Archicentre

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, said illegal wiring can become a dangerous and expensive liability to the new home buyer.

Ian Agnew, Archicentre's ACT & NSW State Manager said from an Archicentre survey of more than 100,000 homes inspected across Australia, 30.52% of homes have electrical wiring issues.

Mr Agnew said a number of homes have electrical faults - in many cases with older homes this is very old, often bare wiring. In some cases it is illegal wiring where previous owners have installed their own power points and wiring systems.

"Illegal wiring is a threat to the inhabitants and visitors in addition to any tradespeople asked to work on the property. People doing this wiring or allowing it to be done are gambling their lives and the lives of family and visitors, leaving themselves open to serious injury from electrocution or significant legal issues".

Mr Agnew said major problems can exist with older homes where old wiring had deteriorated and had not been replaced. There can also be problems with vermin in older homes. Rats and mice can eat through the insulated wiring in the roof and floor spaces.

"One of the tell tale signs about the condition of wiring in a home can be seen where there are burn marks on power points".

"Roof spaces can also cause major problems, especially if faulty wiring comes into contact with combustible materials, fuelling a fire above the smoke alarm which can leave residents unaware of the fire above their heads until it is well advanced."

The Federal Government's $2.45 billion Home Insulation Scheme highlighted the problems of faulty insulation installation by installers where house fires may have been caused through the disturbance of electrical wiring and protective heat shields, Mr Agnew said. The program had dramatically highlighted the problem of homes without the life saving safety switches.

"New homes and renovations by law are required to install electrical safety switches to minimize the risk of electrocution, however, the issue occurs in older and heritage style homes. The protection these electrical safety switches offer extends to everyone in the home using an electrical appliance.

"An electrical safety switch monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit. It detects a problem as soon as the current leaves the circuit, and turns the power off within 0.03 of a second. This is quick enough to help save your life and help prevent costly fires or damage to your property.

"Home buyers have been urged to ensure that Residual Current Devices (RCDs) electrical safety switches are installed in any home they purchase."

If you are having an electrician alter the wiring on an existing home, for example putting in extra power points for new appliances, Archicentre suggests the electrician also install electrical safety switches in the main switchboard for your protection.

Archicentre's Electrical Safety Check List
•   Never undertake your own electrical work unless you are a qualified electrical contractor. It is illegal and dangerous to do so.
•   Use a registered licensed electrical contractor for all electrical wiring work.
•   Have the electrician install safety switches on all power and light circuits in the home.
•   Minimise the use of double adapters and power boards in the home, as they can overload power points. Have the electrician install enough permanent power points so the temporary double adapters and power boards can be removed. Remove all extension leads as they can cause tripping hazards for the elderly.
•  When not in use, electric blankets should remain off, especially when the house is unoccupied.
•  Eradicate any vermin. Rats and mice can eat through the insulated wiring in the roof and floor spaces and ants like to nest in power points.

Mr Agnew said if you are looking at purchasing a home, request the real estate agent show you the official certification of any tradespeople who have worked on the renovation and undertaken electrical, plumbing or building works.

"Failure to be able to produce such paper work should sound warning bells".

Archicentre's cost guide available at www.archicentre.com.au outlines the cost of renewing wiring.

"Once you sign on the dotted line you are accepting the legal liabilities of the property."

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, Archicentre - (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201