The regulations allow for compliance with the superseded standards for a period of six months following publication. During this transition period, both the previous and revised editions are acceptable.
Industry participants should ensure they are familiar with the updated requirements and make appropriate arrangements to transition to the revised standards.
Electrical licence holders must comply in full with AS/NZS 5139:2019 Amd 1:2025 and AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 from 19 June 2026.
AS/NZS 5139:2019 Amd 1:2025
Amendment 1 to AS/NZS 5139:2019 – ‘Electrical installations – Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment’ provides important clarifications and refinements to improve safety outcomes, reduce ambiguity, and better reflect current industry practice for battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Key updates
- Clearer definitions and terminology (Clause 1.3)
Reduced ambiguity on system types and how requirements apply. - Prospective fault/short-circuit current clarified (Clause 3.2.3.3)
New Appendix I that provides a method for cell short-circuit current calculation. - Location and “restricted location” requirements
Refined readability for clauses 4.2.2.2 and 5.2.2.2. Supported by new and updated figures/diagrams to illustrate required clearances and access around BESS. - Barrier to habitable rooms clarified (Clauses 4.2.4.2 and 5.2.4.2)
Improved consistency on how separation is applied. - Pre-assembled/integrated BESS room requirements updated (Clause 4.2.5) Clarified supply/installation approaches, including systems assembled onsite.
- BESS with multiple PCE’s (Clause 5.3.1.3.8)
Multiple PCE configurations clarified and additional enclosure/room requirements refined under Clause 6.3.6.4. - Documentation, labelling and hazard information (Clause 7.2 and 7.7–7.11)
Updated documentation, labelling and hazard information requirements, including safety data sheet (SDS) and hazard considerations such as explosive gas, toxic fumes, chemical hazard and arc flash.
AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025
The 2025 edition of AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 ‘Electrical installations – Selection of cables’ introduces major updates to improve clarity, expand DC coverage and align calculation methods with international standards.
The revision significantly strengthens DC system guidance and improves consistency in cable selection and rating calculations across common installation conditions.
Industry participants should review their design templates, cable selection software, and internal procedures to ensure alignment with the updated standard.
Key updates
- Expanded DC coverage
New DC current-carrying capacities, resistance and voltage drop tables, plus worked DC cable selection examples (up to 1,500 V d.c.). - Rationalised AC tables
Simplified and consolidated current-carrying capacity tables, including flexible and non-flexible copper cables. - New cable ratings
Additional ratings for 110°C aluminium conductors and XLPE insulated aerial cables (copper and aluminium). - Updated 110°C methodology
Calculations revised to reflect X-HF-110 insulation. - IEC alignment
Greater consistency with IEC 60287 and IEC 60364-5-52, including updated buried cable ratings and correction factors. - Expanded installation scenarios
Additional ratings for wiring enclosures, cables in thermal insulation and multiple cable rows. - Short-circuit data added
New short-circuit current tables for common cable types and sizes. - Neutral conductor guidance
New positioning requirements and guidance for loaded neutrals. - Voltage rise guidance
Expanded provisions and examples for embedded generation systems. - Additional cable types
Welding cables and ESI cables now included.
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