Mandatory switchboard upgrades

In order to accurately understand the requirements of your property, we need to complete a thorough safety inspection. Then we will be able to provide an accurate quotation for each property based on:

• The number of modules required;
• Whether an earthing upgrade is needed;
• Where there are pre-existing faults in the electrical wiring, fittings or appliances. Some of these may only be uncovered following the introduction of safety switches; and
• The presence of asbestos. Where asbestos is identified as present in the existing switchboard, a specialist asbestos contractor must be engaged to make it safe.

As part of the Safer Home plan, we will also be completing a test and service of your smoke alarms.

Once upgrade is completed, the power cannot be reconnected to the switchboard unless and until the work has been signed off by a qualified electrical inspector.

This is an ESV requirement and failure to complete this step could be unsafe, renders the upgrade non-compliant and exposes the rental provider and the agency to a potential breach of duty under the RTA with fines ranging between $11,000 - $55,000 per breach.

By engaging Detector Inspector for the switchboard upgrade, we’ll guarantee same day reconnection in almost all cases. The only exceptions would be where the switchboard upgrade process uncovers asbestos or other pre-existing faults not previously identified.

Safety Switches or RCD’s (Residual Current Devices)provide a fast power cut- off in problem situations.

Electrical hazards are often hidden and can be difficult to identify, such as a small hole in an extension lead or a power board damaged internally.

Electrical accidents occur in an instant and RCDs are the only device that can protect you and your family from these hidden dangers and give you a second chance.

An RCD Safety Switch protects by constantly monitoring the current flowing in the Active and Neutral wires supplying a circuit or an individual item of equipment. Under normal circumstances, the current flowing in the two wires is equal. When an earth leakage occurs due to a fault in the circuit or an accident with the equipment, an imbalance occurs and this is detected by the RCD, which automatically cuts off the power before injury or damage can result.

RCD Safety Switches are extremely sensitive, disconnecting in under 20 milliseconds of detecting a leakage current. This stops the flow of electricity through someone’s body to earth. Importantly, this response time is much faster than the critical section of the cardiac cycle and therefore significantly reduces the risk of death or serious injury. RCDs also protect against fire caused by faults in appliances, tools and wiring. If these faults go undetected, they could cause a fire or personal injury.

RCBO stands for ‘Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current’ and is a type of safety switch.

It is a type of circuit breaker installed into the switchboard that will trip the electrical circuit when there is a power overload in order to protect people from experiencing electric shock or other potentially hazardous consequences.

This new minimum standard applies to any new lease signed since 29 March 2021, or any fixed term lease that has moved to a rolling periodic lease since that date.

The new standards specify that switchboards in rental properties must be fitted with both circuit breakers and a residual current device (RCD). Both devices play an essential role in home safety.

Circuit breakers protect the electrical system and RCDs protect people. Circuit breakers detect overloads and cut the power to prevent damage to wiring.

RCDs detect current imbalance caused by current flowing somewhere it shouldn’t (like into a person) and cut the power to prevent electrocution.

The standard switchboard upgrade only replaces the switchboard enclosure and components inside a switchboard. The switchboard/earthing upgrade is replacing the switchboard enclosure and components inside a switchboard including running a new 6mm earth wire from the switchboard to an independent earth stake which is mounted on the exterior of the premises.

The installation usually takes around 2 hours to complete.