Hi Risk Work-EWRB drawing

Post Reply
PeteRig
Posts: 161
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 60 times
Been thanked: 33 times

Hi Risk Work-EWRB drawing

Post by PeteRig »

Is this drawing correct in regards to the comment about the submain earthing?
Or is this another error by EWRB?
https://www.ewrb.govt.nz/resources-2/to ... =safe-work
Cheers
Peter
Last edited by PeteRig on Mon Mar 18, 2024 8:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
gregmcc
Site Admin
Posts: 192
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:45 pm
Has thanked: 19 times
Been thanked: 50 times

Re: Hi Rsik Work-EWRB drawing

Post by gregmcc »

IMO there it is vague around submains and earthing, Electricians and Inspectors tend to hold different views on this.

I think what is needed either a clarification in law (.....yeah right we all know how slow the legislation changes move) or Worksafe/MBIE/EWRB issue a clarifying statement around the issue.
AlecK
Posts: 954
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:24 am
Answers: 5
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 375 times

Re: Hi Rsik Work-EWRB drawing

Post by AlecK »

We can only deal with the rules as they have been written.
Opinion as to what was intended, or what "should" be classified as HRPEW, are speculation at best, and certainly can't be relied on.

The best you can say for the EWRB info is that it's how they are likely to enforce it.
Doesn't make it correct.

But the "question" about whether a Main earthing system at an outbuilding DB need inspection is not a grey area at all.
It's not a matter of opinion or interpretation; it's a matter of 3 simple facts.

fact 1
definition of 'main earthing system" in ESR 4 is such that the earthing system at a DB supplied by a submain with no PEC is a "main earthing system.
fact 2
any work on any MES is "mains work", as defined in ESR 4.
fact 3
If maintenance / repair, it's classified as low risk. Anything else is classified high risk.

There's no way around these facts.
What they add up to is that inspection is clearly required when such a MES is installed.
Whether that was the intent when the ESRs were drafted doesn't change the facts.
Whether this work should be classified as high risk is a matter of opinion.
but fact 4 is that the risks arising from getting it wrong are exactly the same, regardless of whether the MES in question is at MSB or a DB.
These users thanked the author AlecK for the post (total 2):
PeteRig (Sat Mar 16, 2024 12:37 pm) • gregmcc (Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:10 am)
Rating: 33.33%
PeteRig
Posts: 161
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 60 times
Been thanked: 33 times

Re: Hi Rsik Work-EWRB drawing

Post by PeteRig »

No harm in getting an inspection either way, another set of eyes
AlecK
Posts: 954
Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:24 am
Answers: 5
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 375 times

Re: Hi Risk Work-EWRB drawing

Post by AlecK »

I've never understood why so many practitioners willfully avoid the relatively small cost & inconvenience of having an independent pair of eyes.
PeteRig
Posts: 161
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 60 times
Been thanked: 33 times

Re: Hi Risk Work-EWRB drawing

Post by PeteRig »

Maybe because they think they know everything
Post Reply