Carrying out work in or entering domestic roof spaces
There are serious electrical safety risks in domestic roof spaces.
Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and workers are legally required to comply with additional safety measures when carrying out work in or otherwise entering the roof space of a domestic building.
PCBUs and workers must ensure that before carrying out work in or otherwise entering the roof space of a domestic building either:
- the relevant electrical installations for the building are de-energised or
- a prescribed circumstance applies and additional safety requirements are complied with.
To de-energise the relevant electrical installations for the building turn off all the power at the main switchboard.
Whether you are a homeowner, tenant, PCBU or a worker, there is one simple thing you can do to make it safer before you go up into the roof space - turn off all the power at the main switchboard.
Resources which may be useful to PCBUs and workers include:
- a webinar providing an overview of the requirements for carrying out work in or entering the roof space of a domestic building.
PCBUs and workers must be familiar with all legislative obligations under both the electrical safety framework and work health and safety framework.
For information on how to enter ceiling spaces, including the roof spaces of non-domestic buildings, visit ceiling spaces.
Before carrying out work in or entering the roof space
Before carrying out the work or entering the domestic roof space the PCBU and worker must identify whether the relevant electrical installation for the domestic building can be de-energised or a prescribed circumstance applies.
De-energising the relevant electrical installation
PCBUs must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that a worker does not carry out work in or enter the roof space of a domestic building unless either:
- the relevant electrical installations for the building are de-energised; or
- a prescribed circumstance applies and additional safety requirements are complied with.
Workers must also ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the worker does not carry out work in or enter the roof space unless the relevant electrical installations for the building are de-energised; or a prescribed circumstance applies.
A licensed electrical worker is not needed to de-energise an electrical installation. To de-energise the electrical installation you can switch off the power at the main switchboard for the building.
How to switch off the power
- Ask the owner/person in control of the building for the location of main switchboard.
- Identify and confirm all sources of electricity to the property – there may be more than one source or multiple properties powered from the same meter box.
- Locate the main switch or switches.
- Switch OFF all power at the main switchboard by turning off the main switch(es).
- If possible, place a lockout tag on the main switches(es) or lock the switchboard itself.
- Use a commercially available device, tag or label to indicate the switches have been turned off to facilitate entry into the roof space so someone else doesn't turn them back on while you're working in the roof.
- Always let someone know you're going up into the roof space and the expected time you will be in the roof space.
- Non-electrical workers must not attempt to remove the fuses.
- Before entering the roof space confirm the power is off by trying to turn on lights or appliances within the property as a check.
If you are a PCBU you can take steps to ensure that the customer is aware that the power will be off whilst workers are carrying out work in or are otherwise in the roof space. This includes:
- alerting and reminding the customer that your work requires the power to be off and for how long.
- informing the customer about the dangers of working in energised roof spaces.
As a homeowner or tenant, know that workers are required to turn off the power in order to work in or enter your roof space. Steps you can take to be prepared for the power to be turned-off include:
- knowing where your switchboard is located.
- charging phones and laptops in advance.
- negotiating a time for the work or entry to be done that suits your work or family needs.
You can place also a sticker on the manhole leading into the roof space to remind everyone to turn the power off before entering the roof space.
Prescribed circumstances – what are the circumstances?
To decrease electrical risk most effectively, relevant electrical installations in the building should be de-energised.
However, where the following prescribed circumstances apply work or entry may occur in a roof space with an energised electrical installation:
- it is not reasonably practicable to carry out the work or entry while the relevant electrical installations are de-energised; or
For example: the building has a solar panel installed on the roof. Part of the relevant electrical installation which contains the supply cable from the solar panel, remains energised even when the power is turned-off at the main switchboard.
- the thing (non-electrical equipment) needs to be energised in order to test, service or commission the thing.
For example: a roof mounted air extraction system where adjustments may be required on the extra low voltage temperature control unit.
Note that where electrical work is energised electrical work, the requirements for electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment apply instead. See Part 3, Division 1 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. |
If either of the prescribed circumstances apply PCBUs must comply with additional safety requirements as outlined in Part 6, Division 7 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.
Prescribed circumstances – what are the additional safety requirements?
PCBUs are required to comply with the additional safety requirements outlined in Part 6, Division 7 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. The below checklist details the steps that must be taken.
Checklist | Tick |
1. A PCBU must ensure that a risk assessment is conducted. | |
2. A PCBU must be satisfied that the risks have been identified by the risk assessment are or can be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable, and that the work or entry can be carried safely. | |
3. A PCBU must ensure that a statement for the work or entry (statement) is prepared. The statement must:
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4. A PCBU must ensure that the work or entry is carried out in accordance with the statement. | |
5. A PCBU must keep a record of a risk assessment for at least 28 days after the work. The record must be available for inspection under the Act. | |
6. A PCBU must keep a record of a statement until the work it relates to is completed. The record must be available for inspection under the Act. | |
7. If there is a serious electrical incident or dangerous electrical event for the work – a record of a risk assessment and statement of work must be kept for at least 2 years after the incident occurs. The record must be available for inspection under the Act. |
Even where prescribed circumstances apply, the statement should identify whether identified risks can be managed by turning off the power to all circuits except the one needed for use.
Make sure circuits are protected by a safety switch, and don't forget to test the safety switch before going up into the roof space.
During the work or entry into the roof space
All work or entry
Use cordless tools and torches.
Even where the power has been turned off continue to avoid contact with electrical cables and equipment. There may be overhead supply line cables or extra low voltage solar PV cables running through the roof space which may be energised.
If you identify any issues with cables or wires in the roof space, or suspect they may be damaged, immediately exit the roof space and alert the customer.
Never do electrical work if you are not a licensed electrical worker - it's illegal and can invalidate home insurance. Installing or repairing electrical equipment or cables must only be done by a licensed electrician.
Carrying out work or entry in a prescribed circumstance
Any work in or entry into the roof space must occur in accordance with the statement for the work or entry. This includes using the correct tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the task.
If you identify a risk or hazard that you had not previously identified you must immediately withdraw and update your risk assessment and statement. This should be in line with how your measures to control the risks are monitored and reviewed as described in the statement.
Other hazards
When carrying out work in or entering the roof space of a building you may be exposed to other work health and safety hazards, such as: dust, heat, biological hazards and falling from heights. Learn more about how to identify, assess and control your other work health and safety hazards when working in ceiling spaces.
After the work or entry is completed
All work or entry
Once your work or entry is complete, remember to:
- replace any insulation material that may have moved during work - make sure it’s clear of any electrical fittings or equipment, especially downlights.
- dispose of debris and waste appropriately.
- wash your hands, face, neck and hair, with soap and water.
Only re-energise the relevant electrical installation (turn the power on) once you have confirmed that no one is in the roof space.
Work or entry in prescribed circumstances
PCBUs must keep:
- a risk assessment – for 28 days after the work or entry is completed.
- a statement – until the work or entry is completed.
If there is a serious electrical incident or dangerous electrical event linked to the work or entry, the PCBU must retain the risk assessment and statement for at least 2 years.
Note that PCBUs must comply with an inspectors request to view or access the risk assessment and statement.
FAQs
The requirements apply to the following building classes as provided for under the Building Code of Australia:
- Class 1 - residential buildings such as houses, town houses, row houses. This also captures boarding houses and guest houses, as well as hostels with a floor area less than 300m2 and ordinarily having less than 12 people living in them.
- Class 2 - apartment buildings.
- Class 10b - non-habitable buildings such as sheds, carports and private garages.
A roof space refers to the space in the domestic building which is:
- immediately under the roof or
- if there is a ceiling under any part of the roof – the space between the roof and the ceiling, including the ceiling structure.
A roof space does not include habitable areas of the roof space. For example: a space that has been re-purposed for storage, as a bedroom or activity room.
If a person determines that a roof space is an isolated roof space and an electrical installation is an isolated electrical installation, the requirements for work or entry only apply to the extent of the isolated roof space and isolated electrical installation.
An isolated roof space refers to the part of a roof space that is separate from 1 or more other parts of the roof space of building, and cannot be accessed from any other part of the building’s roof space.
An isolated electrical installation refers to the relevant electrical installation for the building in the isolated roof space that is capable of being de-energised in isolation from any other relevant electrical installation in the building.
These requirements apply to all types of work that occurs in or requires entry into a domestic roof space.
Examples of work that may occur include:
- gas fitting
- plumbing
- electrical work (including air-conditioning installation)
- installation, upgrade or removal of insulation
- building security
- structural work
- pest control
- telecommunications and data cabling
- roof and ceiling repair.
Where a licensed electrical worker is performing electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment, the requirements for electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment apply instead.
Carrying out work in or otherwise entering a roof space refers to a situation where you enter a domestic property for the purposes of doing work (including for a preliminary quote or inspection), and whilst at the place any part of you enters the roof space. This includes where you:
- enter the roof space in order to access the roof
- thread a wire through a hole in the roof space
- stick your head through the roof space entry point to visually inspect the roof space.
Work in commercial buildings is generally not included. However, where a building is a class 1 building under the Building Code of Australia the requirements do apply (e.g., boarding houses, guest houses and smaller hostels).
When carrying out work in or otherwise entering a roof space of a commercial building, PCBU and workers should take all necessary steps to ensure that workers are safe when carrying out the work or entry.
Yes, where work is carried out or otherwise an entry made into the roof space of a building these new requirements apply.
The building’s relevant electrical installation must, so far as reasonably practicable, be de-energised before you carry out work in or otherwise enter the roof space. To de-energise it is suggested that you turn the power off at the main switchboard for the building.
Only two exemptions (prescribed circumstances) apply to this requirement. This is where:
- it is not reasonably practicable to carry out the work or entry whilst the building’s electrical installation is de-energised; or
- it is necessary for the electrical installation to be energised in order to test, service or commission an energised thing.
If you are not satisfied that either of these two exemptions apply you must not perform the work or entry.
PCBUs and workers are encouraged to be proactive in communicating with customers to ensure there are no issues about turning the power off when they attend a site.
No. The electricity supply can generally be turned off by flicking off the main switch on a building’s switchboard. An electrician is not needed to do this.
Remember that even though you have flicked the main switch, electricity may still be running through the installation for a while after. You can check whether the electrical installation is de-energised by flicking a light switch on.
A solar installation remains energised even where you have turned off the electrical supply at the main switch. The solar panel and the supply cable remain energised, presenting a risk to a person carrying out work in or otherwise entering a roof space.
Where you are carrying out work in or entering a roof space that has a solar panel installed on the building a prescribed circumstance (being it is not reasonably practicable to carry out the work or entry while the electrical installation is de-energised) may apply. If a prescribed circumstance applies, you must comply with the additional safety requirements detailed above. In measures to reduce hazards, you may determine that turning off the power at the main switch is an appropriate measure.
As a standard, where any worker carries out work or otherwise enters the roof space of the building, the relevant electrical installations must be de-energised.
Where the work is or becomes electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment, requirements for electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment (energised electrical work) apply instead.
If you require the power on to do electrical work, requirements for electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment apply.
If you need power to do non-electrical work in the roof space (being where it is necessary to test, service or commission a thing (other than electrical equipment) which needs to be energised then the power can stay on. However, you will need to comply with the additional safety requirements for prescribed circumstances.
If you only need power for tools or lighting, the building’s electrical installation must be de-energised. Battery-powered tools and lighting equipment must be used instead.
Any entry into the roof space of a domestic roof space triggers the requirements for carrying out work in or entering the roof space of a domestic building. Entering a roof space includes placing any part of a person’s body in the roof space.
A risk assessment involves identifying any hazards, assessing the risks from the identified hazards, identifying ways to control the risks, and ensure that controls are in place and effective.
A statement for the work or entry (statement) involves:
- identifying the work or entry
- specifying the hazards associated with the work and risks associated with the hazards
- describing what measures are to be taken to control the risk
- describing how the measures are going to be implemented, monitored and reviewed.
When completing the work or entry, PCBU must ensure that workers do so in accordance with the statement.
Risk assessments and statements must be retained by the PCBU for the following durations and be made available to a request for inspection under the Electrical Safety Act 2002:
- risk assessment – at least 28 days after the work or entry is completed
- statement – until the work or entry is completed.
Where a serious electrical incident or dangerous electrical event occurs, PCBUs must retain both the risk assessment and statement for at least 2 years.
PCBUs are responsible for ensuring that risk assessments and statements for the work or entry are completed for work or entry undertaken in accordance with a prescribed circumstance.
A risk assessment and statement apply until the work or entry to which it relates is completed.
The statement must describe the methods identified to control the risks and how the measures are to be implemented, monitored and reviewed. A change to a hazard, tasks, things, workers and circumstances that may expose persons to greater, additional or different risks – should trigger a review of the statement.
To assist PCBUs to prepare risk assessments and statements additional information, visit managing risks.
New laws come into effect from 1 January 2025, introduced by the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024.
Both workers and PCBUs have duties to ensure that workers do not carry out work in or otherwise enter the roof space of a domestic building unless the relevant electrical installations are de-energised or prescribed circumstances apply.
Where a building’s electrical installation remains energised (where it meets a prescribed circumstance) PCBUs must comply with the additional safety measures provided in legislation to ensure that workers are safe when carrying out work in or entering roof spaces with an energised electrical installation.
Note that penalties apply for non-compliance.
Further, from 1 July 2025, inspectors will be able to issue a penalty infringement notice where a PCBU fails to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that either the relevant electrical installations are de-energised or prescribed circumstances apply, before a worker carries out work in or enters the roof space.
Yes, there are penalties for both PCBUs and workers who fail to comply with the relevant legislative obligations for carrying out work in or entering the roof space of a domestic building.
PCBUs may incur a maximum penalty of 60 penalty units ($6,000) for failing to:
- ensure work or entry only occurs in accordance with the legislation
- comply with additional safety requirements (e.g., risk assessment and statement) where work occurs under a prescribed circumstance
- make and retain records for the required periods of time.
Workers may incur a maximum penalty of 15 penalty units ($1,500) for failing to ensure work or entry only occurs in accordance with the legislation.
PCBUs and workers should also be aware that failing to comply with other requirements under the electrical safety framework and work health and safety framework may also attract penalties.
Additional resources
Standards and compliance
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
- Electrical Safety Act 2002
- Electrical Safety Regulation 2013
Related links
- The story of Dale Kennedy
- Work health and safety risks in ceiling spaces