Overview
Energy Safe Victoria provides an online defects list to assist the electrical industry to correctly record defects as required by the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 on Certificates of Inspection or audit reports.
The online COES defects list can be sorted by:
- defect ID number
- instrument and clause
- defect type
- keywords used to search the defect description.
These tables are updated periodically. Latest update: February 2026.
Top 10 Prescribed Regulatory defects (including electrical installation defects)
| Defect Number | Instrument | Clause Number | Clause Description | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111018 | Electricity Safety Act 1998 | 45A | Certificates of Electrical Safety - Certificate of Compliance errors | Technical |
| 2 | 121229 | Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 | 262 | Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 | Technical |
| 3 | 111010 | Electricity Safety Act 1998 | 45(1) | Inspection of electrical installation work - inspection prior to energisation | Technical |
| 4 | 111009 | Electricity Safety Act 1998 | 44 (3) | Compliance and testing of electrical installation work - certificate of compliance obligations | Technical |
| 5 | 121171 | Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 | 211 | Premises with consumer electricity generation systems | Technical |
| 6 | 121184 | Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 | 219(1) | Route of underground lines - record of underground route | Technical |
| 7 | 111001 | Electricity Safety Act 1998 | 41A | Responsible person | Technical |
| 8 | 121174 | Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 | 214 | Electricity supplies-construction and demolition sites | Technical |
| 9 | 121192 | Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 | 224 | Construction of underground consumer's mains | Technical |
| 10 | 121186 | Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 | 219(3) | Route of underground lines - record of underground route margin of error | Technical |
Top 10 Prescribed Inspections General defects
| Defect Number | Instrument | Clause Number | Clause Description | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 211963 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 4.1.2 | Electrical equipment - Selection and installation | Technical |
| 2 | 211205 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.10.7 | SWITCHBOARDS - Fire-protective measures | Technical |
| 3 | 211886 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 8.2.1 | VISUAL INSPECTION - General | Technical |
| 4 | 211123 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.5.3.1 | Protection against overload current - Coordination between conductors and protective devices | Technical |
| 5 | 211887 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 8.2.2 | VISUAL INSPECTION - Checklist | Technical |
| 6 | 213942 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.10.1 | SWITCHBOARDS - General | Technical |
| 7 | 211199 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.10.5.2 | SWITCHBOARDS - Relationship of electrical equipment | Technical |
| 8 | 211198 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.10.5.1 | SWITCHBOARDS - Equipment identification - General | Technical |
| 9 | 211118 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.5.1.2 | PROTECTION AGAINST OVERCURRENT - Consumer mains | Technical |
| 10 | 211303 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 3.9.8.3 | INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS - Segregation of different voltage levels | Technical |
Top 10 Prescribed Inspections Renewable Energy defects
| Defect ID | Instrument | Clause Number | Clause Description | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 641276 | AS/NZS 5033: 2021 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays. | 5.6.1 | Recording of solar system layout - General | Technical |
| 2 | 681205 | AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment | 7.7 | Safety data sheet (SDS) | Technical |
| 3 | 211205 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.10.7 | SWITCHBOARDS - Fire-protective measures | Technical |
| 4 | 681043 | AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment | 5.2.4.2 | Barrier to habitable rooms | Technical |
| 5 | 621193 | AS/NZS 4777.1:2023, Grid connection of energy systems via inverters, Part 1: Installation requirements | 6.3 | Signs for the switchboard to which the IES is directly connected | Technical |
| 6 | 681061 | AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment | 5.3.1.4.3 | Mechanical protection | Technical |
| 7 | 681037 | AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment | 5.2.1 | Installation requirements - General | Technical |
| 8 | 681204 | AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment | 7.6 | Voltage and current | Technical |
| 9 | 681014 | AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment | 4.2.4.2 | Barrier to habitable rooms | Technical |
| 10 | 681038 | AS/NZS 5139:2019 Electrical installations - Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment | 5.2.2.1 | Location - General | Technical |
COES Audits defect data
| Defect ID | Instrument | Clause Number | Clause Description | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 211205 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.10.7 | SWITCHBOARDS - Fire-protective measures | Technical |
| 2 | 121229 | Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 | 262 | Details to be accurate and legible - certificate of compliance | Technical |
| 3 | 841014 | AS/NZS 3012:2019 +A1 Electrical installations - Construction and demolition sites | 2.3.2.1 | SWITCHBOARDS - Switchboard construction - General requirements | Technical |
| 4 | 211243 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 3.7.2.2 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS - Preparation for connection | Technical |
| 5 | 211199 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 2.10.5.2 | SWITCHBOARDS - Relationship of electrical equipment | Technical |
| 6 | 211328 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 3.10.3.6 | ENCLOSURE OF CABLES - Installation of wiring enclosures - Terminations | Technical |
| 7 | 211404 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2 +A3 Electrical Installations | 4.4.2.2 | SOCKET-OUTLETS - Protection of socket-outlets | Technical |
| 8 | 211929 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2 +A3 Electrical Installations | 2.9.3 | PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE HAZARD DUE TO ARCING FAULTS - Rating | Technical |
| 9 | 211248 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 3.7.2.5 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS - Retention of stranded conductors | Technical |
| 10 | 211429 | AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2+A3 Electrical Installations | 4.7.1 | COOKING APPLIANCES - Switching device | Technical |
Application
Where the electrical installation work being inspected or audited does not comply with the minimum requirements of the relevant section of the Act, Regulation or clause of the Standards, the defect number allocated to that particular section, Regulation or clause must be identified on the Certificate of Inspection or the Audit Form.
Defect review
Where a Licensed Electrical Inspector has added defects to a Certificate of Inspection and the Licensed Electrical Worker or Responsible Person wish to appeal these defects, please contact Energy Safe's Head of COES for consideration, including all evidence to support your appeal.
Energy Safe can delete a defect from a Certificate of Inspection if the certificate has been returned to the LEW for rectification.
Note: Defects cannot be removed from completed COES and Energy Safe does not cancel COES that have defects identified on the Certificate of Inspection.
Electrical installations work defects
The following criteria is used to allocate the selection of ‘Unsafe’ defects in the defect list.
- Immediately unsafe – the ability for a person to make contact with exposed metal that may be live or may become live when energised where only one action is required by a person or animal to come into contact with those live parts
and
- Any requirements of the legislation and or Standards intended to protect persons and livestock from electric shock hazards that may arise from the normal use of an electrical installation.
An electrical installation or electrical installation work deemed unsafe by an Electrical Inspector or Electrical Auditor must be isolated from supply, or the individual circuit disconnected and made safe.
Defect documentation requirements
The item being defected, the location of the item and the description of each defect documented by an LEI during inspection or Auditor during an audit must be accurate, legible and in plain English.
LEIs preparing a valid defect description should always use the text from the relevant clause or section of the Act, Regulation or clause of the Standard they are using to identify the installation as defective.
Examples of defect documentation
| Defect | Example description |
|---|---|
| 211205 – AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2 – 2.10.7 – SWITCHBOARDS – Fire-protective measures – Technical | Wiring systems associated with the Main Switchboard in the meter box not arranged to mitigate the spread of fire. |
| 211929 – AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2 – 4.1.2 – Electrical equipment – Selection and installation – Technical | Electrical equipment [enter item] located [enter location] not installed as required or to the additional requirements of the manufacturer’s instructions |
| 212565 – AS/NZS 3000:2018 +A1+A2 – 5.4.6.1 – EARTHING OF EQUIPMENT – Structural metalwork including conductive building materials – General – Unsafe | Structural metalwork or conductive building materials not earthed as required
|
Data collection
Data collected from defects identified on the Certificate of Inspection and completed audits will be used for future targeted education and training.
Note: Energy Safe no longer provides descriptive content to each defect identified in the COES defect recording system.
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Date: 11/11/2026 16:15
Controlled document
The currency and accuracy of this document cannot be guaranteed once printed or saved to a storage device. If in doubt, please check the ESV website for the current version.
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