What is testing and tagging?

The process commonly referred to as ‘testing and tagging’ is a process of checking electrical equipment in accordance with the Australian Standard.

Electrical testing and tagging must be carried out in accordance to Australian standards outlined in AS/NZS 3760, by a competent, trained person. The test and tag process involves inspecting, electrically testing and then labelling and logging the electrical appliances. Testing and tagging to the Australian standards helps to ensure the safety of electrical equipment in the workplace and can dramatically reduce the risks of electrocution and fires.

ECO Test and Tag can carry out the testing process from start to finish and take all the hassle out for you. We provide you with detailed electronic reports and can provide email and phone reminders when appliances approach their retest date if you opt to.

Is there a grace period for test and tag? Yes, as per Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760:2022 there is an allowable tolerance of two weeks.

Is test and tag a legal requirement in Western Australia?

Yes, to fulfil their duty of care and comply with Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations, all workplaces in WA must ensure their electrical equipment is safe and regularly inspected, tested, and maintained.

In Australia we have laws that ensure business owners and managers have a duty of care to employees and visitors to the workplace. No one wants to be at fault for an incident that results in injury or even death. This is why it is so important business owners and managers comply with all relevant work health and safety regulations. The test and tag process improves the general safety of a workplace for the employers, employees and visitors within any given work environment. The test and tag process helps identify faulty equipment and therefore reduces the risk of serious injuries and ill health caused by faulty equipment.

The Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760 sets out the requirements for in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and outlines the frequency of inspections and tests that should be carried out. Testing and tagging in accordance with AS/NZS 3760 will help ensure businesses meet their WHS obligations.

How often does electrical equipment need test and tag?

Testing should be conducted at one month, three month, six month, one year, two year or five year intervals depending on the environment in which the equipment is in.

Remember, this is not our schedule, it is based on Australian Standard AS/NZ3760.

In most circumstances, the flowing frequencies would be advised, as per AS/NZS 3760:2022 Table 2.4 :

3 months - building, construction and demolition

6 months - factories, workshops and production

12 months - an environment where the equipment/supply cord is prone to flexing or open to abuse

5 yearly (60 months) - an environment where the equipment/supply cord is not prone to flexing or open to abuse

The period of time a tag lasts for will be assessed by the technician who conducts the testing process in accordance with Australian Standard, in consultation with the client. Many factors can affect equipment in any given environment, such as heat, moisture, dust, vibration, etc. which can cause damage to electrical equipment. These factors should be taken into consideration to determine when the appliance will need to be retested.

Click here to find out more about test frequencies for electrical equipment.

Fire equipment is generally tested at six month intervals or as otherwise stated in the relevant Australian Standards.

Do you provide a report?

Yes we do! Our electrical compliance report provides the results and details of each test conducted. In order to ensure that the information is available when required, it is vital all test results are properly recorded. Here at ECO Test and Tag our reports are provided in a PDF format via email or hard copy if requested.

It is recommend you keep any electrical report for at least the lifetime the equipment is in use. The electrical test and tag log can be used as part of risk assessment for your workplace.

Does new equipment need to be tested and tagged?

New to service equipment does not need to be electrically tested, however, all new to service equipment still requires a visual inspection and to be tagged. This procedure is outlined in AS/NZS 3760.

Click here to find out more by visiting our New To Service page

If you need new to service tags, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us or alternatively you can buy them online.

Test and Tag Colours WA

For the construction, demolition and mining industry the colour of the tags does matter. Refer to the list below for the current test and tag colours in Western Australia.

What are the test and tag colours WA?

The quarterly test and tag colours are:

RED
December
January
February

GREEN
March
April
May

BLUE
June
July
August

YELLOW
September
October
November

For construction sites the colour of the tag should identify the period in which the test was conducted. For example items tested in the September - November quarter should have yellow tags applied. The test is valid for 3 months, irrespective of whether it goes into the next period (which will generally be the case). In the following period you will often see the previous colour tags, but as long as they are still within 3 months they are valid, and meet the requirements of the Australian Standard.

For all other industries the colour of the tags are not regulated.

However, it's always a good idea to colour coordinate. Particularly if you have a range of different tags that require testing and tagging at different frequencies in one workplace, this will help to quickly identify when equipment is due. For example, if a site has a workshop that has 6 month tags, tag colour should vary from the 12 month tags in the office.

Does equipment need to be switched off to be tested?

Yes, electrical equipment does need to be shut down and unplugged for testing and tagging to be conducted. Our technicians connect the device under test to an electrical appliance tester and run a series of electrical tests to test earth resistance, insulation resistance, leakage current and polarity.

We know our customers are busy and that why we work with them to cause minimal disruption to their operations and offer after hour testing and tagging services for business that need it.

How much does testing and tagging cost?

Our test and tag prices are between $2.70 - $5.50 per single phase electrical item tested.

Use our instant online quote calculator or contact us now for a for a free quote.