RCD Requirements in Perth: Safety Switch Rules for Selling
RCD requirements are one of the most misunderstood parts of selling or renting a home in Perth, yet getting them wrong can stall a settlement or trigger a fine. Before a property changes hands in WA, it must meet specific RCD requirements. Here is how many safety switches you need, where they go, and who can fit them.
What is an RCD? An RCD, or residual current device, also called a safety switch, cuts the power in a fraction of a second if it detects electricity leaking to earth, such as through a person. That speed is what prevents fatal electric shocks, which is why RCD requirements exist for homes being sold, rented or hired in WA.
How many RCDs do you need? WA’s RCD requirements call for at least two RCDs fitted at the main switchboard, protecting all the final sub-circuits that supply socket outlets and lighting. Two is the minimum; larger homes with more circuits may need more, because each RCD can only protect a limited number of sub-circuits under the rules.
6 RCD requirements to know
- At least two RCDs are required at the main switchboard
- They must protect all socket-outlet and lighting circuits
- Portable plug-in RCDs do not meet the requirements
- Homes built after 2000 usually already comply
- A licensed electrician must install them
- They must be in place before settlement or a new tenancy
Portable RCDs do not count A common mistake is thinking a plug-in or portable RCD satisfies the rules. It does not. The RCD requirements call for fixed RCDs installed at the switchboard, protecting whole circuits, not a single appliance. Only properly installed switchboard RCDs meet the law in WA.
Newer homes vs older homes Homes built after 2000 generally already have RCDs and are likely to comply, though it is still worth confirming they work. Older Perth homes often have none, especially those with an old fuse box, and will need RCDs installed to meet the RCD requirements before they can be sold or rented.
Penalties and the demolition exemption Failing to meet the RCD requirements can bring penalties of up to $15,000, and far more for corporations, plus settlement delays. The one exception is where the buyer will demolish the home within six months and gives written notice before settlement, in which case RCDs need not be installed.
Who can install RCDs RCDs must be installed at the switchboard by a licensed electrician, never as a DIY job. An electrician confirms how many your home needs, fits them correctly, and can certify that the property meets the RCD requirements. The state’s Building and Energy RCD requirements explains the rules in full.
How they differ from fuses and breakers It is worth knowing that a safety switch is not the same as a fuse or circuit breaker. Fuses and breakers protect the wiring from overload, while a safety switch protects people from shock by detecting current leaking to earth. That is why an old board with only fuses, however well it works, does not meet the rules.
Testing your safety switches Every safety switch has a test button. Pressing it should cut the power instantly; if it does not, the device is faulty and needs a licensed electrician. It is good practice to test them every few months, and essential to confirm they work before a sale or new tenancy.
Selling or renting in Perth and not sure your safety switches comply?
ACS Electrical checks and installs RCDs to meet WA requirements across the metro. Explore our switchboard upgrades service, electrical safety certificate guide or smoke alarm requirements. Call 0419 967 838.
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