Earlier this year SPASA members received advice from the Queensland Electrical Safety Office via a QLD eSAFE Electrical – bulletin highlighting changes which came into effect on 1 April 2025 defining water equipment as prescribed electrical equipment under Queensland’s Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.
The initial guidance material provided conflicting information for industry which caused confusion, particularly for the installation, repair, and replacement of pool lights.
SPASA highlighted the issue to members via its newsletter and website, see QLD Electrical changes cause confusion (9 April 2025).
Since then, SPASA has been working with the ESO, with the assistance of SPASA members, to understand what the real-world implications of the changes are, the intent of the changes, and to provide advice on the preferred outcomes.
SPASA has now received the ESO’s Guidance Note – Water Equipment. This note explains the changes in greater detail and outlines the specifics relating to water equipment.
Importantly, it highlights that “the inclusion of water equipment as prescribed electrical equipment maintains an existing licensing expectation under former section 72 of the ES Regulation.” You can read the repealed section 72 here.
The Guidance Note outlines the distinction between electrical installation work and prescribed electrical equipment work:
Electrical installation work includes installation of pool spa lighting and associated electricity supply wiring during construction of a swimming pool, paddling pool, spa or bathtubs including the initial connection of the lighting cables to the supply transformer, testing and energisation.
NOTE: Electrical installation work must only be performed by a person who holds an electrical mechanic (electrician’s) licence.
Prescribed electrical equipment work includes:
• Replacing the supply cord of a corded robotic pool cleaner where the connection method is hard wired into the cleaner.
• Replacing the pump motor of a corded robotic pool cleaner where the connection method is hard wired into the cleaner.
• Disconnecting/reconnecting pool/spa lighting electricity supply wiring from the terminals of a lighting transformer.
• Replacing/retrofitting pool/spa lighting installed within the pool/spa container where the electricity supply wiring must be connected to or disconnected from the water equipment using a tool. This includes any modification or change to the method of connection such as replacing a plug attached to the electricity supply wiring or re-terminating the electricity supply wiring into a plug.
• Replacing pool/spa lighting electricity supply wiring between the supply transformer and pool/spa lighting installed within the pool/spa container.
Do I need an electrical contractor licence?
You must be the holder of an unrestricted electrical contractor licence to perform electrical installation work, such as installing water equipment (e.g., pool/spa lighting and associated wiring) during initial construction.
If you perform electrical equipment work on water equipment as part of your business, you will be required to hold either an electrical contractor licence or a Queensland Building and Construction Commission trade contractor’s licence.
In line with the Regulations, where a member in undertaking installations or work involving equipment defined as ‘water equipment’ the appropriately licensed person must carry out that work.
To obtain an electrical worker licence within Queensland, an application must be made to the Electrical Safety Office. The application will be assessed by a licencing officer based on the information provided in the licencing application. The licensing officer will determine the licence outcome, if eligible, based on the documentation and information provided.
The application can be made online: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/licensing-and-registrations/electrical-licences/electrical-worker-licences/restricted-electrical-work-licences-permits-other-than-apprentices
Members can refer to the Electrical licensing eligibility guide for further information on eligibility requirements for an electrical work or contractor licence. Section 4 of the guide gives an overview of the restricted electrical work license, and Table 2 of the guide outlines the eligibility criteria.
If members have any specific questions about electrical work or contractor licences, please contact 1300 632 993.
When publicly available, which we expect later this week, you will find the ESO’s Guidance Note – Water Equipment online on the Prescribed Electrical Equipment information page.