Western Australia's Building and Energy division has consolidated its safety and compliance guidance for residential battery energy storage systems. It applies to electrical licence holders working on battery systems, including installations built around grid-connected multiple-mode, or hybrid, inverters.
The requirements should be treated as part of installation planning, commissioning and record keeping, not as an administrative step to address after the system has been energised.
Backup-mode testing must follow AS/NZS 4777.1 section 8.3.3
Where a multi-mode inverter operates in partial or full backup mode, the electrical contractor must confirm that testing has been completed in accordance with AS/NZS 4777.1 section 8.3.3.
Building and Energy identifies two records that must support the Notice of Completion:
- confirmation that continuity of neutral conductors has been proven
- the relevant test reports and supporting documents, uploaded through the existing eNotice fields
The guidance also directs contractors to verify that the installation does not create an unsafe parallel multiple earthed neutral connection, and that protection arrangements continue to operate correctly in alternative supply mode.
Commissioning should cover every operating mode the system can use
Before commissioning, the electrician should identify the inverter configuration, review the Australian installation instructions and confirm the required switching and earthing arrangement. Testing should then cover each operating mode the system can use. Records should be sufficiently clear for another licensed person, or an inspector, to follow the configuration, the method and the result.
Manufacturer instructions, AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 4777.1, AS/NZS 5139 and the applicable WA requirements must be considered together. A product commissioning checklist does not replace statutory testing.
The related article on testing grid-connected hybrid inverters works through the regulator's published testing note in practical terms.
The Notice of Completion should reflect the installation as tested
Supporting records may include:
- test results for grid-connected and alternative supply operation
- the inverter model and configuration
- manufacturer wiring and commissioning instructions
- photographs or configuration records needed to explain the completed work
Incomplete records can delay assessment. They can also make it harder to demonstrate that the installation was safe when it was commissioned.
Building and Energy's published guidance is the current reference
Building and Energy maintains its Battery Energy Storage Systems guidance (opens in a new tab), including the hybrid inverter testing note, the existing PV array guidance and information about working on or near energised equipment.
The WA solar and battery compliance hub connects this guidance with other current regulatory and installation references.
This article is a summary for general professional information. Electrical licence holders remain responsible for checking the current standards, regulator instructions, network requirements and manufacturer documentation that apply to each installation.
