Guidance Notes / Guidelines

Notes for Registered Electrical Workers

As a registered electrical worker, your attention is drawn to the following points:

  1. Responsibilities of a Registered Electrical Worker
  2. Validity Period of Certificate
  3. Renewal of Registration
  4. Keeping of Certificate
  5. Inspection, Testing & Certification of Electrical Installations
  6. Monitoring the Performance of Registered Electrical Workers
Annex 1

Enquiries

Electricity Legislation Division, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government

Address: 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel.: 1823 (Hotline)
Fax: 2895 4929
Note: This is NOT a legal document and is prepared for general information only.
  1. Responsibilities of a Registered Electrical Worker

    As a registered electrical worker, you have to comply with the requirements of the Electricity Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations. Below is a list of those major responsibilities of registered electrical workers for you to note and comply with:

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  2. Validity Period of Certificate

    A registration of electrical worker shall be valid for a period of 3 years. The validity period of your registration certificate is from the effective date up to the expiry date shown in your certificate.

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  3. Renewal of Registration

    If you wish to renew your registration after the expiry of your registration validity period, you shall submit to me an application for renewal of registration in a specified form "New/Renewal/Change of Grade of Electrical Work Application for Electrical Worker Registration" (i.e. FORM 8 EMSD/EL/34 (04/2019)) [PDF format (466KB)] together with the relevant supporting documents and the renewal fee. You must submit your renewal application to me at least 1 month before, and no earlier than 4 months before, the expiry date of your registration.

    Note: Renewal application submitted after the expiry date of the original registration will be treated as a new registration application, which will be assessed in accordance with the statutory requirements at the time of receiving such application. If the applicant cannot fulfill the registration requirements at that time (including recognized academic qualifications and electrical work experience), the application would be rejected regardless of the previous registration history of the applicant.

    From 1 January 2012, the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme for REW will be put into operation. REW applying for registration renewal on or after 1 January 2012 is required to have completed the CPD training before submitting the application to EMSD. For details of the CPD Scheme, please visit our website
    (www.emsd.gov.hk -> Home > Electricity Safety > CPD Scheme for REW)

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  4. Keeping of Certificate

    You shall have your registration certificate with you or available at your workplace while doing electrical work. In case of a loss of your registration certificate, a replacement copy may be issued to you on payment of a fee of HK$340 (subject to review).

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  5. Inspection, Testing & Certification of Electrical Installations

    You shall note the following requirements under the electricity legislation which have become effective from 1 June 1992:

    1. A registered electrical contractor shall, after completing a fixed electrical installation and before the installation is energized for use, have the installation inspected, tested and certified by a registered electrical worker (employed by the contractor) to confirm that the requirements of the Electricity Ordinance have been met. This requirement also applies to any electrical work completed after repair, alteration or addition in an existing electrical installation but only the affected parts of the installation need to be inspected, tested and certified. Certification for the above shall be made on specified forms - "Work Completion Certificate" (i.e. FORM WR1 EMSD/EL/44 (04/2019)) [PDF format (448KB)] or "Work Completion (Part of the Installation) Certificate" (i.e. FORM WR1(A) EMSD/EL/45 (04/2019)) [PDF format (400KB)].

    2. An owner of certain specified types of fixed electrical installations is required to have his installation periodically inspected, tested and certified by a registered electrical worker to confirm that the requirements of the Electricity Ordinance have been met. The frequency for such inspection, test & certification may be at least once every 12 months or at least once every 5 years depending on the type of installation (see section (II) of Annex 2). Certification for the above shall be made on specified forms - "Periodic Test Certificate" Update (i.e. FORM WR2 EMSD/EL/46 (04/2019)) [PDF format (654KB)] or Periodic Test Certificate (Part of the Installation)" (i.e. FORM WR2(A) EMSD/EL/47 (04/2019)) [PDF format (385KB)].

    A more detailed description of the above two requirements is given in Annex 1.

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  6. Monitoring the Performance of Registered Electrical Workers
    6.1 The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is responsible for monitoring the performance of registered electrical workers (REW) to ensure that the electrical work undertaken by them is in compliance with the requirements of the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406) and its subsidiary regulations, in particular the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations.
    6.2 If REW are found to have neglected their statutory duties when carrying out electrical work without ensuring the compliance of fixed electrical installations with the requirements of the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406) and the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations, EMSD will conduct investigation into the case.
    6.3 If there is evidence showing that the REW concerned has violated the relevant requirements of the Ordinance, EMSD will, subject to the available evidence, take disciplinary action or initiate prosecution against the REW.

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Important Note to Registered Electrical Workers:

A registered electrical worker should NOT sign certificates for tests and inspections unless he has carried out or supervised the tests and inspections on site, and is satisfied with the results of the tests and inspections. Any registered electrical workers not following this practice is deemed to have violated the good workmanship required under the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations and may be subject to disciplinary actions under the Electricity Ordinance.

 
Annex 1

Requirements of Inspection, Testing and Certification of Fixed Electrical Installations under the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations

(I)   First inspection, testing and certification of fixed electrical installations

  1. A registered electrical contractor shall, after completing electrical work on a fixed electrical installation and before the installation is energized for use, have the installation inspected, tested and certified by a registered electrical worker (employed by the contractor) to confirm that the requirements of Electricity Ordinance have been met. This requirement also applies to any electrical work completed on an existing electrical installation (e.g. repair, alteration or addition) but only the affected parts of the installation need to be inspected, tested and certified.

  2. Certification for the above shall be made on a specified form - the "Work Completion Certificate" (i.e. Form WR 1). Every Work Completion Certificate shall be signed by the registered electrical worker(s) who is/are responsible for doing the work. The certificate shall also be endorsed by the corresponding registered electrical contractor(s). After signing the various parts of the certificate, the registered electrical contractor shall then issue the certificate to the owner of the electrical installation. For electrical installations that required inspection/testing by the electricity supply company before use (e.g. new electrical installation), it is recommended that a copy of the certificate may be copied to the supple company concerned.

  3. For a large fixed electrical installation which is divided into more than one part, the individual parts can be inspected, tested and certified by different registered electrical worker. In such case, for simplicity, a single "Work Completion Certificate" (i.e. Form WR 1) may be issued by one main registered electrical worker provided that he has received valid "Work Completion (Part of an Installation) Certificate(s)" (i.e. Form WR 1(A)) from other registered electrical workers for the individual parts. (Note: the main registered electrical worker does not need to personally inspect and test all the individual parts himself).

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(II)   Periodic inspection, testing and certification of fixed electrical installations

  1. Fixed electrical installations that require to be inspected, tested and certified at least once EVERY YEAR

    An owner of a fixed electrical installation located in one of the following type of premises shall have the installation inspected, tested and certified at least once every year with effect from 1 June 1992:

    (a)   Places of public entertainment

    Fixed electrical installations in places of public entertainment (as defined in the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Cap. 172)) other than a sea-going vessel shall be inspected, tested and certified at least once every year. Typical examples of places of public entertainment are places, buildings or structures (temporary or permanent) for dramatic or theatrical entertainment, cinematography display, lecture, exhibition, acrobatic performance, sporting exhibition or amusement rides etc.

    (b)   Premises for the manufacturing or storing of dangerous goods

    Fixed electrical installation in premises for the manufacturing or storing of dangerous goods (classified under categories of the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulations (Cap. 295 sub. Leg. A) shall be inspected, tested and certified at least once every year. Examples of the above are dangerous goods stores, dangerous goods storage tanks, gas stations, petroleum and diesel filling stations and liquidfied petroleum gas stations etc.

    (c)   High voltage fixed electrical installations

    Owners of premises having high voltage fixed installations that are fed directly from a high voltage supply are required to have their high voltage fixed electrical installations inspected, tested and certified at least once every year. Example of such installations are high voltage switchrooms and substations of a large commercial complex.

  2. Fixed electrical installations that require to be inspected, tested and certified at least once EVERY FIVE YEARS

    Except already included in paragraph (1) above, an owner of the following type of fixed electrical installation shall have the installation inspected, tested and certified at least once every 5 years with effect from 1 June 1992:

    1. Fixed electrical installations in factories or industrial undertakings having an approved loading exceeding 200 amperes, single or three phase at nominal low voltage are required to be inspected, tested and certified at least once every five years.

    2. Fixed electrical installations except as mentioned in subparagraph (a) above having an approved loading exceeding 100 amperes single or three phase at nominal low voltage are required to be inspected, tested and certified at least once every five years. Examples of such installations are power supply to lifts, water pumps, public lightings and other communal services in the common area of domestic premises and fixed installations in offices etc. having total loading exceeding 100 amperes, single or three phase.

    3. Low voltage fixed electrical installations located in one of the following type of premises are required to be inspected, tested and certified at least once every 5 years:

      1. a hotel as defined in section 2 of the Hotel Proprietors Ordinance (Cap. 158);
      2. a private healthcare facility that is a hospital as defined in the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633);
      3. a scheduled nursing home within the meaning of the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) for which an exemption granted under section 128 of that Ordinance is in force;
      4. a nursing home within the meaning of the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance (Cap. 459);
      5. a school as defined in section 3 of the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279);
      6. premises of the institutions listed in section 2 of the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279);
      7. a child care centre that is registered under the Child Care Services Ordinance (Cap. 243); and
      8. premises that the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services may, by notice posted to or served on the owner, specify that he considers could cause great harm in the event of an electrical accident.
  3. Certification for the above shall be made on a specified form - the "Periodic Test Certificate" (i.e. Form WR 2). Every Periodic Test Certificate shall be signed by the registered electrical worker who is responsible for carrying out the inspection and testing. The certificate shall also be endorsed by the responsible registered electrical contractor. After signing the various parts of the certificate, the responsible registered electrical contractor shall then issue the certificate to the owner of the electrical installation. The owner shall then deliver the certificate to the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services for endorsement within 2 weeks after the date of the certificate. The owner shall also submit an endorsement fee of $695 (subject to review) for each certificate delivered to the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services.

  4. For a large fixed electrical installation which is divided into more than one part, the individual parts can be inspected, tested and certified by different registered electrical worker. In such case, for simplicity, a single "Periodic Test Certificate" (i.e. Form WR2) may be issued by one main registered electrical worker provided that he has received valid "Periodic Test (Part of an Installation) Certificate(s) (i.e. Form WR2(A)) from other registered electrical workers for the individual parts. (Note: the main registered electrical worker does not need to personally inspect and test all the individual parts himself).

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(III)   Important points to be noted by registered electrical workers & contractors

For inspection, testing and certification of fixed electrical installations, the responsible registered electrical workers & contractors shall comply with the followings:

  1. Tests on a fixed electrical installation shall be carried out with proper tools and testing equipment and in accordance with accepted practices so that no danger to persons or property can occur even if the circuit being tested is defective.

  2. Results of tests and inspections shall be recorded, dated and certified by the registered electrical worker who carried out the tests and inspections. The registered electrical contractor shall keep all records of the test and inspection results and issue a copy of the records to the owner of the electrical installation.

  3. The tests and inspections covered shall be carried out within a reasonable time, normally not exceeding one month, before the date of certification.

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