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Six printable cards of the AS/NZS 3000:2018 limits you check most on the job: maximum Zs, Rphe and Re, earth conductor sizes, disconnection times, verification test limits and where 30 mA RCDs are required. Free, no sign-up, no email.

Every value is read from the same transcribed tables the ElecCalc calculators use, and those tables are locked by regression tests, so a card and a calculator can never disagree. They are a quick reference, not a copy of the standard.

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Card 1 · AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 8.1

Maximum earth fault-loop impedance (Zs)

Maximum earth fault-loop impedance Zs in ohms at 230 V, for the protective device on the final subcircuit. Circuit breakers are tabled at 0.4 s; fuses at 0.4 s and 5 s.

AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 8.1, maximum Zs in ohms
Rating (A)	MCB Type B0.4 s	MCB Type C0.4 s	MCB Type D0.4 s	Fuse0.4 s	Fuse5 s
6	9.6	5.1	3.1	11.5	15.3
10	5.8	3.1	1.8	6.4	9.2
16	3.6	1.9	1.2	3.1	5.0
20	2.9	1.5	0.9	2.1	3.6
25	2.3	1.2	0.7	1.6	2.7
32	1.8	1.0	0.6	1.3	2.2
40	1.4	0.8	0.5	1.0	1.6
50	1.2	0.6	0.4	0.7	1.3
63	0.9	0.5	0.3	0.6	0.9
80	0.7	0.4	0.2	0.4	0.7
100	0.6	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.5
125	0.5	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.4
160	0.4	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.3
200	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.2

Source: AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 8.1. Check against the standard; have it signed off by whoever is responsible for the installation.

Use it with: Test results recorder (eleccalc.au/test-results), Circuit breaker calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/circuit-breaker), Earthing system calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/earthing-system).

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Card 2 · AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 8.2

Maximum circuit resistance (Rphe and Re)

Maximum resistance of the final subcircuit in ohms, measured with the supply off: Rphe is active plus protective earth, Re is the protective earth alone. Use the row that matches the active and earth sizes you installed. No row means no Table 8.2 value: measure Zs against Table 8.1 instead.

AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 8.2, maximum Rphe and Re in ohms
Rating (A)	Active / earth (mm²)	MCB Type B, 0.4 s		MCB Type C, 0.4 s		MCB Type D, 0.4 s		Fuse, 0.4 s		Fuse, 5 s
Rating (A)	Active / earth (mm²)	Rphe	Re	Rphe	Re	Rphe	Re	Rphe	Re	Rphe	Re
6	1 / 1	6.1	3.1	3.3	1.6	2.0	1.0	7.4	3.7	9.8	4.9
10	1 / 1	3.7	1.8	2.0	1.0	1.2	0.6	4.1	2.0	5.9	2.9
10	1.5 / 1.5	3.7	1.8	2.0	1.0	1.2	0.6	4.1	2.0	5.9	2.9
16	1.5 / 1.5	2.3	1.2	1.2	0.6	0.7	0.4	2.0	1.0	3.2	1.6
16	2.5 / 2.5	2.3	1.2	1.2	0.6	0.7	0.4	2.0	1.0	3.2	1.6
20	2.5 / 2.5	1.8	0.9	1.0	0.5	0.6	0.3	1.3	0.7	2.3	1.1
25	4 / 2.5	1.5	0.9	0.8	0.5	0.5	0.3	1.0	0.6	1.7	1.1
32	4 / 2.5	1.2	0.7	0.6	0.4	0.4	0.2	0.8	0.5	1.4	0.9
40	6 / 2.5	0.9	0.6	0.5	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.6	0.4	1.0	0.7
50	10 / 4	0.7	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.5	0.3	0.8	0.6
63	16 / 6	0.6	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.4	0.3	0.6	0.4

Source: AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 8.2. Check against the standard; have it signed off by whoever is responsible for the installation.

Use it with: Test results recorder (eleccalc.au/test-results), Cable sizing calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/cable-sizing).

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Card 3 · AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 5.1

Minimum earthing conductor size

Minimum size of the protective earthing conductor for copper active conductors. Larger earths may be needed where the earth fault-loop impedance or the adiabatic equation calls for them.

AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 5.1, copper active conductors
Active conductor (mm²)	Minimum earth (mm²)
1	1
1.5	1.5
2.5	2.5
4	2.5
6	2.5
10	4
16	6
25	6
35	10
50	16
70	25
95	25
120	35
150	50
185	70
240	95
300	120
400	120
500	120
630	120

Source: AS/NZS 3000:2018 Table 5.1. Check against the standard; have it signed off by whoever is responsible for the installation.

Use it with: Earth conductor calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/earth-conductor), Cable sizing calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/cable-sizing).

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Card 4 · AS/NZS 3000:2018 Clause 5.7.2

Maximum disconnection times

Disconnection times: 0.4 s for socket-outlets not exceeding 63 A, hand-held Class I and portable equipment; 5 s for other circuits.

AS/NZS 3000:2018 Clause 5.7.2 maximum disconnection times
Circuit	Maximum time
Final subcircuit supplying socket-outlets not exceeding 63 A, item (a)(i)	0.4 s
Final subcircuit supplying hand-held Class I equipment	0.4 s
Final subcircuit supplying portable equipment moved in use	0.4 s
Fixed or stationary equipment, permitted only where people are not exposed to touch voltages above safe values (Appendix B4)	5 s
Submain or other circuit, permitted only where people are not exposed to touch voltages above safe values (Appendix B4)	5 s

Source: AS/NZS 3000:2018 Clause 5.7.2. Check against the standard; have it signed off by whoever is responsible for the installation.

Use it with: Earthing system calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/earthing-system), Circuit breaker calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/circuit-breaker).

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Card 5 · AS/NZS 3000:2018 Section 8, Clause 8.3

Verification test limits

The limits each Section 8 verification test is marked against. Readings with no numeric limit are pass or fail.

AS/NZS 3000:2018 Section 8 verification test limits
Test	Limit	Clause
Main earthing and bonding conductor resistance	≤ 0.5 Ω	Cl 8.3.5.2
Consumer mains insulation resistance	≥ 1 MΩ	Cl 8.3.6.3
Earth continuity (Re)	Table 8.2 Re for the device, rating and cable	Cl 8.3.5.2, Table 8.2
Insulation resistance250 V is permitted where connected equipment is likely to be damaged by the 500 V test. Cl 8.3.6.3 exceptions: sheathed heating elements not less than 0.01 MΩ; RCD functional earth connections not less than 0.05 MΩ. Disconnect such equipment and test it separately.	≥ 1 MΩ at 500 V	Cl 8.3.6.3
Polarity	Pass or fail	Cl 8.3.7
Correct circuit connections	Pass or fail	Cl 8.3.8
Earth fault-loop impedanceRequired only where the circuit supplies socket-outlets that are not protected by an RCD of 30 mA or less. The disconnection time requirement still applies to every circuit.	Zs within Table 8.1, or Rphe within Table 8.2	Cl 8.3.9.1
RCD operation; isolates all switched polesAS/NZS 3000 Cl 8.3.10 Note 4: there is no requirement to test operating time. A recorded trip time is kept for the record only; check it against AS/NZS 3017 if you test it.	Pass or fail	Cl 8.3.10

Source: AS/NZS 3000:2018 Section 8, Clause 8.3. Check against the standard; have it signed off by whoever is responsible for the installation.

Use it with: Test results recorder (eleccalc.au/test-results), Earthing system calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/earthing-system).

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Card 6 · AS/NZS 3000:2018 Clause 2.6.3

Where 30 mA RCDs are required

Whether AS/NZS 3000:2018 requires additional protection by an RCD of 30 mA maximum, for new work on a final subcircuit with no exception claimed. Alterations, repairs, switchboard replacements, larger circuits and exceptions can change the answer: run the RCD selection calculator for those.

AS/NZS 3000:2018 Clause 2.6.3 RCD requirements for new work
Final subcircuit	Australia, domestic or residential	Australia, non-domestic	New Zealand, residential
Socket-outlet	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.2.2	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.2.3.3(a)	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.3.1(a)
Lighting	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.2.2	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.2.3.3(b)	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.3.1(b)
Directly connected hand-held equipment	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.2.2	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.2.3.3(c)	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.3.1(c)
Fixed appliance	Required, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.2.2	Should be considered, 30 mA maximumCl 2.6.3.2.3.3 Note	Not required by Clause 2.6.3Cl 2.6.3.3.1

Cl 2.6.3.2.2:: All final subcircuits in domestic and residential installations, fixed appliances included.
Cl 2.6.3.2.3.3 Note:: Other direct connected equipment not exceeding 32 A: 30 mA protection should be considered.
Cl 2.6.3.2.3.3(a):: Socket-outlet final subcircuit not exceeding 32 A.
Cl 2.6.3.2.3.3(b):: Lighting final subcircuit not exceeding 32 A.
Cl 2.6.3.2.3.3(c):: Directly connected hand-held equipment final subcircuit not exceeding 32 A.
Cl 2.6.3.3.1:: Residential fixed appliance circuits are not listed in Cl 2.6.3.3.1 (check other Sections, for example Cl 4.10.5 heating cables).
Cl 2.6.3.3.1(a):: Residential socket-outlet final subcircuit.
Cl 2.6.3.3.1(b):: Residential lighting final subcircuit.
Cl 2.6.3.3.1(c):: Residential directly connected hand-held equipment final subcircuit.

Source: AS/NZS 3000:2018 Clause 2.6.3. Check against the standard; have it signed off by whoever is responsible for the installation.

Use it with: RCD selection calculator (eleccalc.au/calculator/rcd-selection), Test results recorder (eleccalc.au/test-results).

Free from eleccalc.au/reference-cards#rcd-requirements

Active conductor (mm²)	Minimum earth (mm²)
1	1
1.5	1.5
2.5	2.5
4	2.5
6	2.5
10	4
16	6
25	6
35	10
50	16
70	25
95	25
120	35
150	50
185	70
240	95
300	120
400	120
500	120
630	120

Active conductor (mm²)	Minimum earth (mm²)
1	1
1.5	1.5
2.5	2.5
4	2.5
6	2.5
10	4
16	6
25	6
35	10
50	16
70	25
95	25
120	35
150	50
185	70
240	95
300	120
400	120
500	120
630	120

Active conductor (mm²)	Minimum earth (mm²)
1	1
1.5	1.5
2.5	2.5
4	2.5
6	2.5
10	4
16	6
25	6
35	10
50	16
70	25
95	25
120	35
150	50
185	70
240	95
300	120
400	120
500	120
630	120