information.
File your gasfitting certificates on time
Regulation 24 of the Gas Regulations 1993 requires that gasfitting certificates be completed for most of gasfitting work.
By providing assurance that the work has been undertaken safely and in accordance with relevant regulations and standards, gasfitting certificates form an important aspect of the gas safety regime. In addition they provide for compliance with Building Act requirements for an energy work certificate.
In order for this regime to work it is important that certificates are completed and filed in a timely manner after completion of the work. Regulations 24A and 24B specify that:
- Certification of gasfitting must be completed within ten working days of completion of the work.
- Completed certificates have to be filed with the PG&D Board within five working days of the certification.
- Copies of certificates must be provided within five working days of the certification to both the person for whom the work was done, and the person supplying or proposing to supply the gas installation.
Energy Safety considers it is important that gasfitting certificates are filed in a timely manner to ensure that the certification regime operates effectively and efficiently.
Energy Safety does not consider that the practice of withholding certificates until payment is made is valid.
Related link to gasfitting obligations
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