Hazardous Area Audits
Prepare the installation. Know what needs to be closed out.
Hazardous area audit planning, site inspection, reporting and close-out support. Bring the equipment, installation and evidence together before connection or reconnection becomes a project milestone.
Audit planning
Scope, timing and access
Site inspection
Installation and equipment
Evidence review
Records and verification
Close-out support
Actions and follow-up
When you need this
New installations.
Changed equipment.
Commissioning approaching.
Identify the audit and evidence requirements early enough to plan the inspection and resolve findings. Select anything that applies.
Outcomes & business value
Plan the audit around the work that needs to be verified.
Find gaps before the final inspection
Use a readiness review to identify missing records and installation issues while there is still time to address them.
Understand the findings
Receive a clear record of the assessment, the affected equipment or area, and the actions and supporting evidence required.
Coordinate the close-out
Give the project team, contractor and auditor a shared view of outstanding actions, clarifications and any re-inspection needs.
Queensland requirements
Before connection or reconnection.
Section 221 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 requires an accredited auditor’s inspection before first connection of a hazardous area electrical installation, or reconnection following electrical work, to the extent affected by that work. Specified exemptions may apply to qualifying replacement work.
Scope & typical deliverables
Check the equipment, installation and supporting records.
We define the affected works and inspection boundaries at scoping, with the applicable requirements and commissioning dates in view.
Ex equipment and certification
Review equipment suitability, Equipment Protection Level (EPL), gas or dust group, temperature requirements, ingress protection and any special conditions of use.
Installation quality
Inspect cable entries and glands, sealing and barriers, enclosure condition, segregation and mechanical protection within the agreed area.
Earthing and bonding
Review earthing, bonding and equipotential provisions, together with the relevant inspection and test evidence.
Documentation and verification
Check zone drawings, equipment registers, certificates, inspection and test records, and as-built documentation against the installation and applicable requirements.
What you receive
A clear record of findings and what follows.
- Defined audit scope and document request
- Inspection report covering the agreed installation and records
- Findings and a prioritised action or punch list, as applicable
- Clarification of the evidence needed to address findings
- Close-out review and re-inspection support where required
Agree at scoping: the jurisdiction, affected works, auditor accreditation and independence, site access, testing records and any follow-up visits.
Assessment basis: the applicable AS/NZS 60079 series and AS/NZS 3000 requirements are considered for the installation. The audit scope and evidence requirements are confirmed for your project.
Audit support
Prepare, inspect and follow through.
01 / Stage of support
Audit readiness
Review the document pack and undertake a targeted walkdown to identify likely gaps before the formal inspection.
02 / Stage of support
Formal inspection
Inspect the agreed installation and supporting evidence, with the applicable statutory requirements confirmed at scoping.
03 / Stage of support
Close-out support
Work through findings, clarify the required evidence and prepare for any follow-up review or re-inspection.
Our approach
From booking the inspection to resolving the findings.
Confirm the work, area and timing
Agree the audit boundaries, connection or reconnection milestone, site access and required documentation. Confirm the auditor arrangements and any exemption questions before booking.
Check the available evidence
Review the classification, equipment information, drawings and inspection or test records. Identify missing information and clarify what needs to be available on site.
Assess the installation and its records
Inspect the agreed areas and compare the equipment and installation with the supporting documentation. Record findings against the applicable assessment criteria.
Make the outcome and actions clear
Issue the findings and explain the gaps, required evidence and any follow-up inspection needs. Identify the items that the project team and contractor need to resolve.
Review the response and remaining work
Review the submitted evidence and undertake re-inspection where required. Formal completion depends on the audit findings being resolved and the necessary verification being available.
Why RelyOn?
Practical support. Clear audit roles.
Keep the inspection and the project actions connected.
Bring the right people and evidence together early.
We help your team plan the audit, understand the findings and organise the information needed for close-out. Related classification, design and electrical safety support can be scoped where needed, with auditor independence considered from the outset.
Related hazardous area services
Hazardous Area Classification
Define the zone categories, boundaries and classification basis.
Hazardous Area Design
Develop the equipment selection and installation requirements.
FAQ's
Before you book an audit.
When is a hazardous area audit required?
In Queensland, accredited auditor inspection is generally required before first connection, or reconnection after electrical work affecting a hazardous area installation, subject to specific exemptions. We confirm the location, work scope and applicable requirements when the engagement is scoped.
Are like-for-like replacements exempt?
Some replacements qualify only when all prescribed conditions are met. Switchboards, cables and wires are excluded from this replacement exemption. The equipment characteristics and the actual work need to be checked; electrical safety and testing obligations still apply. Read the Queensland replacement guidance ↗
Can you audit only part of a site?
Yes. The scope can focus on affected works, such as a new skid or a modified process area. The boundaries and interfaces need to be clearly defined so the inspection addresses the installation affected by the work.
What should be ready before the inspection?
Provide the hazardous area classification and zone drawings, equipment register and certificates, relevant design and as-built drawings, and inspection and test records. We issue a document request and confirm site access requirements before the visit.
Does a readiness review replace the formal audit?
A readiness review helps identify gaps and prepare the evidence before the formal inspection. Where an accredited auditor’s inspection is required, that inspection and its outcome remain a separate part of the process.
Can you help close out the findings?
Yes. We explain the findings, clarify the evidence required and support preparation for follow-up review or re-inspection. Rectification responsibilities, review stages and any additional visits are agreed with the project team.
How is auditor independence managed?
For Queensland statutory audits, the accredited auditor must be independent of the hazardous area classification, electrical design and installation being audited. We confirm the roles and any prior involvement at scoping. Read the auditor conditions of office ↗
Plan the audit early
Have a connection date or audit finding to work through?
Tell us the site location, affected works and target date. We’ll help define the inspection, documentation and follow-up requirements.
Speak to our Hazardous Areas Team
1300 15 66 85
