RCD testing or Safety Switch Testing refers to the process of making sure that your RCD is going to trip or switch off quickly if an electrical incident occurs.
According to the Australian Standards, your RCD should trip as quickly as possible to minimize the effects of electrical shocks and problems. Therefore, you need a professional technician to ensure that your RCD is operating well.
Also, according to the standards, push-button testing should be performed to your RCD every 6 months.
Yes. According to AS/NZS 3760:2010, your RCD must be tested and tagged on a regular basis to make sure that it is going to respond quickly to different situations. If it did not respond, the situation may cause huge electrical problems including deaths.
The WHS regulations and AS/NZS 3760:2010 state that all businesses must have an RCD protection and business owners should test and tag it every 6 months.
To make sure that you have an RCD, open the switchboard, and see yourself. It is safe as long as you will not touch or remove anything.
Any hostile environment circuits must have an RCD.
RCD refers to Residual Current Device. It is also known as Safety Switches or ELCB, which means Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers.
The safety switch is attached to a circuit and it is supposed to monitor how the electricity in this circuit flows. Once something goes wrong with the flow of electricity, the safety switch detects it and switches the power off the circuit quickly to minimize the risks.
RCDs can be installed directly inside your distribution boards or be portable.
Workplaces without RCDs are dangerous. A minor electrical fault can be fatal and may cause extensive electrical damages.
It is already mandatory to install RCDs in workplaces according to the AS/NZS 3760:2010, but you should install them for the safety of your people and workplace.
In fact, no, they are not. RCDs protect against electrical leakages from the circuits only. There are still other electrical problems that can occur. Therefore, you need to test and tag your appliances and have a professional team to check your workplace on a regular basis.
There are two types of portable RCDs; the ones that look like power boards and the ones with a single power outlet. Both have an internal RCD that detects the flow of electricity in the circuit and trips if leakage occurs while using it.
Portable RCDs are effective and trip in less than 30 milliseconds. They can be used for inside and outside businesses. They are life-saving and prevent electric shocks, but they also need to be tested and tagged on a regular basis.
Of course, they do. Portable RCDs must be tested and tagged on a regular basis to make sure that they are going to respond to electrical faults within the proper time frame. If they did not trip as required, extensive electric shocks and damages can occur.
At The Local Guys, we have professional technicians who can check if your workplace has an RCD or not. Also, we test and tag your RCD to make sure that it responds properly and within the required time frame. In addition, we make sure that your workplace complies with Australian standards.
Contact us if you need more information.