This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee EL-001, Wiring Rules, to supersede, in Australia/New Zealand, AS/NZS 3000:2000, Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules).

This Standard incorporates Amendment No. 1 (July 2009) and Amendment No. 2 (December 2012). The changes required by the Amendment are indicated in the text by a marginal bar and amendment number against the clause, note, table, figure or part thereof affected.

The development of this Standard has been based on the following considerations:

(a) Results of a survey of the electrical industry indicated that the industry wanted a document better suited to the present electrical regulatory structure, which flows more logically, is easier to understand, reinstates much of the guidance information removed from the 2000 edition and contains an increased level of diagrammatic representation of concepts, and more selected examples.
(b) Experience gained in the application of the eleventh (2000) edition as expressed to Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand.

During preparation of this Standard, reference was made to IEC 60364, Electrical installations of buildings (all parts) and acknowledgment is made of the assistance received from this source.

The presentation of this edition differs from previous editions of AS/NZS 3000 in that the Standard comprises two parts but with both parts bound as one document.

Part 1 provides uniform essential elements that constitute the minimum regulatory requirements for a safe electrical installation.

It also provides an alternative regulatory vehicle for Australian and New Zealand regulators seeking to move from the present prescription of AS/NZS 3000 in electrical installation safety and licensing legislation.

Part 2 provides installation practices that achieve certainty of compliance with the essential safety requirements of Part 1.

It is primarily a revision of the 2000 edition to provide work methods and installation practices that are 'deemed to comply' with the associated performance outcomes/safety conditions.

This Standard may be applied through legislative requirements, as indicated in Clause 1.2. As this Standard supersedes AS/NZS 3000:2000, it would usually apply to electrical installations from its date of publication, but it is recommended that it not be applied on a mandatory basis before a date at least six months after publication. However, if work on an installation was commenced before publication of this edition, the relevant regulatory authority or electricity distributor may grant permission for the installation to be completed in accordance with AS/NZS 3000:2000.

Statements expressed in mandatory terms in notes to tables and figures are deemed to be requirements of this Standard.

The term, 'informative' has been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which it applies. An 'informative' appendix is only for information and guidance.

Originated as part of AS CC1 1931. Previous edition AS/NZS 3000:2000. Fifth edition 2007.