{"id":232940,"date":"2019-04-11T16:02:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T06:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=232940"},"modified":"2019-04-11T17:12:29","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T07:12:29","slug":"new-rules-for-solar-farms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/04\/11\/new-rules-for-solar-farms\/","title":{"rendered":"New Rules For Solar Farms"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_150163\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-150163\" style=\"width: 200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/grace-grace-200.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-150163\" src=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/grace-grace-200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/grace-grace-200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/grace-grace-200-171x300.jpg 171w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-150163\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>April 11, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A new Code of Practice and electrical safety regulations will begin next month to enhance safety in the growing commercial solar farm industry.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vision6.com.au\/ch\/15149\/2wfgvqj\/2813909\/nUhU2lwQVIByGkZsXN.IkpbxKncJokre4QamB55a.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Construction and Operation of Solar Farms Code of Practice 2019<\/a><\/strong> (922kb PDF) comes into effect on May 13.<\/p>\n<p>Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the Code, in conjunction with a new regulation, meant mounting, locating, fixing and removal of solar panels at solar farms can only be undertaken by licensed electricians.<\/p>\n<p>She said stakeholders had raised concerns about unlicensed workers mounting and removing live solar panels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese new regulations are all about ensuring we keep pace with new and emerging technologies and keep workers safe,\u201d Ms Grace said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSolar panels generate power as soon as they are exposed to light and cannot be isolated while they are being mounted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWorkers are at risk from electrocution and fires if solar panels are not properly earthed during installation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRemoving panels can be even more dangerous. These are not jobs for unlicensed workers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Code of Practice provides guidance to ensure safety at solar farms throughout their life cycle, including design, construction, operation and maintenance, and de-commissioning.<\/p>\n<p>It\u00a0 consolidates existing electrical and work health and safety requirements for solar farms.<\/p>\n<p>It includes information on what does, and does not, constitute electrical work and how designers, constructors and operators can comply with their existing safety duties.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It covers design of a solar farm to ensure:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Adequate documentation and sign off<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Safe connection to networks is identified before construction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Appropriate equipment selection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Design aspects for safe construction, operation and maintenance, and<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Safety considerations for de-commissioning at end of life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Other areas include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clarification of electrical work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Licensing and competency requirements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Supervision of people assisting an electrical worker<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Compliance with wiring rules<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Working near energised electrical parts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Earthing requirements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>High voltage safety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Arc flash<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Commissioning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Use of accredited auditors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Safe systems of work for operation, inspection and maintenance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>High risk construction work and licences, and<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Emergency planning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Code and Regulation apply to all solar farms, including new and existing solar farms, with total rated capacity of at least 100kW that are, or will be, operated as a business.<\/p>\n<p>This approach will ensure there is a level playing field for all participants and new entrants to the solar farm market, irrespective of the design or system used, and that consistent safety measures are adopted.<\/p>\n<p>The requirements only affect commercial solar farms and not residential solar installations or other renewable technologies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new Code of Practice and electrical safety regulations will begin next month to enhance safety in the growing commercial solar farm industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":150164,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,3,36],"tags":[1134],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.11 - 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