Electrical Regulation in Australia

[Frank&Earnest]

Now that the thread is cold, it is apparent that it is not going very far, for a good reason.

There are too many issues muddled together in this poll.

IMHO the questions are:

1)what level of regulation is appropriate to balance safety in a domestic setting and practicality?

-the current level: all fixed wiring needs to be done by a licensed electrician
-owner can wire up to the switchboard subject to inspection
-owner can do everything subject to inspection
-replacement of same with same should be allowed without inspection
-owner can do everything without inspection.

2)is apprenticeship necessary to ensure the competence necessary for a licence?

-yes
-no, it should be sufficient to pass a TAFE course that includes strong practical training
-no, it should be sufficient to pass a theoretical and practical examination
-no, it should be sufficient to pass a theoretical examination only.

3)is trade protection through the apprenticeship system desirable?

-yes, because apprenticeship is necessary
-yes, because trade protection is good for the economy
-no
-unsure

4)is trade protection through regulation desirable?

-yes, because the current level of regulation is the best for safety and practicality
-yes, because trade protection is good for the economy
-no
-unsure

Up to you, Chrisp or silentC, if you think that this topic is really worth pursuing further. From the level of responses, I would guess not.

[Simomatra]

Leave it as it is.
People will do their own work anyway.
If they are stupid they will die.
If they are clever thay will live, however they may inadvertantly kill someone down the track.
I guess the best result is that the gene pool will be a little healthier

BTW, I am an Electrician.
I do not work in the domestic field and don't care if a system is introduced allowing people to do their own domestic work, although I can see more bad than good coming of it.

Over the next few years the Electrical trade will change. Apprenticeships will be shorter and be segmented into smaller fields, ie domestic, commercial and industrial.
It may not be too far away that apprenticeships will be so short you guys will be able to do one in your spare time. Good luck getting a Sparky who knows what he is doing after this happens.

Cheers, Jack

I am in the same position as Jack and must say I agree with him.

As for finding a sparkie you knows broad spectrum they are quickly dissappearing. In a few years they won't exist

Thats my 2 cents worth

[Christopha]

I live in a small coastal tyown where a lot of the houses are holiday homes. This includes my next door neighbours who arrived to do a few jobs at their house three weeks ago to find that a number of power points, and fluoro lights had been fitted to ther back deck. This work was done without their knowledge and they have not been able to find out who did it! I had my sparky mate here a couple of days ago and he had a quick look at next doors electrical "work" and he showed me me several places where wiring was incorrect and fittings incorrectly placed/ fitted so that electrocution is a very real possibility. The cabling is very untidy and conduits are either missing, used inappropriately when it would have actually been easier to fit the cable inside the walls or they are just plainly untidy. All work looks very amateurish and my neighbours are very annoyed to say the least as they have a son who is an electrician and if they had wanted the work done they would have asked their tradesman son to do it, as it is they will have to get him to "repair" the work of some geographically challenged amateur. It will be hilarious if they get a bill fom this DIY type turkey!!!

[silentC]

So have you got some lunatic DIYer there who runs around doing unlicensed electrical work on people's houses when they're not home, or do they rent the place out to tenants?

[NCArcher]

I am in the same position as Jack and must say I agree with him.

And me.

[chrisp]

F&E, thanks for kick-starting the thread again. I'm a bit confused though as you are suggesting more options to the poll than I have.

I was pleased to see that silentC and I don't hold radically different views (although from past threads I often wondered), and it seems to me the poll is breaking into two camps: the electricians mainly saying to leave things alone; and the others who seem to suggest that a different system should be considered.

For the record, I'm not suggesting an anything goes, but rather a system that provides sufficient information and training to people so that the work can be carried out safely.

Education is the key to safe outcomes - not regulation.

I don't think the only way should be via a four year apprenticeship.

[Frank&Earnest]

Maybe I did not make myself clear. I am not suggesting more options for this poll. I am saying that if you want a meaningful indication of people's preferences you have to put up the 4 polls I suggested. Otherwise, you just keep getting rambling anecdotes that do not further the purpose of a meaningful discussion about the appropriateness of current legislation.

[Christopha]

So have you got some lunatic DIYer there who runs around doing unlicensed electrical work on people's houses when they're not home, or do they rent the place out to tenants?

No, it's not a 'renter". No-one around here can work out who or why, I was at work that day and didn't asee anyone, the old couple the other side saw a sedan with racks and ladders. That doesn't sound like even a handybloke type coot! It seems we have a phantom cable guy!!

[echnidna]

Anyone who is capable of passing a competence test should be licensed to carry out works within their level of competence.

Getting right away from conventional sparkies several trades that ought be able to perform electrical works include various radio/tv/electronics techs, motor rewinders & appliance repairers etc.