Insulated EWP Major Inspection
An insulated EWP has to pass everything an ordinary boom does at its ten-year major inspection — and then prove the thing that makes it insulated still works. For crews working near live apparatus, the dielectric barrier built into the boom and platform is what keeps them alive, and after ten years of use, weathering and cleaning it cannot simply be assumed to be intact. This page is where you book the major inspection that assesses both.
So the scope is layered. The structural strip-down, NDT and recertification are carried out as they would be on any boom, and alongside them the insulating components are assessed and the unit dielectrically retested to confirm its insulating integrity. The liner is inspected, and the insulated gap between the working platform and the conductive parts of the machine is checked against requirements — because that separation is only useful if it is genuinely maintained.
Built For
- Electricity utilities and network operators
- Electrical contractors working on or near live apparatus
- Telco and communications crews using insulated platforms
- Arborists working near powerlines
- Asset managers with insulated units approaching ten years
Equipment & Coverage
- Insulated boom lifts
- Insulated truck-mounted EWPs
- Insulated upper and lower boom sections
- Platform liners and insulated buckets
- Associated dielectric and bonding components
The Process
Structural strip-down
The boom, pivots and platform mounting are dismantled and inspected exactly as on any major inspection, so the machine's structural integrity is proven independently of its insulation.
Insulation & liner assessment
The insulated sections, platform liner and bucket are inspected for contamination, tracking, cracking and damage that degrade dielectric performance, and cleaned and prepared for testing.
Dielectric retest & gap check
The insulating components are dielectrically retested to verify integrity, and the insulated gap between the platform and conductive parts is checked against the applicable requirements for the unit.
NDT, test & recertify
Safety-critical welds and pins are NDT tested, the machine is load and function tested, and it is recertified with documentation covering both structural and dielectric results.
Compliance & Standards
Insulated elevated work platforms are designed to AS/NZS 1418.10 and maintained and inspected under AS 2550.10, and the ten-year major inspection applies to them as it does to any EWP. What is added is the dielectric dimension: the insulating components are retested and the insulated gap and liner assessed to confirm the barrier that protects crews near live apparatus is intact. The dielectric test criteria and the required insulation gap follow the applicable standard and the manufacturer's specification for the specific unit and its rating — figures we confirm rather than invent.
Why EWP Australia
- Full structural strip-down and recertification, as on any major inspection
- Dielectric retest to confirm the insulating barrier is still intact
- Platform liner and insulated sections inspected for contamination and damage
- Insulated gap checked against the applicable requirements for the unit
- Documentation covering both structural and dielectric results for audit
Common Questions
How is an insulated EWP major inspection different from a standard one?
It includes everything a standard boom major inspection does — strip-down, NDT and recertification — and adds a dielectric dimension. The insulating components are retested, the platform liner is inspected, and the insulated gap between the platform and the conductive parts of the machine is checked. Structural soundness and insulating integrity are both proven before the unit returns to live work.
Why does the insulation need retesting at the major inspection?
Dielectric performance degrades over time through weathering, contamination, moisture and physical damage, none of which is obvious from a visual check. After ten years of service the barrier cannot be assumed intact, so it is dielectrically retested during the major inspection to confirm it still provides the protection crews depend on.
What is the 'insulated gap' you check?
It is the separation maintained between the working platform and the conductive parts of the machine, so that the insulated section actually isolates the operator. During the major inspection that gap is checked against the applicable requirements for the specific unit — the required value follows the standard and manufacturer specification for that machine, which we confirm rather than quote a generic figure.
What condition is the platform liner assessed for?
The liner is inspected for contamination, surface tracking, cracking, moisture ingress and physical damage, all of which reduce its insulating value. It is cleaned and prepared before testing, because a contaminated or damaged liner can compromise the dielectric protection regardless of how the rest of the unit performs.
When is an insulated EWP due for a major inspection?
At ten years of age, with further major inspections periodically after that under AS 2550.10 — the same time-based trigger as any EWP. The added dielectric testing is carried out as part of that ten-year assessment, on top of any periodic electrical testing the unit requires between majors.
Use Our Free Calculators
Quick tools to help you plan, compare options, and assess compliance requirements.
National Infrastructure Support
Reliable fleet access and major inspection services for government, defence, and top-tier contractors.