Electrical Safety Act
The Electrical Safety Act, which came into force on 1 July 2017, contains requirements on how electrical installation work should be carried out, what competence the company carrying out the installation must have, how to ensure the competence of those carrying out the work, and requirements for self-inspection programmes for the operation. It is the electrical installation companies who are responsible for ensuring that these requirements are met.
The Electrical Safety Act aims to make it easier for customers, clients and consumers to find reputable electrical installation companies. Only reputable companies are allowed to carry out electrical installation activities. Such companies have registration, a self-monitoring program and an authorized electrical installer.
What does the law mean?
- All companies that carry out electrical installation work on someone else's premises must be registered with the Swedish Electrical Safety Authority.
- There must be an authorized electrical installer associated with the company.
- All electrical installation companies must establish a self-inspection program.
What is electrical installation work?
Section 4 of the Electrical Safety Act
1. to carry out, modify or repair an electrical power installation,
2. to permanently connect electrical equipment to a high-voltage installation, or
3. to disconnect electrical equipment from a high-voltage installation to which the equipment is permanently connected
What is a high-voltage installation?
A high-voltage electrical installation is a stationary installation for the production or transmission – but not consumption – of electricity.
- A solar cell plant
- A wind turbine
- A wiring network up to and including the wall socket
Work on electrical equipment is never electrical installation work.
- A stationary or non-stationary installation for the consumption of electricity
- Fixtures
- Electrical appliances
- Paper machines
What is electrical installation work?
- Installation and connection of cables and wires, including underground cables
- Installation and connection of equipment such as switches, sockets, group centers, boxes, etc.
- Installation of installation pipes, hidden or visible, if the purpose is to run FK in the pipe
- Erection of power line poles for bare wires
- Connecting underfloor heating cable
What is not electrical installation work?
- Installation of ducting such as cable ladders, window sill ducts.
- Installation of installation pipes if the purpose is to run cable in the pipe.
- Installation of cable pipes in the ground.
- Laying and installation of heating cable.
- Installation of fixtures, electric radiators and other electrical equipment that consumes electrical energy.
Why is it important to define electrical installation work?
Only what is considered electrical installation work needs to be included in the self-inspection program.
Self-monitoring program
Company organization
- Basic information about electrical installation activities
- Competencies
- Organization
- Follow-up
The ongoing operations
- The mission
- Facility knowledge
- Requirements determination
- Checkpoints
- Follow-up
Each company shall:
- Take stock of the business – what types of electrical installation work do we perform? In what types of business and areas?
- Inventory the skills of all employees who perform electrical installation work.
- Take inventory of the organization – What roles and positions do we have in the company?
- Appoint an electrician for regulatory compliance and the person who will administer the self-monitoring program. This can of course be the same person.
- Register the company with the Swedish Electrical Safety Authority. Tip: Have the designated electrical installer do this on behalf of the company.
Links
About the Electrical Safety Act – The Swedish Electrical Safety Authority
Company registration with the Swedish Electrical Safety Authority
