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 |
As a registered electrical contractor, 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 contractors for you to note and comply with:
A registration of electrical contractor 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.
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 Application for Registration as an Electrical Contractor" (i.e. FORM 1 EMSD/EL/31 (04/2019)) [PDF format (758KB)] together with the relevant supporting documents and a renewal fee HK$855 (subject to review). 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.
You shall carry on your business as an electrical contractor only at and from those business address(es) registered with me (as shown on the registration certificate(s)). You shall also display your principal office registration certificate in a prominent place at your principal place of business and those branch office registration certificate(s) issue by me (if any) at your other place(s) of business (i.e. your branch office(s)). In case of a loss of your registration certificate(s), a replacement copy may be issued to you on payment of a fee of HK$340 (subject to review).
| 5.1 |
You shall note the following requirements under the electricity legislation which have become effective from 1 June 1992.
|
| 5.2 | You shall also note that under Regulations 19 to 22 of the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations, the Work Completion Certificate (Form WR1) and the Periodic Test Certificate (Form WR2) issued by you shall be supported with the relevant test records, plan and other documents. All the relevant documents shall be kept for at least 5 years and they shall be produced for our inspection upon request. |
| 5.3 | The test records for periodic testing of low voltage installations shall at least cover those items as shown in Appendix 13 of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations. |
| 5.4 | In order to effectively monitor the standard of electrical work, we shall carry out random inspection on the electrical installations that are designed, installed or tested by registered electrical contractors. |
| 5.5 | Copies of the relevant test records, plans and documents shall be made available for our checking and retention during the site inspections on the electrical installations that are designed, installed or tested by you. |
| 6.1 | The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is responsible for monitoring the performance of registered electrical contractors (REC) to ensure that the REC and the registered electrical workers employed by them comply with the requirements of the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406) and its subsidiary regulations (in particular the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations) in carrying out electrical work. |
| 6.2 | If REC 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 REC concerned has violated the relevant requirements, EMSD will, subject to the available evidence, take disciplinary action or initiate prosecution against the REC. |
(I) First inspection, testing and certification of fixed electrical installations
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.
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.
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).
(II) Periodic inspection, testing and certification of fixed electrical installations
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), previously known as the Dangerous Goods (Classification) Regulations) 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.
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:
Fixed electrical installations in factories and 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.
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.
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:
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.
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).
(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:
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.
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.
The tests and inspections covered shall be carried out within a reasonable time, normally not exceeding one month, before the date of certification.