WA Guidelines on the Application of the Health (Public Buildings) Regulations 1992

The SUGGESTED testing intervals for equipment is in table 4 in AS/NZS3760:2003, however you will find copies by searching the web, here is one site http://www.atts.com.au/intervals.htm . Please note the wording as you provide the risk analysis and determine your test interval. A community theatre will usually have its lighting on standard lighting bars, away from harms way, apart from overzelous set construction people, so will have two choices. The lead is not normally flexed during use, it is only flexed during rigging or focussing so could be 5 yearly, or because of said overzelous set construction people, could be 12 monthly as the appliance is open to abuse. Storage of unused lights will also affect this decision, are they hung up out of harms way? My suggestion, without prejudice etc, for low risk Community Theatre is two yearly test and tag providing you visually inspect every time before each use, if it is a low risk environment. This is because there is usually only one or if you are lucky, two people looking after community theatre lighting. In a school, definitley 12 monthly or less if necessary. If you have lots of unknown competence people using the lighting, then before every show starts rigging, a full visual inspection. See how quickly the intervals change to suit the risk. The Public Buildings guidelines mentions testing of a system of leads and portable outlet devices within six months of an electrical installation (building wiring), they are referring to patch panels, that are used to connect lights to dimmers with flexible leads. In WA you only need a contractors ticket to install permanent wiring. You need an electrical licence of some form, can be a restricted one, to carry out repairs of portable electrical appliances. In WA you only have to be a Competent person, aproved by the Responsible person, to test and tag. The committe is the responsible person in community theatre so in their minutes, they need to approve a Competent Person to test and tag their portables electrical appliances. Or they can hire someone to do it, but still need to ensure that that person or business know what they are doing. (We are choking in red tape most days) Keep asking questions, making comments, we will cover all bases yet.