Fire safety concerns over data cables from some Chinese manufacturers
19 February, 2009 by Paul Stathis, editorData cable testing in the US has revealed that many cables on sale in the market are not compliant to critical fire safety codes.
Feed-in tariff announced for Canberra
11 February, 2009The ACT government has announced a generous electricity feed-in tariff scheme that is expected to encourage the take-up of alternative energy sources in both commercial and domestic buildings.
Queensland electrical safety plan
27 January, 2009Queensland's Electrical Safety Plan has been revised and reissued, outlining a number of strategies to minimise electrical safety incidents over the next five years.
EnergySafety investigates electrocution fatality
27 January, 2009A man has been fatally electrocuted while using a portable electric drill that was connected to a circuit that appears not to have been protected by an RCD.
Smart grid deployment could mean 280,000 new jobs in US, says report
16 January, 2009According to a recent US report, the deployment of a 'smart grid' across the US electricity network could directly create up to 280,000 new jobs.
WA safety inspections find electrical problems
16 January, 2009A WorkSafe audit on construction sites in Western Australia has revealed deficiencies in testing and tagging of electrical appliances.
ACT fast-tracks the Feed-in Tariff
18 December, 2008The ACT government has announced that the implementation date for the renewable energy Feed-in Tariff scheme has been brought forward from July 2009 to March 2009.
OHS guidelines for electricians
18 December, 2008WorkSafe Victoria has released a list of the most common injuries and hazards for people working in the electrical trades, along with suggested solutions to minimise these risks.
New regulations on testing and tagging on construction sites
18 December, 2008Changes to West Australian regulations regarding the testing and tagging of portable electrical equipment and RCDs on construction sites will come into effect on 1 January 2009, which will allow the testing to be done by a competent person or a licensed electrician.
Leighton HQ project achieves 6 Star green rating
08 December, 2008A major office and retail project in Brisbane has been awarded a 6-Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, recognising it as a world leader in environmentally sustainable office design.
Overseas Skills Recognition program addresses skills shortages
01 December, 2008To assist in dealing with local skills shortages, the ACT government hosted the National Conference on Overseas Skills that addressed overseas qualifications, offshore assessment arrangements, skills shortages and skilled migration.
Spiral-bound Wiring Rules
01 December, 2008The Wiring Rules — AS/NZS 3000: 2007, Electrical installations is available for purchase in a handy spiral-bound format, making it easier for electrical contractors and inspectors to use while on a job site.
Updated electrical standards to ensure boating safety
24 November, 2008With the release of the 2007 Wiring Rules, several other associated electrical standards have been updated to coincide with these new requirements. As part of this updating, the Australia/New Zealand standard for marinas and watercraft has been revised to be consistent with the new Wiring Rules.
Testing for standby power consumption
24 November, 2008 by John Thompson*External power supplies are subject to minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) as specified by AS/NZS 4665. The standard calls for maximum permissible standby power consumption levels, and reflect the increasing attention to rising greenhouse gases and energy costs.
US faces serious brownouts or blackouts risks in 2009
28 October, 2008A report warns that unless a sensible approach to proposed new electrical infrastructure projects is taken, the US may face severe power outages as early as 2009.
