Thermographic Electrical Inspections

Yes, and no, depending on how you read the law. The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires employers to ensure the workplace, including electrical equipment, is safe. 

AS/NZS 3760 is the standard recognised by WorkSafe New Zealand for meeting that obligation, and a current test and tag record is your evidence that you have. While the Act doesn't prescribe specific intervals, WorkSafe inspectors routinely check for tagged equipment on construction sites, and insurers are increasingly requiring compliance records for commercial tenancies. 

If someone is injured by faulty equipment and you have no record of testing, you're exposed.

There's no regulation that specifically requires landlords to commission a thermographic inspection but the Residential Tenancies Act requires properties to be maintained in a reasonable state of repair, and an unassessed switchboard sits in a grey area most landlords would rather not test. 

More practically, a growing number of commercial property insurers now require evidence of electrical condition as part of underwriting, particularly for older buildings. A thermographic report satisfies that requirement and gives you a defensible record if a fault or claim ever arises.

Most commercial sites take between one and three hours depending on the number of boards and distribution panels. In the majority of cases no shutdown is required, the thermal camera reads heat signatures through the panel cover while the system is live, which is actually necessary for an accurate result since a powered-down board shows nothing useful. We'll confirm the scope and any access requirements before the visit, and you'll have a written report with thermal images and fault classifications within 24 hours.