What has changed in the body-protected area rules

bpea.com.au: rules page, alterations page, New Zealand page, Updates page and sources on every state

What changed. Added the rule-by-rule page with section references, two more diagrams, the page on changing an existing practice, a classification record template, a New Zealand page, a sources box on every state page, this Updates page, and the About and Terms pages.

Where it applies. This site.

What it means for a practice. The whole guide now names AS/NZS 3003:2018 including Amendment 1:2019, and every state page shows the Act, regulation and certificate it relies on.

WA: Building and Energy publishes guidance on electrical work in medical centres

What changed. Building and Energy’s ‘Information for electrical licence holders’ now includes a page on electrical work in medical centres (updated 21 September 2026), pointing licence holders to AS/NZS 3003 for patient areas.

Where it applies. Western Australia.

What it means for a practice. WA now has regulator guidance you can show an electrician who hasn’t done patient-area work before.

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Queensland: Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 commences

What changed. The Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 replaced the 2013 regulation on 1 September 2026. The Electrical Safety Office says it introduces no new policy or obligations; the certificate of testing and compliance process continues as before.

Where it applies. Queensland.

What it means for a practice. Nothing to do. Documents that cite the 2013 regulation now refer to the 2026 one.

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NSW: every CCEW must now go through eCert

What changed. From 1 July 2026 a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work is lodged only through Building Commission NSW’s eCert portal.

Where it applies. New South Wales.

What it means for a practice. Check that the practice’s contact details are right on the job so the eCert copy reaches you, and keep it with the AS/NZS 3003 test results.

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NSW: CCEWs can be lodged through the eCert portal

What changed. Building Commission NSW opened its eCert portal for Certificates of Compliance for Electrical Work. Lodging through it was voluntary from 1 December 2025.

Where it applies. New South Wales.

What it means for a practice. Your electrician could start sending your CCEW through eCert; paper and PDF certificates were still accepted until July 2026.

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New Zealand regulations cite the amended AS/NZS 3003:2018

What changed. From 13 November 2025 the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 cite AS/NZS 3003:2018 including Amendment 1:2019 for installations in patient areas.

Where it applies. New Zealand medical and dental premises.

What it means for a practice. Work in a New Zealand patient area is now measured against the same amended edition used in Australia.

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Amendment 1 to AS/NZS 3003:2018 issued

What changed. Corrections and clarifications to the 2018 text. The standard was reissued incorporating the amendment, and the current edition is cited as AS/NZS 3003:2018 including Amendment 1:2019.

Where it applies. Every body-protected room in Australia and New Zealand.

What it means for a practice. Make sure your electrician and inspector are working from the amended edition, not the original 2018 print.

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AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules published

What changed. The general wiring rules that every installation follows. AS/NZS 3003 sits on top of them: the isolator for fixed equipment, RCD protection on ordinary circuits and the earthing a body-protected area uses all come from here. The 2018 edition has been amended since (2020, 2021 and 2023).

Where it applies. All electrical installations, Australia and New Zealand.

What it means for a practice. Nothing specific to body-protected areas, but your electrician works to both standards at once.

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AS/NZS 3003:2018 published, replacing the 2011 edition

What changed. The current edition of the patient areas standard. Compared with 2011: a room is classified from the procedures carried out in it; the practice (the ‘responsible organisation’) must document which areas are patient areas and how each is classified; any patient area that isn’t cardiac-protected must be body-protected; fixed equipment of 2.0 kW or more in a patient area means the whole area has to conform; the distance for protected outlets outside the entrance came down to 2.0 m; new clauses cover USB and other extra-low-voltage charging outlets, and alterations and additions; signs moved to Section 7 and routine testing to Section 8.

Where it applies. Every body-protected room in Australia and New Zealand.

What it means for a practice. Any guide, quote or fit-out spec that still cites AS/NZS 3003:2011 (or 2003) is out of date. Ask for work to AS/NZS 3003:2018.

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