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Title / Wire electric switchboards
Level / 3 / Credits / 30
Purpose / This unit standard is intended for the training and assessment of people engaged in the manufacture of electric switchboards and covers the knowledge and skill required to install and terminate switchboard cables and wires.
People credited with this unit standard are able to:
–select cables, wires, and associated hardware for electric switchboards;
–install cables, wires, and associated hardware in electric switchboards;
–terminate cables and wires in electric switchboards;
–rectify switchboard design problems; and
–verify installation of switchboard cabling and wiring.
Classification / Electrical Engineering > Electric Switchboards
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard has been developed for learning and assessment on-job.
2References
Electricity Act 1992;
Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and associated regulations;
Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001;
AS/NZS 3000:2007, Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules), including Amendment 1;
AS/NZS 3439.4:2009, Low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies – Particular requirements for assemblies for construction sites (ACS);
New Zealand Electrical Codes of Practice (NZECP), ISSN 0114-0663 (available from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment);
and all subsequent amendments and replacements.
3Definitions
Industry practice – practice used and recommended by organisations involved in the electrotechnology industry.
Switchboard – low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies, the rated voltage of which does not exceed 1000 V a.c. at frequencies not exceeding 1000 Hz, or 1500 V d.c.
Wire electric switchboards – means to install and terminate cables and wires, progressing from the point where mechanical assembly of the switchboard has been completed.
4Range
All activities are to be conducted in accordance with applicable specifications, documented enterprise, legislative and/or regulatory requirements, and local bylaws as appropriate. Activities must also meet the requirements of the above in terms of personal, product, and work site safety.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Select cables, wires, and associated hardware for electric switchboards.
Evidence requirements
1.1Cable and wire types are either selected to match the job specification, or chosen to match the job requirements where they are not specified.
1.2Voltage and current ratings of cables and wires are either selected to match the job specification, or selected using standard tables to match the job requirements where they are not specified.
1.3Hardware associated with cabling is either selected to suit the job specification, or chosen to meet the job requirements where they are not specified.
Rangehardware – ducting, trunking, wiring looms, cable ties, busbars.
Outcome 2
Install cables, wires, and associated hardware in electric switchboards.
Evidence requirements
2.1Ducting and trunking are installed in accordance with specifications or industry practice.
2.2Cables and wires are run between termination points in accordance with specification or industry practice.
2.3Cables and wires are identified or labelled in accordance with specification or industry practice.
2.4Bending radii of cables conform to manufacturers' specification.
2.5De-rating factors in connection with bunching or grouping of conductors are applied in accordance with manufacturers' specifications.
Outcome 3
Terminate cables and wires in electric switchboards.
Evidence requirements
3.1Insulation is stripped without damaging conductors.
3.2Lugs and/or ferrules are fitted to match termination requirements and according to manufacturers' instructions.
3.3Terminations are secured according to industry practice and manufacturers' instructions.
3.4Progress of cable and wire termination is identified on the drawing in accordance with industry practice.
3.5Terminations requiring to be torqued are marked to show settings at required tensions.
Outcome 4
Rectify switchboard design problems.
Evidence requirements
4.1Cabling and/or wiring difficulties affecting either safety or design functions are communicated in a manner that permits investigation and remedy.
4.2Options are offered to overcome perceived cabling and/or wiring difficulties.
4.3Authority is obtained for variation to specifications.
Outcome 5
Verify installation of switchboard cabling and wiring.
Evidence requirements
5.1Terminations and interconnections are checked against specifications in accordance with job requirements and industry practice.
5.2Production documentation is completed to specification or in accordance with industry practice.
Replacement information / This unit standard was replaced by unit standard 29758.This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 31 August 1998 / 31 December 2013
Revision / 2 / 3 April 2001 / 31 December 2013
Revision / 3 / 12 March 2002 / 31 December 2013
Review / 4 / 20 March 2008 / 31 December 2021
Rollover and Revision / 5 / 15 March 2012 / 31 December 2021
Revision / 6 / 15 January 2014 / 31 December 2021
Review / 7 / 17 November 2016 / 31 December 2021
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0003
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
The Skills OrganisationSSB Code 100401 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut