Clean Energy Regulator
CER manages the inspection process under the SRES Inspections Program.
Inspections by Checklist
Under the SRES Inspections program, CER inspectors use a checklist for on-site inspection and reporting. The checklist was developed with industry experts and consolidates items from regulations, standards, and industry requirements.
The checklist uses the following categories to rate Inspection Reports:
Adequate:
- minor and medium non-compliance may be sighted. Does not pose a safety risk.
Substandard:
- Does not meet key clauses in the standards and requirements for installation and may lead to premature equipment failure or other issues
- Does not pose an imminent safety risk, however the installation work and/or the equipment should be improved to meet relevant standards and industry guidelines
Unsafe:
- has a safety hazard which poses an imminent risk to a person or property
Non-compliance points structure for SRES Inspection Reports
Non-compliance points are based on the individual non-compliant items listed in the inspection reports we receive, rather than the overall categorisation of the report. Depending on the source of the inspection report, we weigh the number of non-compliance points to demerit points to ensure a fair system.
SAA Category | CER Inspection Category | SAA Non-Compliance Points | Description |
Unsafe | Unsafe | 10 | The system poses an imminent risk of damage to property or persons. The system had to be shut down and made safe. |
Needs Rectification | Needs Rectification | 6 | The system has failed to meet key requirements and poses a high risk that may lead to premature equipment failure or other issues. |
Medium non-compliance | Medium non-compliance | 2 | The system has failed to meet requirements and poses a medium risk. |
Minor non-compliance | Minor non-compliance | 1 | The system has failed to meet requirements and poses a low risk. |
Non-compliance points and demerit points
The total number of non-compliance points (per report) are used to establish demerit points against the installer’s accreditation in line with the table below:
Non-compliance Points (per report) | Demerit Points |
1 to 5 | 1 |
6 to 10 | 2 |
11 to 15 | 3 |
16 to 20 | 4 |
21 to 25 | 5 |
26 to 30 | 6 |
31 to 35 | 7 |
36 to 40 | 8 |
41 to 50 | 9 |
51 or more | 10 |
Rectification of SRES Inspection Reports
We manage the process of rectification for Unsafe and Substandard SRES Inspection reports.
When we become aware of a design or installation that does not comply with relevant Australian Standards, SAA Requirements, or other applicable regulations, we notify the responsible accredited person to outline the issue and the necessary steps for remediation. This may include carrying out corrective work to resolve the identified non-compliance.