Feature Article 1 - Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations (2015 Edition)

Background to formulation

Members of the trade should be aware that electrical work must be carried out by registered electrical contractors and registered electrical workers in accordance with the technical and safety requirements specified in the Electricity Ordinance (Chapter 406) and its subsidiary regulations (including the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations). The purpose of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations is to provide registered electrical contractors and registered electrical workers with technical guidelines on how to meet the requirements of the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations.

The current edition of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations, the fourth edition since its first publication in 1992, was published in 2009. To keep pace with the times and keep abreast of the latest development of technological and safety requirements and trade practices, EMSD commenced the review of the Code of Practice in May 2013.

The review process

In order to broadly consult the trade and relevant stakeholders, EMSD set up in mid-2013 the Working Group for Reviewing the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations, comprising members nominated by various organisations in the electrical trade (e.g. labour unions, trade associations, consultant associations, tertiary institutions, professional institutions and power companies, etc.) and other relevant government departments. The first meeting of the working group was convened on 26 November 2013. During the course of the review, 10 working group meetings and 7 task force meetings were held. Members of the working group raised a number of concerns with EMSD during the review process with respect to the following major aspects:

1. Extension of coverage to include high voltage installations;
2. Inclusion of requirements concerning the use of lockable switches;
3. Review of the Risk Assessment Report on Live Work at Appendix 15B;
4. Review of the permit-to-work system at Appendix 16; and
5. Review of the diagrams used in Code 21, etc.

Major revisions

The major revisions of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations include:

1. Extension of coverage to include high voltage installations

   Making reference to the British Standard BS 7671, the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations has always put its focus on requirements relating to low voltage electrical installations. The trade has raised that there is an increasing number of high voltage electrical installations installed at users' premises, unlike in the past when most of the high voltage electrical installations were seen in power companies or special plant equipment only. In light of the current situation, the Code of Practice should in a timely manner provide registered electrical contractors and registered electrical workers with guidelines on the safety requirements of high voltage electrical installations for compliance with the requirements of the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations. In response to the views of the trade, new sections will be added to the Code of Practice to introduce a number of new requirements. Members of the trade can carry out electrical work with regard to high voltage electrical installations (e.g. busbar spouts of multi-panel switchboard, feeder or transformer spouts, or busbar spouts of a single panel switchboard, connections to or windings of distribution transformers, connections to or windings of generators, etc.) by following the safety guidelines.

2. The use of lockable switches

   To prevent occurrence of electrical incidents arising from unintentional activation of miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) or moulded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) during electrical work, new safety requirements will be incorporated into the Code of Practice, requiring the use of lockable switches on MCBs or MCCBs to ensure that the switches of such devices can be securely turned off and locked. The relevant requirements only apply to newly installed or altered devices; existing switches do not need to be replaced in order to comply with this new requirement.

3. Permit-to-Work

   According to Code 4G(1)(e) of the current Code of Practice, where danger cannot be avoided for work on energised equipment, the electrical equipment should be isolated and verified dead with a voltage indicator; a permit-to-work should be issued. Taking into account the views of trade representatives expressed at the working group, the relevant Permit-to-Work will be simplified and made more user-friendly for the convenience of trade members.

4. Electrical safety assessment

   The 2009 edition of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations first introduced the "Risk Assessment Report on Live Work" with the main objective to minimizing the risks associated with live work and to prevent electrical accidents. In response to the suggestions of working group members, the current "Risk Assessment Report on Live Work" will be replaced by the simplified "Electrical Safety Assessment" form to reduce the need of writing and allow the required assessment work to be conducted by the trade following the simplified procedures.

5. Diagrams used in Code 21

   In response to the suggestions of working group members, some of the less frequently used diagrams in Code 21 will be edited out, including those on "earth electrode resistance test" and "earth electrode resistance test with four or more earth electrodes". This is because digital earth electrode resistance instruments are already widely used by the trade and their methods of use are illustrated in the user manual in detail. Moreover, we have also optimised the diagrams on "insulation resistance test" with a view to providing trade members with clearer guidelines to carry out the relevant tests.

Feature Article 2 - Supervisory Roles of Registered Electrical Workers

Regulation 4(7) of the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations stipulates that a registered electrical worker shall ensure that safety precautions are taken to prevent danger arising from electrical wiring work done by him or under his supervision. Codes 4G and 4I of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations have laid down guidelines with regard to the compliance with the relevant statutory requirements. In this connection, EMSD is of the view that a registered electrical worker taking up supervisory roles in electrical work should take the following measures:

1. Ensure that the worker under his supervision is adequately qualified, knowledgeable and skilled to carry out the relevant electrical work;
2. Ensure that the worker under his supervision uses suitable and adequate personal protective equipment and proper tools carrying out the relevant electrical work;
3. Check the scope of work and the associated electric circuits before carrying out the work;
4. Ensure that the electrical equipment has been isolated from the power supply and is verified dead with a voltage indicator before carrying out the work;
5. Risk assessment should be carried out in advance if live work is involved; and
6. A permit-to-work should be issued before work can be carried out.

In addition, according to section 32(1) of the Electricity Ordinance, if a person who is not a registered electrical worker works under the oral or written instruction of a registered electrical worker who is aware of and responsible for that person's work, the person may do electrical work of the kind specified in the certificate of that registered electrical worker, but he shall not:

1. certify that a fixed electrical installation complies with that Ordinance; or
2. work on energised parts of a fixed electrical installation when he is not immediately adjacent to that registered electrical worker.

Therefore, a registered electrical worker who is responsible for the work of non-registered electrical workers will assume the supervisory responsibility from the legal point of view. He must provide the non-registered electrical workers concerned with clear work instructions and take appropriate measures to ensure that workers under his supervision understand and comply with the relevant statutory requirements.

Supervisory Roles of Registered Electrical Contractors

In accordance with section 34(6) of the Electricity Ordinance, a registered electrical contractor and an owner referred to in section 35(3) shall effectively supervise a registered electrical worker employed by him. Apart from appointing a responsible registered electrical worker of appropriate grade to take charge of electrical work to ensure the quality of the electrical installations and safety of the work as stipulated in Code 4G(1)(a) of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations, the registered electrical contractor should also take the following steps to fulfil the statutory requirements with regard to effective supervision:

1. Provide registered electrical workers employed by him with the safety procedures and method statements for electrical work;
2. Provide registered electrical workers who are employed by him and required to supervise other workers in carrying out electrical work with clear guidelines on supervision of workers;
3. Provide registered electrical workers employed by him with appropriate and sufficient training necessary for carrying out electrical work;
4. Provide registered electrical workers and other workers employed by him with suitable and adequate personal protective equipment and proper tools to carry out the relevant electrical work;
5. Provide registered electrical workers employed by him with sufficient manpower to carry out the relevant electrical work; and
6. Formulate and implement monitoring measures to ensure that workers, by virtue of their knowledge and training, are capable of carrying out the relevant electrical work.

Feature Article 3 - Analysis of Electrical Incidents

Members of the electrical trade may be aware that there have been a number of serious electrical incidents in recent years in Hong Kong, resulting in fatalities and injuries from suspected electrocution. We are going to analyse an incident that took place this year with a view to raising trade members' alertness and safety awareness when carrying out electrical work, and preventing electrical accidents from occurring.

The Incident
This incident involved renovation work carried out in a village house. A registered electrical worker was suspected to have died from falling from height after receiving an electric shock during the installation of an air conditioner at height on an aluminum ladder. An investigation by EMSD found that a live conductor was exposed without proper cover and that the residual current device of the relevant circuit was malfunctioned, resulting in the incident which the worker was electrocuted after accidentally touching the exposed live conductor and the earthed metal part nearby as the residual current device of the relevant circuit failed to activate to cut off the power supply.

The cause for the above incident involves live work, poor workmanship and malfunction of the protective device. Here are some suggestions on how to prevent similar electrical accidents from occurring:

1. The electrical work should be carried out by a registered electrical worker (REW) of the appropriate grade.
2. The conditions of the relevant tools and instruments should be checked before carrying out the electrical work.
3. The scope of work and relevant circuits should be checked, and attention should be paid to whether the relevant circuit protective device (e.g. residual current device) has been regularly tested before carrying out the electrical work.
4. The metallic parts (including exposed conductors) in the working environment should be tested with instruments to see if they are dead before carrying out the electrical work, while ensuring that appropriate personal protective equipment and tools are used when carrying out the electrical work (see Appendix 14 of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations for details).
5. To avoid carrying out work under live conditions, the power supply of the installation should be switched off, isolated and locked out and the metallic parts of the installation should be tested to see if they are dead before carrying out electrical work.
6. If the switching off of power supply may affect the daily operation of the building, registered electrical contractors should discuss with the owners or property management company before the commencement of work. Arrangements should be made as far as possible to switch off the power supply of the installations, so that the electrical work can be conducted when the installations are not energised.
7. If the work has to be performed under live conditions (such as testing), appropriate risk assessment should be made by competent persons before carrying out the work (see Appendix 15 of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations for details).

Feature Article 4 - New Energy Efficiency Grading Standards Have Now Been Fully Implemented

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) published the Code of Practice on Energy Labelling of Products 2014 (the Code) on 31 October 2014 to upgrade the energy efficiency grading standards of room air conditioners, refrigerating appliances and washing machines. The new grading standards have been fully implemented since 25 November 2015, with the aim of encouraging importers to introduce more energy efficient electrical products to enable the public to reduce electricity consumption, save money and enhance energy efficiency.

From 25 November 2015 onwards, energy labels with new energy efficiency grading standards must be shown on the above three types of electrical products for supply in Hong Kong. The prefix "U1" will be added in front of the reference number of the new grading energy label while the other format will remain unchanged. For example:

The diagram below shows the format of the new grading energy label:

Energy label using new grading standards
(fully implemented from 25 November 2015)

When buying the above three types of products, the public should note that energy labels with new grading standards should be shown on the products with the prefix "U1" added in front of the reference number of the labels.

Details on the upgrading of energy efficiency grading are available at Energy Label Net of EMSD.

News-in-brief 1 - Notes on Collection of Periodic Test Certificate (i.e. Form WR2)

According to Regulation 20(3) of the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations, an owner (including individual flat owners and Incorporated Owners) of a low voltage fixed electrical installation that has an approved loading exceeding 100A, single or three phase (communal fixed electrical installations in a general building belong to this category), shall have the installation inspected, tested and certified (i.e. Form WR2) at least once every 5 years. Regulation 20(5) of the Regulations also requires the owner to deliver the prepared certificate to the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services for endorsement within 2 weeks after the date of the certificate.

When submitting Form WR2, owners may choose to collect the endorsed Form WR2 by registered mail or in person at our Registration and Permit Office. Apart from visiting our Registration and Permit Office in person, owners may also authorise a representative (e.g. registered electrical contractor, registered electrical worker or property management company) to collect the form at our office. The authorised representative should bring the following documents for verification by our staff:

Furthermore, when submitting Form WR2, if the owner or his representative chooses to collect the form at our department, our staff will give a copy of the leaflet "Notes on Collection of Periodic Test Certificate (i.e. Form WR2)" to the person concerned to facilitate the owner or his representative in the preparation of the required documents for collecting the forms. Besides, the above-mentioned Notes have been posted at prominent places of the Registration and Permit Office for public information.

News-in-brief 2 - Registered Electrical Workers and Contractors - Don't Miss the Deadline for Registration Renewal

The Electricity (Registration) Regulations stipulate that registered electrical workers (REWs) and contractors (RECs) shall submit to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department applications for registration renewal at least 1 month in advance, but no more than 4 months before the expiry date of the current registration. Renewal applications submitted before or after the above-mentioned period may not be considered. REWs and RECs are reminded again to apply for renewal of registration accordingly. Applications submitted after the expiry date of the current registration will be treated as new registration applications, and will be assessed in accordance with the statutory requirements of the day. These include requiring REWs applying for registration to possess recognised academic qualifications in electrical engineering and electrical work experience. If the applicant does not possess the required academic qualifications and thus is considered to be unable to fulfil the relevant registration requirements, the application will be rejected regardless of the previous registration history of the applicant.

In applying for registration renewal, the applicant is required to submit the duly completed Form 8 together with a copy of HKID card and a colour passport photograph with a plain white background, and pay the application fee.

News-in-brief 3 - Continuing Professional Development Scheme for Registered Electrical Workers - Newly Added Modes of Continuing Professional Development

The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme for Registered Electrical Workers (REWs) has been included as a requirement for renewal of registration since 1 January 2012. According to the CPD Scheme, REWs applying for each registration renewal are required to have completed two modules of training, including Module (1): Legislative and Safety Requirements and Module (2): Technical Knowledge, before submitting their renewal application.

REWs should note that the CPD training required prior to application for registration renewal may be completed at any time within the three-year period before the expiry date of the current registration through one of the following modes of training:

1. Participate in seminars organised by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD)
2. Participate in training courses organised by recognised training organisations
3. View the training materials and complete a written assessment exercise in the Registration and Permit Office at EMSD Headquarters
4. Use the training materials provided in EMSD website and complete a written assessment exercise personally in the Registration and Permit Office of EMSD as instructed

Commencing from 1 January 2015, REWs may also complete their CPD training through one of the following newly added modes of training:

5. REWs who have taken or are taking academic courses related to electrical engineering recognised by EMSD and organised by training organisations such as local universities, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, Vocational Training Council, etc. within the three-year period before the expiry date of the current registration certificate are regarded as having completed CPD training covering the two training modules. When applying for registration renewal, REWs shall submit the result record or certificate issued by the related academic or training organisations as documentary proof.
6. REWs who have become members in the electrical or building services discipline of some of the professional bodies in the engineering sector and have completed the mandatory continuing professional training required for their respective professional membership within the three-year period before the expiry date of the current registration certificate are regarded as having satisfied the CPD training requirement for REWs. When applying for registration renewal, REWs shall submit documentary proof (such as membership card) to prove their professional membership within the related period.

REWs are reminded to receive CPD training at the early stage of the three-year period before the expiry date of the current registration as far as possible so as to allow enough time for completing the training before expiry of the registration and to avoid the difficulty of finding training opportunities at the peak period of registration and unnecessary delay in renewal.

For details of the CPD Scheme, please visit EMSD website.

News-in-brief 4 - Incidents of "Ramming Works" Damaging Underground Electricity Cables

There were incidents in which underground electricity cables were damaged when site personnel used hammers to hit metal bars into the ground during fence construction works in works sites. To avoid similar incidents from happening again, site personnel should note that, under the Electricity Supply Lines (Protection) Regulation, prior to conducting works that will involve ground penetration (including "ramming works"), all reasonable steps must be taken in accordance with the requirements under the Code of Practice on Working near Electricity Supply Lines, including appointing a competent person approved by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to detect the alignment and depth of the underground electricity cables. In the course of works, all reasonable measures must also be taken, e.g. to ensure that a 500mm minimum safe working distance shall be maintained between the point of vertical penetration and the ascertained alignment of any underground electricity cable so as to comply with the requirements of the Electricity Supply Lines (Protection) Regulation. In particular, it should be noted that "ramming works" are not limited to vertical penetration works that involve the use of large mechanical tools but also include those involving the use of hand tools (e.g. hammer). If fence construction works involve the processes of excavation and ground penetration, site personnel must also take all reasonable steps as mentioned above before the commencement of works.

For details, please refer to the Code of Practice on Working near Electricity Supply Lines uploaded on EMSD website or the leaflet "Protect Electricity Supply Lines Take All Reasonable Steps and Measures".

News-in-brief 5 - Electricity News Goes Paperless

For good environmental practice, Electricity News will be posted to the registered e-mail addresses of all registered electrical workers (REWs) and registered electrical contractors (RECs).

REWs or RECs who have not yet registered their e-mail addresses, or who need to update us with their new e-mail addresses are kindly requested to supply the information by completing "Personal Particulars" in "Readers Feedback" on the last page of Electricity News, and sending this back to the Electricity Legislation Division of EMSD by fax (28954929) or e-mail.

Electrical Safety Quiz

Readers Feedback

We look forward to receiving your valuable feedback about this newsletter for continuous improvement. Please complete the feedback form and return it to Electricity Legislation Division, EMSD by post, fax or e-mail (contact details at the bottom of this page) on or before 21 March 2016.

Contact Information

Electricity Legislation Division, EMSD, 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong

1823

2895 4929

info@emsd.gov.hk