AS/NZS — Australian / New Zealand Electrical Standards
AS/NZS standards are jointly published by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand and adopted as the legal electrical-installation requirement in both countries. The flagship document — AS/NZS 3000 (the Wiring Rules) — is the equivalent of the NEC in the U.S. This page indexes site pages by AS/NZS clause for engineers working under Australian or New Zealand jurisdiction. Reviewed by a licensed PE.
AS/NZS clause cross-reference
site pages indexed by AS/NZS standard. Use this when verifying a calculator output against the regulator-mandated clause for Australian or New Zealand installations.
| AS/NZS clause | Topic | site pages |
|---|---|---|
| AS/NZS 3000:2018 | Wiring Rules — installation requirements | AC cables, Cable size (AS/NZS) |
| AS/NZS 3008.1.1 | Cable selection — current-carrying capacity tables | Cable size calculator, Wire size calculator, AC cables |
| AS/NZS 3008.1.2 | Cable selection — voltage drop calculations | Voltage drop calculator, Calculate voltage drop |
| AS/NZS 3017 | Verification by inspection and testing | Insulation rating chart |
| AS/NZS 3760 | In-service safety inspection (test-and-tag) | Insulation rating chart |
| AS/NZS 4777 | Grid-connected inverter requirements | Battery sizes |
| AS/NZS IEC 61439 | Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies | Three-phase reference |
| AS/NZS 1768 | Lightning protection | ASCE 7 hazard tool (US analogue) |
About AS/NZS standards
AS/NZS is the joint standards mark for documents published cooperatively by Standards Australia (Sydney) and Standards New Zealand (Wellington). Around 200 AS/NZS standards cover electrical installations and equipment. The Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000) is the foundational document — equivalent in scope to the U.S. NEC or the UK BS 7671. AS/NZS 3000:2018 is the current edition; new amendments are issued periodically.
AS/NZS standards differ from the NEC in three key ways. (1) Metric units throughout — cable sizes in mm², not AWG. (2) Additional installation-method classes (A1 through G) that derate ampacity for direct burial, free air, in tray, in conduit, etc. (3) Stronger emphasis on RCD (residual current device) protection — RCDs are mandated on every final sub-circuit feeding socket-outlets and lighting in residential premises since the 2018 update.
AS/NZS cable installation methods (3008.1.1)
| Method | Description | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| A1 / A2 | Single insulated conductors / multi-core in conduit in thermally insulated wall | Residential conduit through wall cavity |
| B1 / B2 | In conduit on or in masonry / wood | Surface conduit on brick |
| C | Direct on a wall, ceiling, or surface | Surface clipped cable |
| D1 / D2 | Direct buried / in buried conduit | Underground service |
| E | In free air on a perforated tray | Industrial cable tray |
| F | In free air on insulators | Overhead service drop |
| G | Spaced at least 1 × cable diameter apart | Switchgear bus risers |
Related standards
How to obtain AS/NZS standards
AS/NZS standards are sold by Standards Australia (store.standards.org.au) and Standards New Zealand (standards.govt.nz). Pricing typically AUD 200–500 per standard for the PDF. Universities and engineering firms usually maintain organisational subscriptions through SAI Global or a similar reseller. Many Australian licensed electrician courses include the Wiring Rules as part of the certification.
This Standard sets out requirements for the design, construction, and verification of electrical installations, including the selection and installation of electrical equipment forming part of such electrical installations.