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in domestic premises
Australian Standard

Adequate electrical installations

AS 3006—1982
 The following scientific, industrial and governmental organizations and departments
were officially represented on the committee entrusted with the preparation of this
standard:

Association of Consulting Engineers, Australia

Australian Electrical Manufacturers Association
Australian Federation of Consumer Organizations
Confederation of Australian Industry
Department of Housing and Construction
Electrical Contractors Associations of Australia
Electrical Trades Union of Australia
Electricity Supply Association of Australia
Institute of Electrical Inspectors
Institution of Engineers, Australia
Insurance Council of Australia
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This standard, prepared by Committee EL/1, Wiring Rules, was approved on behalf of
the Council of the Standards Association of Australia on 3 November 1981, and was
published on 25 January 1982.

Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are subject
to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editi ons as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest editi on, and any
amendments thereto.
Full detail s of all Australi an Standards and related publications wil l be found in the Standards Australia
Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine ‘The Australi an
Standard’, which subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publications, new editi ons
and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.
Suggesti ons for improvements to Australian Standards, addressed to the head offi ce of Standards Australia,
are welcomed. Noti fi cati on of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australi an Standard should be made
without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 80197.

 AS 3006—1982

Australian Standard
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ADEQUATE ELECTRICAL
INSTALLATIONS IN DOMESTIC
PREMISES

First publi shed (as AS CC12) . . .. .. . . .. .. .. 1968

Reprinted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . . .. ... . 1969
Reprinted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . . .. ... . 1972
Reprinted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . . .. ... . 1978
Revised and issued as AS 3006 .. . .. . . . .. ... 1982

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 2453 7
 AS 3006—1982 2

PREFACE

This standard was prepared by a subcommittee of the Association’s Committee on

Wiring Rules. It supersedes AS CC12-1968.
The preparation of this standard was undertaken in the light of experience gained in
the application and use of AS CC12 and, in particular, the adoption by electricity
supply authorities of adequate domestic wiring schemes in which the recommendations
of minimum requirements were generally more specific and demanded a higher level
of adequacy than those of AS CC12.
The changes from AS CC12 incorporated in this standard include special provisions
for the size and type of dwelling, number and distribution of lighting and power points
on a room area basis and separate provisions for ‘all-electric’ installations and for
electrical installations where other sources of energy are installed for heating and
cooking purposes.
It is not intended that the standard be applied as a minimum requirement for electrical
installations in domestic premises unless referred to or incorporated in building
specifications, legal documents, regulations or contracts. Furthermore the standard is
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not intended as a replacement for AS 3000, SAA Wiring Rules, which stipulates the
minimum safety requirements relating to electrical installations in buildings.
This standard requires reference to the following standards:
AS 1680 Code of Practice for Interior Lighting and the Visual Environment
AS 3000 SAA Wiring Rules

 Copyri ght STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Users of Standards are reminded that copyri ght subsists in all Standards Australi a publications and soft ware. Except where the
Copyri ght Act all ows and except where provided for below no publications or software produced by Standards Austr alia may be
reproduced, stored in a retri eval system in any form or transmitt ed by any means without pri or permission in wri ti ng fr om
Standards Australi a. Permission may be conditi onal on an appropriate royalt y payment. Requests for permission and information on
commercial soft ware royalti es should be dir ected to the head off ice of Standards Australi a.
Standards Australi a wil l permit up to 10 percent of the technical content pages of a Standard to be copied for use
exclusively in-house by purchasers of the Standard without payment of a royalty or advice to Standards Austr alia.
Standards Australi a wil l also permit the inclusion of its copyri ght material in computer soft ware programs for no royalt y
payment provided such programs are used exclusively in-house by the creators of the programs.
Care should be taken to ensure that material used is fr om the current editi on of the Standard and that it is updated whenever the
Standard is amended or revised. The number and date of the Standard should therefore be clearly identif ied.
The use of material in pri nt form or in computer soft ware programs to be used commercially, with or without payment, or in
commercial contracts is subject to the payment of a royalty. This policy may be vari ed by Standards Austr alia at any ti me.
 3 AS 3006—1982

CONTENTS
Page

FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

SECTION 1. SCOPE AND G ENERAL

1.1 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3 Compliance with Regulations . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SECTION 2. GENERAL I NSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

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2.1 Installation of Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 6

2.2 Switchboards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 6
2.3 Metering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 6
2.4 Appliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 6

SECTION 3. FINAL SUBCIRCUITS OF L IGHTING POINTS AND POWER POINTS

3.1 Lighting Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 Power Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

SECTION 4. ALL -E LECTRIC INSTALLATION

4.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... ... 9
4.2 Consumers Mains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............. 9
4.3 Submains in Single Dwellings and Supplying
Individual Living Units in a Multiple Installation . . . . .. .. . . . .. 9
4.4 Voltage Drop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. 9
4.5 Circuits for Fixed Appliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. 9
4.6 Plug Sockets 15A and 20A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. 9

SECTION 5. PART ELECTRIC I NSTALLATION

5.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.2 Consumers Mains and Submains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.3 Plug Sockets 15A and 20A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

APPENDICES
A Guide to the Planning of Lighting Arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
B Guide to the Selection of Equipment and Appliances . . . . . . . . . 15
 AS 3006—1982 4

STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
for
ADEQUATE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS IN DOMESTIC PREMISES

FOREWORD

Statistics of electricity supply authorities and electrical manufacturers clearly indicate

the continuing rise in demand for electricity in domestic premises.
Too frequently, dwellings such as homes and home units are provided with an
electrical installation of a capacity sufficient only to provide for immediate
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requirements and having no margin to cope with an increase in the supply of electricity
necessary for the operation of additional electrical appliances.
Irrespective of the size of mains or the adequacy of final subcircuits in existing
premises, the occupants purchase and use an increasing number and variety of
appliances. In many cases this is done with an innocent lack of knowledge of the
capacity of the installation and, unfortunately, often with a complete disregard for the
dangers of improvization by using many appliances from one power point. It is most
important, therefore, at the time of planning the construction of the building, that
adequate provision should be made for all the electrical services which may be
required immediately and during the intended useful life of the building, otherwise the
householder may be forced to make use of adaptors and thereby risk overloading the
circuits.
The need, at some later stage in the life of the building, to extend and increase the
electrical installation may involve structural problems. In multiple dwellings, wiring
alterations may be difficult because the wiring is frequently encased in the building
with little or no facility provided to make it reasonably accessible for modification or
extension. In these buildings, the attendant structural problems, usually involved when
the electrical installation is to be extended or increased in capacity, may make even
minor alterations expensive.
This standard has been prepared in an effort to ensure that the electrical installation
in domestic premises is adequate to enable occupants to enjoy normal use of electrical
appliances without inconvenience and has been written in a form so as to be suitable
for reference to, or incorporation in, building specifications by those concerned with
the construction of single and multiple dwellings. It provides advice on the distribution
and positioning of lighting and power points for effect, comfort, convenience and
security, and is recommended as a guide for those planning a home.
 5 AS 3006—1982
SECTION 1. SCOPE AND GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE. This standard sets out requirements for
electrical installation in domestic dwellings to
facilitate the satisfactory performance of household
electrical appliances.
The minimum requirements necessary to ensure safety
from fire and electric shock are contained in AS 3000,
and are not dealt with in this standard.
1.2 APPLICATION. The requirements in this
standard are those which are considered essential to
meet the foreseeable needs of an average household.
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Sections 1, 2 and 3 apply to the electrical installation
in all domestic dwellings. Section 4 applies to installa-
tions where all appliances are to be electrically
operated. Section 5 applies to installations in which a
major appliance, such as a range or water heater,
utilizes an alternative energy source. Appendices A
and B are advisory only. Appendix A applies to
lighting facilities, types of luminaries, controls and
arrangements, and Appendix B applies to the selection
of power appliances.
1.3 COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS.
Every installation shall comply with AS 3000, which
with this standard, shall be read in conjunction with
the regulations and any special requirements of the
Statutory Authority.
1.4 DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this standard,
the definitions in AS 3000 and the following
definitions apply.
1.4.1 Domestic dwelling—a single residence
individual flat or individual home unit but not
including a caravan, motel, hotel, boarding house,
hospital or other like residential premises.
COPYRIGHT
1.4.2 Habitable room—a room having a minimum
floor area of 7.5 m 2 that is designed, constructed or
adapted for activities associated with domestic
living.
NOTES:
1. This defi niti on includes any bedroom, li ving room,
lounge room, music room, television room, kitchen,
dining room, sewing room, study, playroom,
sunroom and the like, but excludes any bathroom,
laundry, toilet, food storage pantr y, walk-i n
wardrobe, corr idor, (passage) hallway, lobby,
photographic darkroom, clothes-drying room and
other spaces of a specialized nature occupied neither
fr equently nor for extended peri ods.
2. Special considerati on is required in respect of a
kitchen (see Clauses 3.1.1.2, 3.2.2.7 and 3.2.3.2).
1.4.3 Power point—any plug socket having a
current rating of not less than 10 A and not more
than 20 A. This includes any plug socket of a 10 A
multiple combination switch plug socket assembly,
general purpose outlet, or any special purpose outlet.
1.4.4 Lighting point—the termination of fixed
wiring specially intended for the connection of a
light fitting.
1.4.5 Provision for—the provision of additional
capacity in final subcircuits and the installation of
any conduit or draw wire or other requirement to
facilitate the ready installation of wiring.
1.4.6 Small dwelling—a domestic dwelling having
not more than four habitable rooms, one of which
may include a kitchen.
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AS 3006-1982, Adequate electrical installations in

domestic premises
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