AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 changed how Australia approves grid-connect inverters. Standards Australia published it on 23 August 2024. It became mandatory exactly one year later. Also, it now applies to every new grid-connect install. So any inverter installed today needs to meet it. So this guide covers every real change. It also covers the region settings you need to check, and what happened to inverters already on the approved list. It’s one of three standards in Australia’s new battery rules.
Quick Answer Quick answer: It became mandatory on 23 August 2025, after a 12-month transition. It makes six changes. New supply terms. Fewer tests for battery-only gear. New generation limit rules. Updated Region C set points. New paperwork rules. New clauses for two-way EV charging. Older CEC inverter listings didn’t carry over automatically. So manufacturers had to submit a declaration and evidence of the updated region settings before the deadline, or their models came off the approved list.
What Is AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2?
AS/NZS 4777.2 is the standard that governs how grid-connect inverters behave once installed. It’s also Part 2 of a two-part standard. Part 1 covers general requirements. Part 2 covers the inverter-specific rules that matter most for design work. AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 is the second update to the 2020 edition. So it’s formally known as AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Amendment 2:2024.
The Six Changes in AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2
Six changes make up the bulk of AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2. First, AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 updates supply type terminology, for clearer alignment with AS/NZS 4777.1. Then second, battery-only products no longer need IEC 62109 testing. That cuts duplicate certification work. Third, generation limit control parameters changed. Fourth, AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 updates Region C set points. Fifth, documentation and marking rules changed. Sixth, and most talked-about, new clauses cover electric vehicle supply equipment.
Change
What It Means
Supply type terminology
Updated for clearer alignment with AS/NZS 4777.1’s supply-type definitions
IEC 62109 removed
Battery-only products no longer need this testing, cutting duplicate certification work
Generation limit parameters
Control parameters for generation limiting were updated
Region C set points
Updated power quality set points specifically for Region C networks (Horizon Power, TasNetworks, remote Power & Water)
Documentation and marking
Updated requirements for product documentation and equipment marking
EVSE clauses (new)
New clauses covering electric vehicle supply equipment for bidirectional charging
When AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 Took Effect
So Standards Australia set a 12-month transition window. During that time, manufacturers could apply under the old or the new standard. After 23 August 2025, the Clean Energy Council only accepts Amendment 2 products for new listings. The Clean Energy Council runs this through its approved inverter list. Most network operators use that list directly.
What Happened to Existing CEC Inverter Listings
Existing listings didn’t need full re-testing for AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2. Still, manufacturers had to prove compliance. The Clean Energy Council asked for a signed declaration. It also asked for proof of the updated region settings for every model. That proof could be a product manual, an install guide, or a screenshot from a monitoring app. Anything missing by 23 August 2025 meant the model came off the approved list. The Clean Energy Council’s standards-change page has the full manufacturer declaration template and process.
So this matters for anyone still specifying against an old product sheet. An inverter that was genuinely CEC-approved two years ago may not carry that status today. So always check the live CEC list at the point of design, not a cached copy from a previous project.
CSIP-AUS and Smart Communication
The updated standard introduced CSIP-AUS, the Common Smart Inverter Profile for Australia. Still, this is a communication protocol, not a hardware requirement. It lets network operators manage dynamic export limits, and in some cases apply remote curtailment. A compliant inverter under AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 lets the grid talk back to it, not just receive power one-way.
Region-Based Power Quality Settings
Power quality settings still follow a region-based structure: Australia A, B, or C. Most of the country falls under Region A. Western Power alone makes up Region B. Tasmania and remote areas fall under Region C, covering Horizon Power, TasNetworks, and remote parts of Power & Water. The full list is in the table below. AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 changed the Region C set points specifically. So a Tasmanian or remote WA install needs extra care here. Energy Networks Australia’s FAQ has the full DNSP contact list for each state.
Region
Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs)
Australia A
Ausgrid, AusNet Services, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy, Ergon Energy, Energex, Evoenergy, Jemena, CitiPower, Powercor, United Energy, SA Power Networks, Power & Water (some areas)
Australia B
Western Power
Australia C
Horizon Power, TasNetworks, Power & Water (remote networks)
Warranty Replacement Rules
Warranty replacements get a narrow exception. Owners can still swap in an older-standard inverter under warranty, but only if three conditions hold together. The replacement has to be the same make and model. It has to genuinely be a warranty case. And the inverter has to match the existing connection agreement. Also, DNSPs still need to approve the replacement first. Outside those conditions, a warranty swap needs a current AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 compliant unit.
Bidirectional EV Charging: Mode 3 vs Mode 4
Bidirectional EV charging is where this amendment gets genuinely new. It’s not just a terminology refresh. So it splits two charging modes apart. Mode 4 charging sends power to and from the vehicle through wall-mounted gear with its own inverter. That gear now falls under AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 directly. It also sits inside the CEC’s approved inverter list. Mode 3 also sends power both ways, but the inverter lives inside the car instead. The Clean Energy Council is still working out how much of that setup falls under the same listing rules.
AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 Compliance Checklist
Confirm the specific inverter model against the live CEC approved list, not a cached spec sheet or marketing page.
Confirm the correct region setting (A, B, or C) for the installation’s DNSP — Region C set points changed under this amendment.
Check whether any EV charging equipment on the job is Mode 3 or Mode 4, since that determines which listing requirements apply.
For battery-only power conversion equipment, confirm whether the IEC 62109 exemption applies to the specific product.
If proposing a warranty replacement with an older-standard inverter, verify all three conditions: same make and model, genuine warranty case, and matching connection agreement.
Get DNSP approval before installing any warranty replacement inverter.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 become mandatory?
Standards Australia published it on 23 August 2024. After a 12-month transition, it became mandatory for new inverter installations from 23 August 2025.
Does an old CEC inverter listing still work after Amendment 2?
Not automatically. Manufacturers had to submit a declaration and evidence of updated region settings before 23 August 2025. Any model without that evidence was removed from the approved list on that date.
What is CSIP-AUS?
CSIP-AUS is the Common Smart Inverter Profile for Australia — a communication protocol introduced with this amendment that lets network operators manage dynamic export limits and, in some cases, apply remote curtailment.
What’s the difference between Mode 3 and Mode 4 EV charging under this amendment?
Mode 4 charging uses wall-mounted Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment with its own inverter, which falls directly under AS/NZS 4777.2 and the CEC’s approved inverter list. Mode 3 charging also flows power both ways, but the inverter sits inside the vehicle instead — how that gets covered by the listing framework is still being finalised.
Can I still install an inverter that only meets the pre-Amendment 2 standard?
Only as a like-for-like warranty replacement, and only if the replacement is the same make and model, is genuinely for warranty purposes, and is set up to match the existing connection agreement. The DNSP still has to approve it first.
AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 changed how batteries get installed across Australia and New Zealand. It arrived on 19 December 2025. So if you designed a BESS install before that date, several of your default assumptions just moved. This guide walks through every real change. New definitions. New clearance figures. A genuinely useful garage exception. A new appendix for fault current calculations. It’s one of three standards in Australia’s new battery rules.
Quick Answer Quick answer: AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 updates 18 clauses. It also adds five new figures, plus Appendix I for calculating cell short-circuit current. It’s mandatory now in NSW. Western Australia set a specific deadline of 19 June 2026, after a six-month transition. The headline practical change is a new exception. Batteries can now sit within 600mm of a garage opening wider than 900mm, provided safe egress is preserved.
What Is AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1?
AS/NZS 5139:2019 is the standard that governs safety for battery energy storage systems. It covers systems connected to power conversion equipment. It replaced the older AS 4086.2 standard back in 2019. AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 doesn’t replace this base standard. Instead, it updates specific clauses. It adds new figures. It also adds one new appendix. The rest of the 2019 standard stays in force. The full amended text is available through the Standards Australia Store.
The full clause list is in the table below. It also touches Figures 2.11 and 2.12, and adds five entirely new figures: 4.1A, 4.1B, 4.1C, 4.1D, and 4.2A. Appendix I is new. So is a set of new Bibliography references.
Everything AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 Changed, at a Glance
Appendix I — calculating cell short-circuit current
Bibliography
New references added
When AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 Takes Effect
Timing isn’t the same in every state. NSW treats the amendment as mandatory right away. Any install that misses the updated requirements no longer complies with the Standard there. WA took a different path. It set a full-compliance date of 19 June 2026, six months after publication. Until then, either the old or the new version is fine. Other states are still working out their own position. So check with your state regulator before you quote a date to a client.
Jurisdiction
Position
Source
NSW
Mandatory immediately on publication (19 Dec 2025)
NSW Building Commission advisory
Western Australia
Full compliance required from 19 Jun 2026, after a 6-month transition where either edition is acceptable
WA Building and Energy notice
Queensland
Amendment issued and communicated to electricians; specific compliance date not published in the source reviewed
WorkSafe QLD eSafe newsletter
Other states/NZ
Not confirmed in this research pass — verify with the relevant state or NZ regulator before quoting a date
—
New Definitions Under AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1
Clause 1.3 covers terms and definitions, and it picked up real changes. The main addition is a new definition: a battery energy storage system room. That’s a dedicated room. It holds the battery, the power conversion equipment, and other BESS accessories. A note attached to this definition matters just as much as the definition. It says a multi-purpose room doesn’t count as “dedicated,” just because a battery sits in it. A garage or a general storage room are both good examples.
Three other definitions picked up clarifying notes too, with practical examples. So electricians should still read Clause 1.3 in full. Drawings and compliance paperwork need to use the amended wording exactly.
New Clearance Figures: 4.1A Through 4.2A
The amendment replaces the old typical BESS installation diagrams with five new figures. First, Figure 4.1A covers egress clearance in a corridor, hallway, or lobby. Then Figure 4.1B covers clearance to doors and openings. Also, Figure 4.1C adds further detail to the clearance picture. Figure 4.1D shows a side-view diagram of clearance from restricted locations, with the familiar 600mm front clearance and 900mm above-battery clearance both drawn out. Finally, Figure 4.2A covers clearances for battery connection access, split by whether the connection is DC or AC.
One structural cleanup came along with the new figures. Also, the standard used to repeat similar diagrams in Section 5. So the amendment removes that duplication. Section 5 now just refers back to the Section 4 figures instead of reprinting them.
The Garage Door Exception — Clause 4.2.2.2
The most talked-about change is a new exception for garage installations. Under the amended Clause 4.2.2.2, a battery can now sit within 600mm of an opening wider than 900mm — a typical garage door, in other words — as long as the opening still allows sufficient clearance for safe egress, and the clearance is no less than 1m from any front or side a person might need to pass through during an exit.
This matters because garages are the preferred spot for a lot of installers. They’re usually not living spaces, they’re weather-protected, often shaded, and close to the switchboard. But the old blanket 600mm rule ruled out a lot of good garage walls, just because of a wide roller door. The amendment keeps the safety goal in place. People still need a safe way out. It just stops punishing a battery for sitting near a large opening when someone could still walk past it safely.
In practice, this means a designer needs two numbers, not one. The first is the 600mm distance to the opening itself. The second is the 1m clearance from whichever front or side edge a person would need to pass. So both conditions have to hold at the same time. A wide garage door with a wall corner narrowing the walk-through space to less than a metre still fails, even if the 600mm figure looks fine on a drawing.
Worked Example
A garage has a 2.4m-wide roller door. The nearest wall section suitable for a battery sits 500mm from the door opening. Under the amended clause, 500mm is within the 600mm allowance, and the door is well over the 900mm width threshold. So far, this passes. But the same wall has a support post 800mm from the door edge, narrowing the usable walk-through space to 800mm at that point. Since 800mm is under the 1m minimum clearance the amendment also requires, this specific layout still fails — even though the headline 600mm number looks fine. Moving the battery, or resolving the post clearance, is the fix.
Inverters as Associated Appliances
The amendment also reclassifies inverters. Power conversion equipment now counts as an associated appliance. So it can go inside a restricted location, where it couldn’t before. That’s a useful change for compact installs, where wall space near the battery is already tight.
Fire Barrier and Overcurrent Protection Changes
Fire barrier requirements moved the other way. Stricter, not looser. So exempt materials used as a barrier to a habitable room now need a minimum thickness of 6mm. Also, building materials within 1 metre of a battery system classed as a chemical hazard pick up new requirements.
Paralleled pre-assembled battery systems get a new rule for overcurrent protection. The protective device’s kA rating now has to cover the combined fault current of every paralleled unit, not just the biggest one. That’s a real change for multi-unit homes and light commercial jobs. Two or three battery modules often get paralleled to hit a target capacity.
To make that calculation possible, the amendment adds Appendix I. It sets out the method for calculating cell short-circuit current within a battery system. So that’s the number a designer needs before sizing the paralleled OCPD correctly. This connects directly to broader short-circuit protection design work on the DC side of a BESS installation. This connects directly to broader short-circuit protection design work on the DC side of a BESS installation.
Safety Data Sheet Requirements
Safety Data Sheet handling picked up a clarification too. A physical copy of the SDS must be provided on site. It also has to stay protected from damage or degradation. The standard specifically mentions storing it in a sealed, durable, clear pouch as an acceptable method. So treat SDS storage as part of the handover package, not an afterthought bolted on at final inspection.
Background: Restricted Locations Under AS/NZS 5139
It helps to know what this amendment did NOT change. The base restricted-location rules still apply. Batteries still can’t sit within 600mm of an exit, a window edge, a vent into a living room, or an appliance. They still can’t sit within 900mm below any of those. Ceiling spaces, wall cavities, roofs, stairways, walkways, escape routes, and living rooms themselves are still off-limits. The ERAC Battery Energy Storage System Guideline backs up these same rules. None of this changed. The amendment only added the wide-opening exception above, plus the inverter reclassification.
Restricted Locations — Unchanged by Amendment 1
Within 600mm of any exit or entry
Within 600mm of any window’s vertical side, or a ventilation opening into a habitable room
In an evacuation or designated escape route
Within 600mm of any appliance
Within 900mm below any of the items above
In ceiling spaces or wall cavities
On roofs
Under stairways or access walkways
Within a habitable room itself
AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 Compliance Checklist
Confirm the installation drawings use Clause 1.3’s updated terminology, including the new battery energy storage system room definition.
Check clearance layouts against the new Figures 4.1A–4.2A, not the pre-amendment diagrams.
If relying on the garage-door exception, verify both the 600mm opening distance AND the 1m walk-through clearance — not just one of them.
Confirm inverter placement against the updated associated-appliance classification if it sits in a restricted location.
Check fire-barrier materials meet the 6mm minimum thickness where used as exempt materials.
For paralleled pre-assembled battery systems, recalculate the OCPD kA rating against the combined fault current using Appendix I.
Confirm a physical SDS copy is on site and stored in a protective pouch before handover.
Verify your state’s specific compliance timeline before telling a client the installation is (or isn’t) required to meet Amendment 1 yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 take effect?
It was published on 19 December 2025. NSW treats it as mandatory immediately. Western Australia requires full compliance from 19 June 2026, after a six-month transition period. Confirm the position in your own state before quoting a date.
What is the garage door exception under this amendment?
Under the amended Clause 4.2.2.2, a battery can be installed within 600mm of an opening wider than 900mm — such as a garage door — provided safe egress is maintained and clearance is no less than 1m from any front or side a person might need to pass through.
Does this amendment change where inverters can be installed?
Yes. Power conversion equipment is now classified as an associated appliance, which means it can be installed inside a restricted location where it previously couldn’t.
What is Appendix I, and what does it calculate?
Appendix I is a new addition that sets out how to calculate cell short-circuit current within a battery system. It’s needed to correctly size overcurrent protection for paralleled pre-assembled battery systems under the amendment’s new kA rating requirement.
Do the pre-existing restricted-location rules still apply under Amendment 1?
Yes, unchanged. Batteries still can’t be installed within 600mm of exits, windows, ventilation openings, or appliances, within 900mm below those items, or in ceiling spaces, wall cavities, roofs, under stairways, escape routes, or habitable rooms. Amendment 1 only added the specific wide-opening exception and the inverter reclassification — it didn’t touch the base restricted-location list.
Australia has new battery rules for 2026, and they arrived from three different directions at once. Between August 2025 and December 2025, regulators updated the inverter standard, the battery safety standard, and the cable selection standard. Two of them landed on the very same day. So anyone installing, supplying, or specifying a BESS in Australia now answers to all three of these new battery rules. Miss one, and the other two won’t save the project.
Quick Answer Australia’s new battery rules for 2026 span three standards. AS/NZS 5139:2019 Amendment 1 (published 19 Dec 2025) covers battery system safety. AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Amendment 2 (mandatory from 23 Aug 2025) governs inverter performance and grid behaviour. AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 (also published 19 Dec 2025) sets cable selection and DC ratings. In Western Australia, full compliance with both the 5139 and 3008.1.1 updates is required from 19 June 2026, following a six-month transition period — other states administer their own timelines. A compliant BESS install needs all three standards, and a battery’s international product certifications (IEC 62619, UL 1973, UN38.3) do not substitute for any of them.
What Are Australia’s New Battery Rules?
Together, Australia’s new battery rules form what’s best understood as a compliance stack, not three unrelated updates. A battery energy storage system never sits under a single rulebook. Instead, it sits at the intersection of three. AS/NZS 5139 governs how the battery gets installed, ventilated, and protected. AS/NZS 4777.2 governs how the inverter behaves once it talks to the grid. AS/NZS 3008.1.1 governs every cable that connects the two. So a design can pass one standard and still fail the job. Also, it only takes one missed layer to cause it.
It’s also worth separating two things international suppliers often conflate. So battery product certification and Australian installation compliance are not the same thing. A cell or module can carry IEC 62619, UL 1973, and UN38.3 certification and still fail an Australian project if the installation, inverter, or cable design doesn’t separately satisfy the three standards below.
This page works as a living hub, not a one-time post, since Australia’s new battery rules will keep changing. Also, each standard below links out to its own detailed guide as those go live. As amendments publish, this hub updates first, then the change log at the bottom records exactly what moved and when. Bookmark this page, not a single standard’s guide — the compliance stack shifts as a set, not one piece at a time.
Australia’s New Battery Rules: Compliance Stack Overview
The table below summarises where each standard sits today. Full detail on each one follows in its own section, and a dedicated guide for each standard is in progress.
Standard
Governs
Published
Mandatory From
Administered By
AS/NZS 5139:2019
Battery system and BESS installation safety
Amendment 1: 19 Dec 2025
Immediate in NSW; full compliance from 19 Jun 2026 in WA (6-month transition) — confirm with your state regulator
Standards Australia / Standards NZ; state electrical safety regulators
AS/NZS 4777.2:2020
Grid-connect inverter performance
Amendment 2: Aug 2024
23 Aug 2025
Standards Australia / Standards NZ; Clean Energy Council; DNSPs
AS/NZS 3008.1.1
Cable selection, current-carrying capacity, DC ratings to 1500V
2025 edition: 19 Dec 2025
Full compliance from 19 Jun 2026 in WA (6-month transition); NZ 2017 edition withdrawal ~Nov 2026
Standards Australia / Standards NZ
Note on dates: AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 and AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 were both published on 19 December 2025, not on separate dates. Mandatory compliance timing varies by state; Western Australia’s Building and Energy division has published the clearest specific deadline (19 June 2026, after a six-month dual-acceptance period), while NSW guidance describes the 5139 update as mandatory immediately on publication. Confirm the position in your specific state before quoting a date to a client.
Australia’s New Battery Rules, Part 1: AS/NZS 5139:2019 Amendment 1 — Battery System Safety
Amendment 1 to AS/NZS 5139:2019 was published on 19 December 2025. The NSW Building Commission confirms that a battery installation failing to meet the updated requirements no longer complies with the Standard in NSW.
Western Australia’s Building and Energy division has set a specific full-compliance date: 19 June 2026. That follows a six-month transition period, during which both the 2019 base standard and the amended version are acceptable.
So the amendment touches definitions, installation diagrams, clearances, overcurrent protection, and safety documentation.
What Changed in Amendment 1
Several changes matter for day-to-day design work. First, Clause 1.3 introduces new and updated definitions. So terminology used on drawings needs a fresh check. Also, the typical BESS installation diagrams were revised — new figures 4.1A through 4.2A cover egress clearance, door and opening clearance, and unimpeded access to a pre-assembled integrated BESS.
Location, Fire Barriers, and Overcurrent Protection
Still, location rules loosened in one specific way. A battery system may now sit within 600mm of an opening, provided that opening is wider than 900mm, such as a garage door. Inverters are also now treated as an associated appliance, and are permitted inside a restricted location, which they previously were not.
Fire-barrier requirements got stricter instead. So exempt materials used as a barrier to a habitable room must now be at least 6mm thick. Building materials within 1 metre of a battery system classed as a chemical hazard also face new requirements.
Also, overcurrent protection for paralleled pre-assembled battery systems changed. The protection device’s kA rating must now match or exceed the combined fault current of every paralleled battery system, not just one. So a new Appendix I sets out how to calculate that cell short-circuit current. This pairs directly with existing short-circuit protection design work on the DC side of the system.
Safety Data Sheets
Safety Data Sheet handling was clarified too. A physical copy must stay on site, protected from damage — for example inside a sealed, durable, clear pouch. Installers should treat SDS storage as part of the handover package, not an afterthought.
AS/NZS 5139 Compliance Checklist for BESS Suppliers and Installers
Battery enclosure design meets updated location and clearance rules
Australia’s New Battery Rules, Part 2: AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Amendment 2 — Inverter Requirements
AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Amendment 2 governs how grid-connect inverters behave once installed. It is the second of the three new rules. Standards Australia released it in August 2024, then set a 12-month transition period. Full compliance became mandatory from 23 August 2025. So it now applies to every new low-voltage grid-connect inverter installation. That makes it the second pillar of the battery compliance stack.
CSIP-AUS and Smart Communication
First, the headline addition is CSIP-AUS, the Common Smart Inverter Profile for Australia. This communication protocol lets network operators manage dynamic export limits. In some cases, it also allows remote curtailment. A modern compliant inverter is built to be talked to by the grid, not just to push power onto it. The Clean Energy Council’s approved inverter list now reflects Amendment 2 as the current benchmark. Clean Energy Council’s approved inverter list now reflects Amendment 2 as the current benchmark.
What Installers Must Check
Older CEC listings did not carry over automatically. So manufacturers had to submit a declaration plus supporting evidence that their products met Amendment 2 before their listings kept standing. Installers should verify the exact model against the current CEC list — never trust a listing checked before August 2025.
Power quality settings still follow a region-based profile — Australia A, B, or C — set by the local distribution network service provider. This includes the ride-through behaviour covered in our LVRT and HVRT guide. This includes the ride-through behaviour covered in our LVRT and HVRT guide.
EV and V2G Provisions
Next, the amendment adds requirements supporting vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-building inverters. So bidirectional EV charging now shares the same grid-connect framework as solar and battery inverters. See our PCS overvoltage protection guide for how these settings interact with anti-islanding and ride-through coordination.
AS/NZS 4777.2 Compliance Checklist
CEC approval status confirmed against the current list, not a pre-Aug-2025 listing
Correct firmware version installed
Grid protection settings match the DNSP’s region profile (A, B, or C)
Anti-islanding function verified
Export control compatibility confirmed
CSIP-AUS capability documented
LVRT/HVRT settings verified against ride-through requirements
Australia’s New Battery Rules, Part 3: AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 — Cable Selection
AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 is the third of Australia’s new battery rules. It replaces the 2017 edition that governed cable selection for eight years. Standards Australia published the new edition on 19 December 2025. That’s the same day as AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1, not late 2024 as some secondary sources report. Both editions currently remain valid during the transition. In Western Australia, full compliance with the 2025 edition is required from 19 June 2026. This is the third and final pillar of the battery compliance stack.
New 1500V DC Cable Ratings
So the most significant scope change is new DC cable rating provisions up to 1500 volts. The 2017 edition barely covered DC circuits above 1000 volts. That left utility-scale solar strings and BESS rack-to-inverter cabling without a proper rating table. So the 2025 edition adds explicit current-rating tables for single-core DC cables, plus new provisions for DC fast-charger cabling. These new tables are already referenced alongside the DC specifications in our Understanding BESS Specifications guide.
Revised Grouping and Soil Derating Factors
Also, grouping and soil derating factors tightened. Cables on unperforated trays now carry lower derating factors than before. A six-circuit run on a solid tray, for instance, drops from a factor of 0.73 to 0.68. So that can push a cable size up a full commercial step. A new “very dry soil” row now covers desert and remote mining conditions the 2017 tables never addressed.
Transition Timeline
New Zealand runs its own transition clock. Still, the 2025 edition became available there at the same time as in Australia. But the 2017 edition is expected to be formally withdrawn around November 2026, once the standard 24-month transition period closes. Western Australia’s Building and Energy division confirms that both AS/NZS 5139 Amd 1:2025 and AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 were published 19 December 2025, with full compliance required from 19 June 2026 following a six-month period in which either edition is acceptable.
AS/NZS 3008.1.1 Compliance Checklist
Cable voltage rating confirmed for the full DC operating window (up to 1500V where applicable)
Maximum operating current calculated against the 2025 tables
Short-circuit withstand capability checked against combined fault current
Grouping and derating factors recalculated for unperforated trays with six or more circuits
Soil thermal resistivity checked for underground runs, including the new “very dry soil” category
Voltage drop calculation completed for the full cable run
Full guide: AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 Cable Selection Explained
Battery Product Certification vs. Australian Installation Compliance
One misunderstanding shows up often among international BESS suppliers. Often, they assume battery product certification alone satisfies Australia’s new battery rules and allows market entry. It doesn’t. A battery module can pass every relevant international safety test and still fail an Australian project. That happens whenever the installation, inverter, or cable design doesn’t separately satisfy AS/NZS 5139, AS/NZS 4777.2, and AS/NZS 3008.1.1. So product certification and installation compliance are different regulatory layers, and both are required.
Common Battery Product Certifications Referenced in Australian BESS Projects
Commercial and industrial BESS, telecom energy storage
UL 1973
Stationary battery safety at module, rack, and system level
Utility-scale and North American-influenced BESS specifications
UN38.3
Transport safety: altitude, temperature, vibration, shock, short-circuit, and overcharge testing
Required before any international lithium battery shipment
IEC 63056
Secondary lithium battery safety for stationary energy storage applications
Residential and commercial ESS, increasingly requested alongside IEC 62619
So none of these substitute for AS/NZS 5139 installation compliance, AS/NZS 4777.2 inverter or CEC approval, or AS/NZS 3008.1.1 cable design. For suppliers planning an Australian entry, compliance needs to be considered during BESS design. Enclosure layout, protection settings, and documentation format all belong at the design stage. None of it works well retrofitted after manufacturing is locked in.
How Australia’s New Battery Rules Work Together on One Job
These three standards do not operate in isolation on a real job. Take a paralleled battery system as an example, since it shows how Australia’s new battery rules stack on top of one another. First, AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 sets the required kA rating for its overcurrent protection device, based on the combined fault current. Then that same fault current drives the short-circuit withstand check on the DC cable under AS/NZS 3008.1.1. Meanwhile, the inverter tying it all to the grid still needs a valid CEC listing under AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2. Miss any one layer, and the other two will not save the design.
So treat the battery compliance stack as one system, not three separate checklists. A designer who only checks the inverter datasheet will eventually hit a cable run that neither standard alone was built to catch. The same goes for a designer who only checks enclosure clearances. Check all three, every time — and check that the underlying battery product certification is in place before any of it matters.
Change Log — Australia’s New Battery Rules Hub
This section tracks every update to this hub page. Each new amendment, published child guide, or corrected date gets its own row.
Date
Version
Update
26 Jul 2026
v1.0
Initial publication. Covered AS/NZS 5139:2019 Amendment 1:2025, AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Amendment 2:2024 (mandatory 23 Aug 2025), and AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 — incorrectly dated as “published Nov 2024” in this version.
26 Jul 2026
v2.0
Corrected AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 publication date to 19 Dec 2025 (matches Standards Australia’s official listing and the WA government notice — same day as AS/NZS 5139 Amd 1). Added WA’s specific 19 Jun 2026 full-compliance date and a state-variation caveat. Merged in the battery product certification comparison section (IEC 62619, UL 1973, UN38.3, IEC 63056) and the certification-vs-compliance framing.
26 Jul 2026
v3.0
Retitled and reframed the opening to lead with “Australia’s New Battery Rules” rather than the technical “three standards” framing. Focus keyword changed to “Australia’s New Battery Rules”; compliance-stack phrasing retained as secondary keyword and internal structural framing.
26 Jul 2026
v3.1
Confirmed “Australia’s new battery rules” as the primary focus keyword with Rahul (final decision, not just a flag). Finalised metadata (SEO title, meta description, slug) to match. Verified the 3008.1.1 date correction independently against the standard’s own front matter and the WA government notice before sign-off. Finalised for posting.
26 Jul 2026
v3.2
Fixed AIOSEO errors reported after posting: changed the AIOSEO Focus Keyword field recommendation to the exact substring “new battery rules” (apostrophe forms don’t reliably pass literal URL/phrase matching); retitled ~30% of H2/H3 headings to include the focus keyword; increased sentence-starter variety and transition-word density in the body; flagged that the Metadata/Working Notes/Image Specs/Link Map sections must not be pasted into the live post body — only the “Article Body” section should go into WordPress.
Australia’s New Battery Rules Checklist for 2026
Confirm every new BESS design references AS/NZS 5139:2019 including Amendment 1, and check your state’s specific enforcement timeline.
Check the inverter model against the current CEC approved list for AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Amendment 2 compliance — a pre-amendment listing did not carry over automatically.
Specify cable sizing to AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 for new designs, even during the transition period.
Recalculate DC cable sizes on unperforated trays with six or more circuits — the 2025 grouping factors are more conservative.
Confirm battery product certifications (IEC 62619, UL 1973, UN38.3, IEC 63056 as applicable) are current, and don’t treat them as a substitute for the three installation standards above.
Revisit this hub whenever an amendment publishes — the battery compliance stack changes faster than most single-standard guides track.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Australia’s new battery rules?
It’s the combination of standards required for a compliant BESS installation in Australia: AS/NZS 5139 for battery system safety, AS/NZS 4777.2 for inverter/grid-connect performance, and AS/NZS 3008.1.1 for cable selection. A project needs all three — passing one doesn’t clear the others.
When did AS/NZS 5139 Amendment 1 and AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 take effect?
Both were published on 19 December 2025. NSW guidance treats the 5139 update as mandatory immediately on publication. Western Australia’s Building and Energy division has set 19 June 2026 as the date full compliance is required for both standards, following a six-month transition period. Confirm the position with your specific state regulator, since implementation timing is not uniform nationally.
Does every battery inverter need CEC approval in Australia?
Grid-connected inverters used in eligible Australian installations generally require approval through the Clean Energy Council’s approved inverter list, and that listing must reflect AS/NZS 4777.2 Amendment 2 compliance specifically — pre-August-2025 listings did not carry over automatically.
Are IEC 62619 or UL 1973-certified batteries automatically approved for use in Australia?
No. These certifications demonstrate battery product safety, but the complete BESS system still needs to separately satisfy AS/NZS 5139 installation compliance, AS/NZS 4777.2 inverter compliance, and AS/NZS 3008.1.1 cable design compliance.
What standard covers BESS cable sizing in Australia?
AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 provides current-carrying capacity, voltage drop, and derating guidance for AC and DC cables, including the new tables for DC systems up to 1500V introduced in the 2025 edition.
