When changing from AGMs to LiFePO4, adding solar panels or for any changes to to you ELV system I have repeatedly stated that AS/NZS 3001.2:2022 has not been called up in legislation for those with caravans with an ATM of 4.5t or less and that AS/NZS 3001:2008 is the applicable Standard.

There are plenty of links to non authoritative websites that state EVL installations must comply with AS/NZS 3001.2:2022 but none to those web sites linked you to any legislation to back up their statements.

People have questioned my posts and I have asked them to provide a link to the legislation to back their statements but no one has been able to do that. There have been posts where people say that AS/NZ 3001.2:2022 is not retrospective but again where do they gain that information from without a link to the relative legislation.

The legislation that sets the standards that manufactured or imported caravans must meet is the Commonwealth Roads Vehicle Act 2018, under which the Roads Vehicle Standards are legislated, in particular ADR 42/05 which is the electrical installation applicable to trailers with an ATM of 4.5t or less. That is the legislation. AS/NZS3001:2008 is 'referenced in that ADR so that Standard becomes the primary reference document.

Firstly, Local Government policy and bye laws cannot overrule State legislation. State legislation cannot overrule Commonwealth legislation and most certainly an Australian Standards Committee cannot overrule Commonwealth legislation.

Australian Standards are not legislated, the Acts and Regulations are legislated but the Australian Standard becomes a 'reference' document.

AS/NZS3001:2008 covers all the electrical installation in that trailer which is 240V. There is no reference to ELV wiring or ELV installations in that Standard.

I don't have the 2008 Standard with me at the moment but it will somewhere within the document there will be a reference to AS/NZS3000 (Australian Wiring Rules). That Standard then comes the secondary reference document but in this instance it is only applicable to the 240V wiring etc. That is it finished!

You do not then just pick up AS/NZS3000:2018 and say it references AS/NZS3001 so I must do the whole installation 240V and ELV work to that Standard. It only applies to the 240V work.

You do not just pick up a Standard and say that fits. Standards are not law. You do not just pick out a definition out of a Standard and say that fits. You start at the top with the legislation.

Back on December 6th 2025 Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 42/05 General Safety Requirements) 2018 was amended to incorporate.......wait for it ....AS/NZS 3001.2:2022.

Back before 6 December 2025 there was only one Standard applicable and that was AS/NZS 3001:2008 but now you have a choice. The amended legislation Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 42/05 General Safety Requirements) 2018 now states:-

21.7 Electrical installations intended for connection to a power system other than that of a drawing vehicle must comply with:

AS/NZS 3001.2:2022 (Electrical installations Connectable electrical installations and supply arrangements, Part 2: Connectable electrical installations);

or

AS/NZS 3001:2008 (Electrical installations Transportable structures and vehicles including their site supplies)..

Here is the link to the legislation.

[url]https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2018L01 ... t/text[url]

This may help you understand how it all works.

In Australian legislation, a secondary reference document is an external document (like an Australian Standard or industry guideline) that is not cited directly by an Act or regulation, but is instead referred to by a primary reference document.

Understanding the Hierarchy

Primary Reference Document: An external document explicitly adopted into law by a primary piece of legislation (e.g., an Act) or a statutory instrument (e.g., the National Construction Code).

Secondary Reference Document: Any guide, standard, or code that is mentioned or relied upon within the primary document.

Key Legal Rules

Limited Scope: A secondary reference document is only legally binding within the exact context it is quoted in the primary document.

The "Frozen" Edition Rule: Unless the legislation specifies otherwise, the applicable version of a secondary reference document is the edition that existed at the time the primary reference document was published. Newer editions of the secondary document do not automatically apply unless updated in the primary legislation. To confirm whether a document functions as a secondary reference in a specific legal framework, you can review the referenced documents schedules within the relevant legislative instrument.
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Hope that helps you understand it a little more.

The big issue now is that all those non-authoritative websites which carried incorrect information prior to December 6 2025 will sit there and not be updated thus catching out the unwary. That is the reason one should only use authoritative websites. Even then it is easy to get caught out.

VSB1 is not a legislative document, it is merely an information publication that picks out all the ADRs applicable to trailers (including caravans) with an ATM of 4.5t or less. The last update was in July 2025 and it has not been updated since, therefore it is incorrect in that it does not carry the latest changes.

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/vehicle-standards-bulletin-1-revision6-trailers-with-an-aggregate-trailer-mass-of-4-5-tonnes-or-less-july2025-pdf.pdf

However it does carry a disclaimer and that is the reason you always go to the legislation.

Disclaimer

The material contained in this publication is made available on the understanding that the Commonwealth is not

providing professional advice, and that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use, and seek independent advice if necessary.

The Commonwealth makes no representations or warranties as to the contents or accuracy of the information contained in this publication. To the extent permitted by law, the Commonwealth disclaims liability to any person or organisation in respect of anything done, or omitted to be done, in reliance upon information contained in this publication

At the time of posting the information on the legislation is correct but may change in the future.

The only other issue to consider is your insurance PDS. I have since penned an email for a person who undertook a change from AGMs to LiFePO4 simply because their PDS stated they must notify the insurance company if they they make a modification. There was no mention of modifications under the definitions. The insurance company has since come back saying it has been noted.

Good luck

Tim