Electrical · Australian guide
Electrical Technical Submissions in Australia: What to Include
Quick answer
An electrical technical submission holds the data sheet for each item on the electrical schedule — switchboards, cable, wiring devices, lighting, emergency lighting — plus evidence it is approved for sale in Australia (the RCM mark and, for in-scope equipment, EESS registration). Switchboards also need shop drawings. Key every item to the drawings, and show compliance with the AS/NZS standards the NATSPEC 09 worksections nominate.
What belongs in an electrical submission
Electrical packages follow the NATSPEC 09 group: 0901 Electrical systems, 0951 Lighting and the related worksections. For each item, include:
- The manufacturer's data sheet with the exact model, rating and options marked
- RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) evidence, and EESS registration for in-scope electrical equipment
- Switchboard shop drawings: general arrangement, single-line diagram, ratings, fault level and IP rating, built to AS/NZS 61439
- Cable data: type, size, insulation, and fire-rated cable for life-safety circuits where required
- Wiring devices: GPOs, switches and RCDs, with ratings and finishes matched to the schedule
- Luminaire data sheets: lumen output, wattage, colour temperature, CRI, IP rating and driver details
- Emergency and exit lighting to AS/NZS 2293, with battery duration and test method
- Warranties and maintenance information
RCM and EESS: proving it can be sold here
The RCM mark shows a product meets Australian electrical safety and EMC rules. Under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS), higher-risk 'in-scope' equipment must also be registered on the national database with a certificate of conformity before it is sold.
In the submission, show the RCM mark on the data sheet or label and, for in-scope items, the EESS registration. Imported products with only CE or UL marks are a common reason for rejection.
Standards reviewers check against
Your specification names the standards that apply. These come up on most jobs:
- AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules — the installation as a whole
- AS/NZS 3008 — cable selection
- AS/NZS 61439 — switchboards and switchgear assemblies
- AS/NZS 2293 — emergency escape lighting and exit signs
- AS/NZS 60598 — luminaires
- AS/NZS 4777 and AS/NZS 5033 — solar inverters and PV arrays, where included
Common rejection reasons
Electrical reviewers send packages back for these first.
- No RCM or EESS evidence for imported equipment
- Switchboard shop drawings missing fault rating, IP rating or single-line diagram
- Luminaire colour temperature, output or driver differs from the schedule
- Emergency lighting without battery duration or test method
- Data sheet shows a family of products with the supplied model not marked
- Substituted products with no substitution request
Let the builder put the submission together
List the products on your schedule — or upload the worksection — and Submittal.app finds the data sheets, adds a cover and transmittal, and lets you refine it in chat. First packages are free.
Start freeCommon questions
Do switchboards need shop drawings?
Almost always. The specification usually asks for a general arrangement drawing, the single-line diagram and the ratings before manufacture, and the switchboard is often a hold point.
What's the difference between RCM and EESS?
RCM is the mark on the product that shows it meets Australian electrical safety and EMC rules. EESS is the national system behind it; higher-risk equipment must also be registered on the EESS database.
Can I use a US or European product?
Only if it is approved for the Australian market — RCM marked, EESS registered where required, and rated for 230 V / 50 Hz. Overseas approvals alone are not enough.