How Often Should Electrical Equipment Be Tested and Tagged?

Start with the workplace, not a universal interval

Test-and-tag frequency depends on where equipment is used, the conditions it faces and the duties that apply to the workplace. A single timetable is not suitable for every operation.

Construction and demolition work has specific inspection requirements. The source article identifies quarterly testing for portable electrical equipment in those environments, while other workplaces need an inspection system matched to their risks.

For other places of business

Outside construction and demolition, the employer still needs to keep electrical equipment safe and arrange appropriate inspection and testing. The environment, equipment use and available controls should guide the programme.

The article points businesses to the intervals in AS/NZS 3760 as a guide and describes a documented risk assessment as another way to establish a suitable frequency where workplace conditions differ.

Record how and where the equipment is used.
Consider flexing, abuse, moisture, dust, heat and other hostile conditions.
Document the controls already used to reduce risk.
Keep a repeatable inspection, testing and asset-record system.

Testing provides more than a compliance record

Electrical safety is the primary purpose, but a consistent programme can also reveal equipment trending towards failure before it interrupts production.

The resulting register gives the business a clearer inventory of tools, locations and test history, making replacement planning and asset tracking easier.

Recovered reference

Inspection and test intervals

The reviewed source contained several unclear or blank cells. They remain blank here rather than being guessed. Confirm current requirements and standards for your workplace.

Type of environment and /or equipment (a)	Equipment including Class I equipment, Class II equipment, cord sets, cord extension sets and EPODs (b)	Residual Current Devices (RCDs) — Push-button test by user — Portable (c)	Residual Current Devices (RCDs) — Push-button test by user — Fixed (d)	Residual Current Devices (RCDs) — Operating time and push-button test — Portable (e)	Residual Current Devices (RCDs) — Operating time and push-button test — Fixed (f)
Factories, workshops, places of manufacture, assembly, maintenance or fabrication	6 months	Daily, or pre-use	6 months	12 months	12 months
Environment where the equipment or supply flexible cord is subject to flexing in normal use OR is open to abuse OR is in a hostile environment	12 months	3 months	6 months	12 months	12 months
Environment where the equipment or supply flexible cord is not subject to flexing in normal use OR is not open to abuse OR is not in a hostile environment	5 years	3 months	6 months^†	2 years	2 years
Residential type areas e.g. hotels, residential institutions, motels, boarding houses, hostels, accommodation houses etc.	2 years	6 months	Not legible in reviewed source	2 years	Not legible in reviewed source
Equipment used for commercial cleaning	6 months	Daily, or pre-use	n/a	Not legible in reviewed source	Not legible in reviewed source
Hire Equipment Inspection	Prior to hire	Including push-button test by hirer prior to hire	Not legible in reviewed source	n/a^†	Not legible in reviewed source
Test and Tag	3 months^†	Not legible in reviewed source	Not legible in reviewed source	Not legible in reviewed source	12 months^†
Repaired, serviced or second-hand equipment	After repair or service which could affect electrical safety or on reintroduction to service: Refer to AS/NZS5762^†	Not legible in reviewed source	Not legible in reviewed source	Not legible in reviewed source	Not legible in reviewed source

† Placement or value was not perfectly clear in the reviewed source.

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How Often Should Electrical Equipment Be Tested and Tagged?

Start with the workplace, not a universal interval

For other places of business

Testing provides more than a compliance record

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