FAQ's and Information

Yes. Your RCD needs to be tested and tagged in accordance with AS/NZS 3760:2010 to ensure that it will respond in a fault situation, and that it will also respond within the required time frame. Should it not “trip” in the required time, a fatal and extensive electric shock may be delivered.

Additionally, National Work Health and Safety Regulations effective January 2012 state all businesses must have an RCD protecting all circuits, and that the RCD's must be tested in accordance with AS/NZS 3760:2010.

ATS will inspect, test and tag your RCDs to ensure that they comply with the standard and safe lives in an emergency situation.

The only way to know this is to open your switchboard and check. It is perfectly safe to open the main door as you will not have to remove any guarding on your switchboard to locate your RCD.

If you are in any doubt, please contact ATS. Your local ATS technician will be able to quickly identify whether your workplace is protected by RCD.

In January 2012 it becomes mandatory for all businesses in Australia to have RCD's installed on every circuit and for these RCD's to be inspected, tested and tagging in accordance with AS/NZS 3760:2010.

An RCD is an acronym for Residual Current Device.   They can sometimes be called ELCB's (Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers) or Safety Switches.

An RCD monitors the flow of electricity through the circuit it is attached to.  Should any abnormalities associated with the delievery of an electric shock or fatal electrocution be detected by the RCD, the unit will shut off the power to the circuit immediately to minimise injury.

An RCD is a life saving device, but it does not completely elinimate the risk of electric shock.  It must be tested to ensure it is working within the safety standards.

RCD’s and ELCB’s are commonly called Safety Switches. These devices can be fitted to your distribution board, or can be portable. They monitor the flow of electricity through your site, and should abnormalities associated with electric shock/electrocution be detected, the unit will shut off power immediately to minimise injury.

It is quite common for electrical circuits in commercial and industrial buildings to be unprotected by safety switches. Should a fault occur in an electrical appliance when it is connected to a socket outlet that is not protected by an RCD, serious or fatal electric shock could occur. If you do not have RCD protection in your workplace, ATS highly recommend you engage a licenced electrician to install RCD’s across all circuits in your workplace.

Installing an RCD and ensuring all electrical appliances and RCD’s are inspected, tested and tagged in accordance with AS/NZS 3760:2003 is the best method of ensuring electrical safety for your workplace.

No, not entirely. A "Safety Switch" or Residual Current Device (RCD) only protects against electrical faults where electricity leaks from the circuit.

In January 2012 it becomes mandatory for all circuits in Australian workplaces be fitted with RCDs as these devices will reduce the severity of any electric shock and will save lives.

Portable RCD’s can look like large Powerboards, or can only have one power outlet. They do however have an internal RCD that will trip should any leakage from the circuit occur whilst in use.

Portable RCD units are recommended to be used when using any tool inside or outside. These devices are designed to trip in a maximum of 30 milliseconds and will most likely save you from electric shock.

Yes. Your portable RCD needs to be tested to ensure that it will respond to a fault situation and that it will also respond within the required time frame. Should it not “trip” in the required time, a dangerous and extensive electric shock may be delivered.

ATS can test and tag your portable RCDs to ensure that they comply with AS/NZS 3760:2010.