RCD & Safety Switch Testing for Australian Workplaces
Residual current devices — safety switches — cut power when leakage current suggests someone could be shocked. They only help if they still trip when they should. Our RCD testing service checks that behaviour under the test conditions and leaves clear records for WHS reviews, insurers and site audits. It does not guarantee how a device will behave later.
Call 1300 06 06 17 or book a visit.
What RCD / safety switch testing is
An RCD (residual current device), commonly called a safety switch, monitors the balance of current in a circuit. If it detects imbalance — for example current leaking through a person or to earth — it is designed to disconnect the supply quickly. Fixed RCDs sit in switchboards and protect circuits; portable RCDs travel with tools, leads and temporary setups.
RCD testing is the in-service check that those devices still work as intended. It is not the same as test and tag (which covers portable appliances) or thermal imaging (which looks for heat on boards and plant). It is a focused verification of the protective device itself.
A competent technician typically:
- Visually inspects the unit and installation for damage, wear or obvious issues
- Performs a push-button (user) test where appropriate to confirm basic function
- Performs a trip-time / operating time and current test with calibrated RCD test equipment
- Records results, updates identification where required, and documents next-due timing
Testing is carried out in accordance with applicable standards and workplace requirements. AS/NZS 3760 is the in-service inspection and testing standard this work follows. Construction and demolition sites are also planned against AS/NZS 3012. This is not patient-area or body-protected-area installation testing under AS/NZS 3003.
Why it matters (shock protection and WHS)
- Measured protection — Trip-time testing checks how the RCD operates under the test conditions. It does not confirm later performance.
- Clear evidence — Documented results support WHS reviews, insurers and site audits.
- Practical coverage — Fixed and portable RCDs can be checked together where they are on site.
What RCD testing protects
A safety switch that looks fine can still fail silently. Contacts wear, electronics degrade, and devices that never see a real fault can become unreliable. A device can stop operating correctly without an obvious sign on the board.
Effective RCDs help protect workers on tools and temporary power; staff and visitors in offices, retail, hospitality and education; people on construction sites; and anyone near wet areas or workshops.
RCD testing does not replace safe work practices, licensed electrical work or appliance testing. It sits alongside them as a check of how that device behaves under the test conditions. It does not remove electrical risk.
RCD testing in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide
How a visit works + reporting
Scope and schedule
Confirm devices, site access and timing.
Inspect and test
Visually inspect and test each device.
Identify and report
Record results and identify failed devices.
Report and remind
Send results, actions and next-due reminders.
What We Offer
What we test
Scope depends on what is on site — fixed board-mounted RCDs, portable RCDs (including those in leads or portable outlet devices), or both. Not every circuit breaker is an RCD. Ordinary circuit breakers are not tested as if they were safety switches. We clarify the inventory with you before the visit.
Locations
Who it’s for
AGE tests fixed and portable RCDs for workplaces across Australia, including:
- Offices & Corporate Buildings – Power circuits, kitchen areas, server rooms
- Construction Sites – Temporary power boards, site switchgear
- Events & Expositions – Temporary electrical setups, distribution boards
- Healthcare Facilities – Hospitals, medical centres, aged care
- Childcare & Education – Schools, childcare centres, universities
- Retail & Shopping Centres – POS equipment, shopping centre electrical systems
If you already run a test and tag program, adding scheduled RCD trip-time checks is a natural companion — especially after electrical works or board upgrades. Many workplaces also bundle RCD testing with portable appliance testing and thermal imaging in one attendance. Contact us to scope what fits your site.
Book your RCD / safety switch testing visit
Keep residual current protection honest — tested, documented and due for retest on a schedule that matches your risk. AGE Electrical Testing Services carries out RCD testing in accordance with applicable standards and workplace requirements, including AS/NZS 3760 where it applies, with clear records and optional same-visit test and tag and thermal imaging.
Call 1300 06 06 17 or contact us to book.
