5.3 Record of Inspection (Regulation 72)

5.3 Record of Inspection (Regulation 72)

High-risk prescribed electrical work sits at the top of the ESR risk ladder because faults can have severe consequences for people and property. The Record of Inspection (RoI) is the document that proves an independent Electrical Inspector has inspected that high-risk PEW. Regulation 72 is the standard open-book anchor for RoI duties. If you only remember one RoI sentence for the exam, remember this: RoI is for high-risk PEW only, issued by a registered Electrical Inspector after inspection—not by the installing electrician as a substitute CoC.

Purpose of the RoI

The RoI exists to provide an independent inspection record that supports:

• Safety — a second competent set of eyes on the highest-risk PEW categories
• Audit / accountability — a clear trail that inspection occurred and was recorded
• Connection completion — high-risk PEW is not treated as freely complete/connectable until the inspection/certification chain the regulations require is satisfied

Independence matters. The RoI is not the installer re-labelling their own CoC. The inspector’s role is a distinct registration class with additional competence expectations.

When an RoI is required

High-risk examples taught for electrician regulations prep commonly include work such as new mains, or certain work on a submain or main switchboard of a new installation (always match the stem to the current ESR high-risk definition rather than inventing categories). Everyday like-for-like switch replacements and many minor alterations are not high-risk and do not attract an RoI.

Who issues the RoI

Only a person registered and licensed as an Electrical Inspector (the inspector class) carries out the independent inspection of high-risk PEW and issues the RoI. Exam implications:

• An electrician issues the CoC for the high-risk PEW they carry out or supervise; they do not issue the RoI as if they were inspecting their own high-risk work in the inspector’s place (unless they also hold the inspector registration and are acting in that independent inspection capacity under the rules).
• An Electrical Appliance Serviceperson, trainee, or associated tradesperson does not issue RoIs for high-risk installation PEW.
• The inspector’s RoI does not erase the installer’s duty to do compliant work and issue a CoC.

Relationship to CoC and connection

For high-risk PEW, think in layers:

1. Do the PEW to ESR and AS/NZS 3000 (and other applicable standards).
2. Verify (inspection and testing) as required before certification/connection.
3. Issue the CoC (reg 65) for the high-risk PEW.
4. Obtain independent inspection and RoI (reg 72).
5. Connect only when the high-risk chain allows connection as applicable.
6. Issue the ESC after connection (reg 74A pathway) when connection/use certification applies.

Teaching shorthand used throughout this guide and EWRB-style toolboxes:

High-risk: CoC → RoI → connect → ESC

The RoI is required with the CoC before high-risk PEW is considered complete / before connection as applicable. Exact sequencing nuances (what must exist before connection versus what completes the file) should be confirmed in current ESR wording under open-book conditions—but exam options that say “CoC alone finishes high-risk” or “connect first, maybe inspect later if someone complains” are wrong.

Do not confuse RoI with CoC or ESC

Common mix-ups and the correction:

• “RoI replaces CoC” → No. High-risk needs both.
• “RoI replaces ESC” → No. ESC still applies when connected.
• “RoI is needed for all PEW” → No. High-risk only.
• “Electrician’s CoC is the same as inspection” → No. Independence is the point of reg 72.

What the RoI is not

• Not a building consent or council producer statement by another name (though building processes may interact on some projects).
• Not a network company livening form (though network processes may require evidence of compliance/inspection).
• Not optional “extra QA” the customer can decline for true high-risk PEW—the Regulations impose the inspection pathway.
• Not a substitute for competent installation and verification by the PEW worker.

Practical coordination on high-risk jobs

Real jobs and exam narratives often include coordination failures. Good candidate thinking:

• Plan high-risk PEW so an inspector is available before connection deadlines.
• Do not energise high-risk work on the assumption that “paperwork will catch up.”
• Keep CoC, RoI, ESC, and test results as a set for the installation file.
• If the stem describes incomplete inspection, treat the high-risk PEW as not complete for regulatory purposes.

Exam scenario patterns for reg 72

Pattern A — New mains / high-risk installation PEW. Expect CoC + RoI; ESC when connected. Correct issuer of RoI = Electrical Inspector.

Pattern B — Like-for-like light switch. Low-risk style work: no RoI; do not over-certify with inspector documents.

Pattern C — High-risk PEW with CoC only, connected immediately. Missing RoI (and possibly premature connection) — non-compliant chain.

Pattern D — Who inspects? Options naming EAS, trainee, or “any electrician on site” as RoI issuer are wrong; choose Electrical Inspector.

Pattern E — Purpose question. If asked why RoI exists, answer independent inspection record for high-risk PEW safety/audit/connection, not “to set electricity prices” or “to replace all other certificates.”

Open-book checklist for RoI items

1. Is the PEW high-risk under ESR?
2. If no → RoI not required; pick CoC/ESC as applicable.
3. If yes → Electrical Inspector inspects and issues RoI (reg 72).
4. Confirm CoC still required (reg 65).
5. Confirm connection only after the high-risk chain allows it.
6. Confirm ESC after connection when applicable.
7. Reject any option that treats RoI, CoC, and ESC as interchangeable labels.

Master RoI as high-risk + inspector + independence, and you will separate it cleanly from the worker’s CoC and the post-connection ESC every time.