--- title: "Portable HV equipment test intervals: what the EEA guide says" description: Learn about the EEA's guidelines for testing portable HV equipment, including intervals for gloves, voltage detectors etc to ensure safety & compliance. image: https://deg.nz/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Workers%20In%20Orange%20And%20Blue%20Shirts%20Before%20Gravel%20Drive.png --- [Skip to content](https://deg.nz/insights/portable-hv-equipment-test-intervals-what-the-eea-guide-says#main-content) [![DEG-primary logo-white-RGB - Copy](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/Website%20images/DEG-primary%20logo-white-RGB%20-%20Copy.png?width=125&height=55&name=DEG-primary%20logo-white-RGB%20-%20Copy.png "DEG-primary logo-white-RGB - Copy")](https://deg.nz) Services Consulting Engineering Survey & Inspection Calibration & Compliance Industries Energy & Utilities Manufacturing & Processing Fabrication & Construction Marine & Ports Civil Infrastructure Safety & Quality Approach (Scale) Accreditations & Quality Safety & Compliance Resources Insights Compliance Updates Technical Guidance Case Studies About About DEG Our History Leadership Team Careers Contact Us Services [Consulting Engineering](https://deg.nz/consulting-engineering) [Survey & Inspection](https://deg.nz/survey-inspection) [Calibration & Compliance](https://deg.nz/calibration-compliance) Industries [Energy & Utilities](https://deg.nz/energy-utilities) [Manufacturing & Processing](https://deg.nz/manufacturing-processing) [Fabrication & Construction](https://deg.nz/fabrication-construction) [Marine & Ports](https://deg.nz/marine-ports) [Civil Infrastructure](https://deg.nz/civil-infrastructure) Safety & Quality [Approach (Scale)](https://deg.nz/our-approach) [Accreditations & Quality](https://deg.nz/accreditations-quality) [Safety & Compliance](https://deg.nz/safety-compliance) Resources [Insights](https://deg.nz/insights) [Compliance Updates](https://deg.nz/compliance-updates) [Technical Guidance](https://deg.nz/technical-guidance) [Case Studies](https://deg.nz/case-studies) About [About DEG](https://deg.nz/about) [Our History](https://deg.nz/our-history) [Leadership Team](https://deg.nz/leadership-team) [Careers](https://deg.nz/careers) [Contact Us](https://deg.nz/contact-us) ![](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Workers%20In%20Orange%20And%20Blue%20Shirts%20Before%20Gravel%20Drive.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=Workers%20In%20Orange%20And%20Blue%20Shirts%20Before%20Gravel%20Drive.png) #wedothingstogether #wedoallthingssafely #wedothingsright # Portable HV equipment test intervals: what the EEA guide says ![DEG](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/Red%20D-1.png?width=48&height=48&name=Red%20D-1.png) DEG October 27, 2026 Every lines crew carries gloves, voltage detectors, operating sticks and portable earths. Each has its own test cycle, and when one lapses the item is out of service, usually at the worst moment. Here is a plain summary of the intervals in the Electricity Engineers' Association (EEA) [Technical Guide: Portable Equipment for Work On or Near Conductors](https://eea.co.nz/publication/portable-equipment-for-work-on-or-near-conductors-pdf/) (April 2024). **What the guide is** The EEA describes the guide as an industry procedure under the Safety Manual: Electricity Industry (SM-EI). It is one recommended way to meet SM-EI requirements and does not replace them. It does not cover live-line tools or equipment used for live work under ECP 46. **The intervals** - **Insulating gloves and sleeves:** tested every six months to ASTM F496 or equivalent (section 4.5). - **Voltage detectors:** checked before and after each use (5.4), tested against a voltage source at rated voltage every six months (5.5.1), with electrical tests every two years and results recorded (5.5.2). - **Operating and measuring sticks:** six-monthly inspection and surface leakage test (8.5.1), and a two-yearly power-frequency withstand test (8.5.2). - **Portable earths:** six-monthly inspection by a competent person (6.5.1) and a conductivity test every three years (6.5.2). - [EEA, Technical Guide: Portable Equipment for Work On or Near Conductors, April 2024 (publication page)](https://eea.co.nz/publication/portable-equipment-for-work-on-or-near-conductors-pdf/) - [EEA, same guide, PDF as hosted by StayLive (sections 4.5, 5.4, 5.5, 6.5, 8.5 cited)](https://www.staylive.nz/download/168449/Technical%20Guide%20_%20Portable%20Equipment%20for%20Work%20On%20or%20Near%20Conductors%20-%20April%202024.pdf) **What this means for you** The guide says each item should be marked with its next test due date or a register number, and that the due date must be checked before use. If your tags and register agree, you are in good shape. For gear used often or in wet conditions, section 8.5.1 says to test more often than six-monthly. Your own company procedures and the SM-EI still apply on top of the guide. Want the whole kit tested on one visit? Email [admin@deg.nz](mailto:admin@deg.nz) and we will come to you. We certify the equipment lives depend on. **Sources** - [EEA, Technical Guide: Portable Equipment for Work On or Near Conductors, April 2024 (publication page)](https://eea.co.nz/publication/portable-equipment-for-work-on-or-near-conductors-pdf/) - [EEA, same guide, PDF as hosted by StayLive (sections 4.5, 5.4, 5.5, 6.5, 8.5 cited)](https://www.staylive.nz/download/168449/Technical%20Guide%20_%20Portable%20Equipment%20for%20Work%20On%20or%20Near%20Conductors%20-%20April%202024.pdf) ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fdeg.nz%2Finsights%2Fportable-hv-equipment-test-intervals-what-the-eea-guide-says](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fdeg.nz%2Finsights%2Fportable-hv-equipment-test-intervals-what-the-eea-guide-says) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Industrial%20Inspector%20Using%20Ultrasonic%20Probe%20At%20New%20Zealand%20Plant.png?width=1672&height=941&name=Industrial%20Inspector%20Using%20Ultrasonic%20Probe%20At%20New%20Zealand%20Plant.png) #wedothingstogether #wedoallthingssafely #wedothingsright Pressure piping integrity: what WorkSafe inspectors are finding](https://deg.nz/insights/pressure-piping-integrity-what-worksafe-inspectors-are-finding) ### [![](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/Image%20%282%29.jpeg?width=4032&height=3024&name=Image%20%282%29.jpeg) #wedothingstogether #wedoallthingssafely #wedothingsright EEA2026: Certainty, capability and some great conversations](https://deg.nz/insights/eea2026-certainty-capability-and-some-great-conversations) ![DEG-primary logo-white-RGB-justified](https://deg.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/Website%20images/DEG-primary%20logo-white-RGB-justified.png?width=150&height=45&name=DEG-primary%20logo-white-RGB-justified.png "DEG-primary logo-white-RGB-justified")   EXPERTS IN CALIBRATION, CERTIFICATION & COMPLIANCE ENGINEERING   ###### ©DEG 2025 ###### [Privacy policy](https://deg.nz/hubfs/Privacy%20Policy.pdf) ###### [Terms & Conditions](https://deg.nz/hubfs/Terms%20and%20Conditions.pdf) ##### Hamilton +64 7 850 1177 ##### Christchurch +64 3 348 6713 ##### Timaru +64 3 688 6713 ##### Dunedin +64 3 477 1713 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "DEG", "url" : "https://deg.nz/insights/author/deg" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-27T20:43:50.722Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-27T20:42:57.000Z", "headline" : "Portable HV equipment test intervals: what the EEA guide says", "image" : [ "https://deg.nz/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Workers%20In%20Orange%20And%20Blue%20Shirts%20Before%20Gravel%20Drive.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://deg.nz/insights/portable-hv-equipment-test-intervals-what-the-eea-guide-says", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://deg.nz/hubfs/DEG-primary%20logo-red-RGB.png" }, "name" : "DEG" } } ```