New wiring rules

If you ask an electrician to install a new circuit, or modify an existing circuit, we will be required to comply with the new rules. Unfortunately for some customers, there will now be a significant increase in cost under certain circumstances, and some jobs that are requested will no longer be possible under the new rules.

As an example:

We were recently asked how much it might cost to install a fan/heater in a bathroom.

Under the current rules, we could use existing conduit that lies within the concrete slab and or the brick-work that forms part of the current installation. This would mean that new cables (on a different circuit) could be run withing the current conduit.

Under the new rules, a new conduit will have to be installed. Either the customer would have to have visible conduit on the wall of the bathroom, or they would have to allow the installer to cut a new channel into the brickwork which would destroy the tiles. The cost difference for the customer could be over $1000 depending on what has to be done (by the time that re-tiling and other related work is done).

The cost under the current rules might only have been a few hundred dollars.

The new rules might more than double that cost.

Please Note: I have just sat through a 1 hour seminar to digest some of the proposed changes (and re-listened over and over again). Based on this seminar the example above is accurate! However, until I have a copy of the rule book in hand and can clarify the exact changes (or exact context), the above example may actually be incorrect. However, due to significant changes in the rule book, there will be situations like this where significant extra cost will be incurred by customers. But… I apologise in advance if this example is incorrect, and will edit this post should that be found to be so.

The rule and regulations are getting more complicated for installers, and compliance is becoming more costly for customers. This results in increased time of installation, increased cost of materials, and ultimately an increased cost to customers.

Apparently it will end up being safer for customers… But I am not sure that all of the changes are of significant benefit – particularly for customers who will no longer be able to afford what were previously basic and relatively cheap changes.

Food for thought.

Greg.
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