Does Your Home Wiring Meet NZ’s Electrical Safety Standards?

Unless you’re moving house or renovating your space, your home’s electrical wiring is probably something you don’t think about too often. After all, it’s designed to be out of sight and out of mind, just like the rest of the utilities we all know and use every day.

But before you put your home’s wiring out of your mind again, it pays to verify that it’s actually up to code. As residential electricians, we’ve come across one too many old homes with outdated wiring. Some before disaster has struck, and some – unfortunately – after.

So, let’s spend some time today getting proactive about your home’s writing. We’ll unpack New Zealand’s residential electrical safety standards to help you understand whether your home meets some of those basic requirements, and we’ll also guide you through what to do if you suspect your home’s wiring might be dangerously outdated.

What are New Zealand’s electrical safety standards?

Every home in Aotearoa has to meet certain wiring and safety regulations. These are designed to protect you and your property from electrical hazards, such as stray sparks or full-on electrical fires. These standards apply to all residential electrical services under the NZ Electrical Code of Practice (ECP) and AS/NZS 3000, commonly known as the Wiring Rules.

At their most basic level, these rules make sure of a few things:

•  Your home’s wiring can safely handle the load of modern electrical use.
• Power points, switches, and appliances are properly ‘earthed’.
• Safety switches (RCDs) are installed to prevent electrical shock.
• Circuits are designed to isolate faults before they cause damage or fire.

Generally speaking, if residential electricians have rebuilt or rewired your home’s electrical network in the past 15-20 years, you’re likely in good shape. But if you live in an older property, or one that hasn’t been checked out in a while, it’s worth calling on your local residential electrical services for a quick inspection.

This is especially important if you’ve noticed any flickering lights, tripping breakers, sparks, or unusual buzzing or burning smells near any of your outlets. In fact, let’s unpack those signs a little further.

What are some signs you need residential electricians for an inspection?

It’s important to know the signs of an old electrical system in your home. If you observe any of the following, it means you should absolutely call your local residential electrical services provider as soon as possible for an inspection.

• Your switchboard is outdated.

Modern switchboards include RCDs (safety switches) that shut off power in milliseconds if something goes wrong. If yours still uses old ceramic fuses or looks like it hasn’t been touched since the 1970s, it’s probably due for an upgrade.

• You’ve noticed damaged outlets or cords.

Cracked outlets, scorch marks, or loose sockets are all signs that something’s not right. They’re small issues now, but can lead to much bigger ones if left alone.

• You smell something odd now and again.

There’s a faint burning smell (especially from switches or power points). If you notice this, absolutely do not ignore it.

• Your home hasn’t been inspected in a while.

If you haven’t had residential electricians inspect your home since you purchased it, or in over 5 years, it’s worth booking a simple inspection. This can save you thousands in potential repairs later.

What should you do if you think your home’s wiring is outdated?

First things first: don’t panic. Old wiring is just that: old wiring. It doesn’t automatically mean that your home is unsafe, but it does mean that it’s time to get a few things looked at. After years of providing residential electrical services, here is what we recommend you do next:

1. Book an inspection, so that a team of residential electricians can test out your wiring, check insulation resistance, and confirm whether your circuit meets current standards.
2. Plan your rewiring in stages, if it’s needed. This doesn’t have to happen all at once; many homeowners choose to tackle their rewiring room by room, starting with the areas that pose the highest risk.
3. Upgrade while you’re at it. If you’re renovating or adding new appliances, take the opportunity to future-proof your home with extra outlets, data points, or smart wiring that can help you monitor your home’s electrical consumption.

Once all of these aspects are sorted, your residential electrical services team will issue you a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) or an Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC). Keep these handy for your entire time in your home. They’re proof that your home’s wiring is up to snuff, and might even help you with your insurance down the line.

Ultimately, it’s no surprise that most of us don’t think about our residential electrical systems until something goes wrong. These systems live quietly in the walls, but leaving them unchecked until something has gone wrong is usually leaving it much too late.

We always recommend getting ahead of the problem with proper inspections and maintenance so that you can keep your home as safe and compliant as possible. Qualified residential electricians can handle spot checks and full inspections to help you head off costly or even dangerous issues down the line.

So, if your home has been standing a while, or if something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore that gut instinct. Get it checked out!

Verify that your home’s electrical wiring meets New Zealand’s standards.

Keep your home and its occupants safe with a simple inspection from PERL Electrical. We are a nationwide franchise network of residential electricians providing top-notch residential electrical services across the entire country. Find an electrician to book your inspection today.