Residential
buildings are our priority in enforcing the periodic inspection of electrical
installations.
Electrical
Safety
Expediting the Periodic Testing of Electrical Installations
Residential buildings remained our priority in enforcing the periodic inspection
of electrical installations in recent years. As stipulated in the Electricity
Ordinance, electrical installations with an approved loading exceeding 100 amperes
should be inspected, tested and certified at least once every five years to
protect public safety.
For buildings without a property management company or an owners' corporation,
it could take many home visits to brief on the technical and statutory requirements,
and to persuade the owners to comply with the statutory safety requirements.
Taking legal action is our last resort but has proved to be an effective means
to speed up the process for the very small percentage of property owners, who
have still not carried out the safety inspection and testing. Whenever the owners
of a building receive a summons for failing to comply with the five-year testing
requirements, owners in neighbouring buildings would immediately take compliance
action to have their electrical installations tested and certified. At the time
of writing, 58 prosecution cases had been taken against building owners in 2003.
We
monitor the two power companies to ensure a safe and reliable supply of electricity.
EMSD
enters into a cooperation arrangement with mainland authorities on E&M safety.
Chan
talks about his one-liner philosophy on service. He was commended by two owners'
corporations for his unreserved help in getting the electrical installations
of their buildings inspected, tested, and certified.
Code
of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring)
Regulations Updated
After 21 months of consultation with electrical contractors, workers and stakeholders
in the trade and having taken into consideration recent changes in technical
practices and local operating requirements, the Code of Practice for the Electricity
(Wiring) Regulations was updated and fine-tuned.
It serves to provide detailed guidance and practical tips for the trade in conducting
electricity wiring works such as new installations, additions and alterations.
The Code provides a practical and comprehensive reference for the trade.
Monitoring a Safe and Reliable Supply of Electricity
Hong Kong has in place a reasonably secure and robust electricity supply system
that achieves a high reliability of electricity supply exceeding 99.99 per cent,
which is among the highest in the world. The probability of occurrence of major
power failure is extremely low. In fact, major buildings and government facilities
in Hong Kong have emergency supply to back up essential equipment, and the two
power companies also have contingency plans to deal with major power outages.
EMSD, being a regulator of the electricity supply industry, monitors the safety
and reliability aspects of the two power companies' supply to meet the electricity
demand of each and every sector of the community.
