224Construction of underground consumer's mains

224 Construction of underground consumer's mains

(1) Underground consumer's mains that run from the property boundary to the building or structure housing the protective equipment (the relevant portion) must be buried to a depth of at least 500 millimetres below the surface of the ground.

(2) The relevant portion must be—

(a) suitable for use underground; and

(b) enclosed in—

(i) a compliant heavy duty non-metallic conduit; or

(ii) a medium or heavy galvanised steel tube that complies with AS 1074.

(3) In the case of a relevant portion that is a multi‑core or neutral screen cable, the relevant portion must be—

(a) enclosed in—

(i) a compliant heavy duty non-metallic conduit; or

(ii) a medium or heavy galvanised steel tube that complies with AS 1074; or

(b) provided with mechanical cover in accordance with regulation 225.

(4) Underground consumer's mains must, from the point that the consumer's mains are connected to the distribution supply network to the electrical installation's first protection device, be—

(a) comprised of double insulation; or

(b) a neutral screen cable with any conductor cores of the cable that are not enclosed by the outer sheathing of the cable (the exposed cores) double insulated in accordance with subregulation (5).

(5) For the purposes of subregulation (4)(b), the exposed cores must be double insulated—

(a) in the case of exposed cores connected to the distribution supply network, up to the point of that connection; or

(b) in the case of exposed cores connected to an electrical installation, up to the electrical installation's first protection device.

(6) Subregulation (1) does not apply to the transitional portion of the underground consumer's mains if that transitional portion is—

(a) enclosed as required under subregulation (2)(b); or

(b) provided with additional mechanical cover in accordance with regulation 225.