Body
Protected
Area Testing
What is Body Protected Area Testing (BPA) ?
A Body Protected Area (BPA) is a clinical space where patients may be connected to medical devices during diagnosis or treatment. These include day surgeries, dental rooms, physiotherapy suites, treatment bays, aged care clinics, and assessment spaces. Because medical equipment often connects directly to a patient’s body, the risk of harm from even small electrical faults is far greater in these areas.
Failing to meet these standards can compromise patient safety and expose healthcare facilities to compliance risks during audits or accreditation processes.
According to AS/NZS 3003 (the standard governing electrical installations in patient treatment spaces), Body Protected Areas must be designed and maintained to minimise the risk of electric shock. Patients undergoing procedures are often more vulnerable due to compromised health, so additional electrical safeguards are critical.
These safeguards include:
High sensitive RCD protection. Rapid power disconnection to prevent harm from earth leakage currents
Safe and reliable socket outlets. Ensuring no current leakage into connected medical devices.
Compliant body protect design meeting AS/NZS 3003 safety standards.
Accurate classification and signage.
What’s Included in Our BPA Testing Service
At Mance Electrical, we provide a complete Body Protected Area Testing service for healthcare facilities in Launceston and across Tasmania. Our work follows AS/NZS 3003 and CBOS (Consumer, Building and Occupational Services) guidelines step by step, ensuring your facility meets all compliance and safety requirements.
We test, measure, document, and certify every part of your protected area, focusing on patient safety, electrical performance, and long-term reliability. Our reports are detailed enough to satisfy regulators while giving facility managers a clear understanding of any issues we find.
RCD Testing (Safety Switches)
Residual Current Devices (RCDs) are among the most important safety components in medical spaces. They act as instant cut-offs, disconnecting the circuit if a leakage current is detected, which is essential when patients are directly connected to medical devices. What we check during RCD testing:
- Trip response times: We simulate faults to confirm the RCD cuts power within the strict limits set by AS/NZS 3003. Even milliseconds make a difference in patient-connected environments.
Earthing System Testing
Correct earthing is essential in any Body Protected Area because it reduces dangerous voltage differences between equipment, fittings, and surfaces. In a medical setting, even slight electrical imbalances can lead to patient shocks when devices connect directly to the body.
Our earthing system testing includes:
- Earth resistance testing: We measure earth resistance levels and ensure they meet the strict maximum values required by AS/NZS 3003. This ensures your treatment areas maintain a stable and consistent grounding system, protecting both patients and clinicians.
Socket Outlet Inspection
This ensures your treatment areas maintain a stable and consistent grounding system, protecting both patients and clinicians.
Our inspections involve:
- Polarity checks: Verifying sockets are wired correctly and safely. These tests guarantee your sockets are safe, compliant, and ready for the demands of a medical environment.
Area Classification & Signage Review
Correctly identifying and labelling Body Protected Areas is a core requirement under AS/NZS 3003. Without clear classification and signage, staff could unintentionally operate non-compliant equipment in areas where additional protection is required.
We ensure:
- Rooms are accurately classified and documented based on patient treatment needs
- All required warning signs and labels are installed in visible locations
- Socket outlets, RCDs, and circuits are clearly marked for quick identification in emergencies
Not sure which way to go? We’ll assess your spaces, window orientation, insulation and usage patterns to recommend the ideal setup.
Facilities we support
At Mance Electrical, we work closely with local healthcare providers to ensure facilities remain safe, compliant, and fully operational.
Dental Clinics
Clinics & Day Surgeries
Aged Care Facilities
Allied Health Treatment Rooms
Any Clinical Space with Patient-Connected Equipment
Protecting Clients, Powering Compliance.
We provide services around Invermay, Newstead, South Launceston, Kings Meadows, Trevallyn, Prospect, Ravenswood, Norwood, Youngtown, Mowbray, West Launceston and the wider Tamar Valley/Northern Tasmania.
A long history
Fully licensed
Trusted by locals
Our clients speak for us
They turned up got the job done and was non stop until everything was done as expected. I Will use this company again in the future. Well deserved 5 stars.
On the day the job was completed quickly with advice on what will need doing down the track to maintain our electricity efficiency.
He was too helpful, brought my bins in for me & took care of me like I was family, he delivered quality craftsmanship & even had time to help me put my slippers on when the afternoon cooled off.
Great bloke & I hope to one day call him a mate.
Have a question?
How Often Should Testing Be Done?
At Mance Electrical, we help Facility Managers in Launceston set up annual testing schedules and provide reminders when testing is due, so you stay compliant without the stress of last-minute checks.