1. When is an electrical licence required?
Electrical work licence and external licence equivalents
Section 55 of the Act requires a person who performs or supervises electrical work to hold a current electrical work licence which authorises the person to perform the work. Section 55(3) prescribes the circumstances when an electrical work licence is not required.
Schedule 1 of the Regulation prescribes external Australian and NZ licences taken to be equivalent to particular Queensland electrical work licences. A person performing electrical work within the authority of one of these current external licences is taken to hold an electrical work licence and is not legislatively required to apply for the equivalent Queensland licence. However, the external licence holder may apply for the equivalent Queensland licence on the basis of mutual recognition.
Electrical contractor licence and recognition of other business licences
Section 56 of the Act requires a person who conducts a business or undertaking that includes the performance of electrical work to hold a current electrical contractor licence. Sections 56(2) and (3) of the Act prescribe circumstances included and excluded within the scope of a business or undertaking that includes the performance of electrical work.
Note that a person who contracts for the performance of work that includes electrical work does not require an electrical contractor licence if the electrical work is intended to be subcontracted to the holder of an electrical contractor licence (s.56(3)(b), ESA 2002).For the conduct of a business or undertaking that includes the performance of electrical work, other than electrical installation work, a person is taken to hold an electrical contractor licence to the extent that the work is a necessary part of, or is incidental to, the performance of work under a current trade contractor's licence issued under the Queensland Building Services Authority Regulation 2003 (s.55A, ESR 2002). This section seeks to ensure that persons operating businesses licensed under the Building Services Authority legislation that carry out minor incidental electrical work are not required to be licensed twice.
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Example of application of s.55A, ESR 2002 A company which conducts the business of mechanical ventilation system maintenance will not require an electrical contractor's licence to perform the electrical work component of the repairs and maintenance if the business holds a refrigeration, air-conditioning and mechanical services licence issued by the Building Services Authority. |
Last updated 22 July 2009
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