Working in the wake of floods

During flood conditions, electrical hazards pose dangerous risks and can be fatal. Master Electricians Australia CEO Malcolm Richards is warning contractors about getting in over their heads doing floodwater repairs.

In the past 18 months, there have been a number of widespread and devastating flood events across the country. It’s imperative at times like these that electrical contractors act swiftly to get power back to where it’s needed and help people start rebuilding their lives.

As contractors in flood-stricken areas know, work piles up quickly and it’s critical that despite the extra pressure everything is done according to procedure, with a few additional factors taken into account.

Check before you reconnect

During floods, Master Electricians has worked very closely alongside energy distributors to ensure it gets power back to homes in the most time- and cost-effective way possible. It’s often required by law that before a distributor is permitted to reconnect flooded premises to the grid, an electrical contractor must inspect the property.

When contractors are called to a property that has been fully inundated by floodwaters, they should not reconnect power until the insulation and earthing tests have been passed. They should remind their customers that they may be eligible to reclaim the cost of their inspection under their insurance policy. Customers without insurance cover will need to pay you up front, but tell them to contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance line to determine if they are eligible to redeem those costs.

Given the trauma and costs many flood victims are struggling with, it’s understandable that people might be tempted to avoid calling an electrician to check on damaged appliances, but we certainly don’t want to see lives lost as a result of people plugging in water-damaged household items and hoping they will be okay.

If in doubt, replace it - promptly

Remember that even homes that appear safe and dry could have hidden electrical faults after floods. These may not appear for several weeks after the water has receded, but will continue to pose a risk if they go unnoticed.

Taking shortcuts with electrical safety is not the answer, and will only add further to the tragedy experienced across the country in recent months.

Once a switchboard or circuit breaker is submerged it must be replaced, in time, as it may become inoperable and pose a high safety risk. Residue left behind once the floodwaters have receded accelerates corrosion; and when grime builds up on internal elements it can cause hot spots and spark fires. Master Electricians also recommends replacing any power sockets, light switches, electrical fittings and cables that were submerged in floodwaters as there is a high probability of shorting, causing fire or electric shock.

At a time like this, it’s important for contractors to remind their customers that they should not engage unlicensed workers or DIY handymen to check water-affected electrical fittings and appliances as the risks to their safety are too great.

People need to know they cannot depend on friends, family or unlicensed handymen to perform this highly specialised work. Contractors need to remember that there’s a big difference between floodwaters going through a home and flooding from a leaky roof. Floodwater contains more contaminants than rainwater and leaves sediment behind.

Silt deposits left in systems after the flood event is over will remain even after the water has dried up, and they pose a threat to the health of residents in future.

Many homeowners will want to use their air-conditioning units soon after returning home, but remind them they must be inspected by an accredited air-conditioning mechanic and an electrician before use. Replacement is highly recommended due to contamination and health issues. Similarly, before the hot water system is used it must be tested by a professional and the water contained in it must also be inspected. You need to emphasise to customers that it is unsafe to use any electrical appliances like televisions, DVD players and stereos before they have been tested.

Be safe around solar panels

Contractors and homeowners need to be extremely careful around solar panel installations during floods. Solar panels do not turn off if the sun is still shining. They will continue producing electricity even if the distributor has cut off the power supply and even if the panels have been switched off at the switchboard. Even if they are isolated at the inverter, the cable is still live to the panels and should be treated as live until proved otherwise.

This creates a very dangerous situation for homeowners who are forced onto their rooftops to avoid floodwaters, as the solar panel and associated wiring is still live. With solar panels gaining popularity relatively recently, this is a problem on a scale we haven’t seen before, and they present a very real threat of death or serious injury if people come into contact with the wiring.

Suggest installing safety switches

For properties that require a major rewiring after the flood, it’s the best time to take the opportunity to install safety switches. Many consumers don’t realise that to achieve maximum protection, they need a safety switch on every circuit of every home. This means hot water, lighting, air conditioning and oven and stove - not just power points.

A safety switch is a relatively inexpensive device that saves lives across Australia every day, but unfortunately very few homes are fully protected. Master Electricians’ research has shown around 15 Australians are killed each year and 300 are hospitalised in electrical accidents in Australian homes which could have been prevented if safety switches were fitted.

While it’s not legislated to install safety switches on every circuit board of the house, it is strongly recommended that in this process contractors encourage their customers to upgrade to safety switches on all circuits to ensure the highest level of safety in future. In a flood or power outage, a safety switch will trip while a circuit breaker may not, meaning the circuit will be better preserved. The electrician should refer to the Wiring Rules regarding the requirements to install a safety switch. Flood-prone homes especially should have a safety switch installed on all circuits to prevent any future electrical accidents in floods.

The electrician is to refer to the Wiring Rules for inspection and testing installation wiring and fixed equipment. The test results should be in accordance with Section 8 of AS3000:2007. Some equipment may need to remain disconnected from supply while repair or replacement advice is sought from the equipment manufacturer.

For portable electrical equipment, the electrician must assess the damage and refer to the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760, after which the appropriate disposal of the equipment should be requested should it fail the required test. For electrical safety purposes rendering plug and cord equipment unsuitable for use could be achieved by twisting off the pins from the plug top.

Contractors should remind the customers that it’s important to check and test all conductive material - metal foil insulation and metal building material (sarking) located in the ceiling, roof or walls may have been damaged or dislodged and may present an electrical risk. Such material should always be treated as live until it has been proved safe. Likewise, thermal ceiling insulation may have become dislodged and present an electrical and/or fire risk.
 

Communicate the contract clearly

One of the key lessons for industry from the Brisbane floods particularly was around uncertain commercial issues. In times of crisis, communication between contractors and customers is often unclear. Last year, Master Electricians worked on a large-scale program to help Energex reconnect homes to power and supplying contractors to test circuits beforehand. In this period of emergency, extra factors were introduced like volunteers and Premier’s groups, which muddied the waters of communication.

It is essential that the contractors confirm contract conditions prior to starting work. When the contractors turn up to test and reconnect, they should make sure the requirements of the job are in writing. Even if it’s on the back of a postage stamp, it needs to be documented because a verbal arrangement won’t cut it. Contractors need to make it clear if they’ll be charging an hourly rate, charging a standard set fee, if they’re doing the work free of charge or having a third party pay for it such as a flood aid group.

There are still some unresolved accounts from 12 months ago where the customers assumed the work would be free but that was not the case. In one instance, a contractor agreed to replace an entire switchboard at a discounted price of $1700, which would normally be a $5000 job. But as there was no written contract or understanding on the consumer’s part, they have been fighting not to pay any of the cost ever since.

By Malcolm Richards, CEO, Master Electricians Australia. Richards was appointed CEO in July 2006 after spending six years with the Queensland Electrical Safety Office where his role included developing new electrical safety legislation. Richards has extensive experience in the electrical industry through 17 years working for Ergon Energy and previously NORQEB, based in Townsville. He is a qualified electrical fitter/mechanic/linesperson and has completed a Masters of Business Administration (MBA).