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Reference
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📅 Updated May 2026
Construction sectors follow quarterly colour system. Find out what applies to your industr
REFERENCE GUIDE
Understanding Test and Tag Colours in WA: The Complete Guide
Everything Perth Businesses need to know about test and tag colours in WA. What the quarterly rotation means, which industries must follow it, and the most common misconception that catches businesses out.
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In this article:
What are the test and tag colours?
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Written By:
PTTS Technical Team
Certified technicians, Perth WA
All PTTS technicians hold current testing and tagging competency certifications. Content reviewed against Electricity Regulations 1947, Department of mine, industry & regulations (DEMIRS) and WHS Act 2022
WHAT ARE THE TEST AND TAG COLOURS IN WA?
If you’ve ever looked at the tags on your workplace appliances and wondered why they come in different colours, or why the colour seems to change every few months - you’re not alone! Test and tag colours in WA are one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of electrical compliance.
The short answer; in Western Australia, tag colours are only regulated for businesses operating in the construction, demolition and mining environments under AS/NZS 3012. For all other businesses (offices, retail, hospitality, warehouses) the colour of a tag is cosmetic, used purely for identification purposes.
For those industries where colour does matter, the system follows a quarterly rotation tied to the seasons, using four colours; Red, Green, Blue and Yellow. This is commonly referred to as the RGBY colour schedule.
THE BASICS
Red
December - January - February
Equipment tested during the summer quarter is tagged red. The tag remains valid for 3 months from the actual test date.
Green
March - April - May
Equipment tested during the autumn quarter is tagged green. The tag remains valid for 3 months from the actual test date.
Blue
June - July - August
Equipment tested during the winter quarter is tagged blue. The tag remains valid for 3 months from the actual test date.
Yellow
September - October - November
Equipment tested during the spring quarter is tagged yellow. The tag remains valid for 3 months from the actual test date.
*The colour of the tags change with the seasons.
IMPORTANT: The colour of a tag identifies when the appliance was tested, no when it expires. A red tag applied on 15 February remains valid until 15 May, regardless of the colour changing to green on 1 March.
UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM
WHAT DO THE TEST AND TAG COLOURS MEAN?
The colour of a test and tag in WA serves a single function within the construction and demolition sector: it indicates the quarter in which the appliance was tested. At a glance, a site manager or safety officer can look at the colour of a tag and immediately know which testing period an item belongs to, without needing to read the date on the tag.
This system exists because construction sites have a high volume of equipment, frequent movement of tools between locations, and stringent 3 month testing requirements. The colour coding provides a fast, visual audit tool that makes it easier to spot items that may have been missed or are approaching their due date.
The colour system does not mean an item automatically needs retesting when the colour changes. This is the most common and most damaging misconception about test and tag colours in WA, and it's addressed in detail in the next section.
NOTE FOR CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES: Some builders operate their own risk assessments and site safety policies that may be more extensive than the minimum requirements under AS/NZS 3012. Always check your company’s specific requirements, they may require more frequent testing or additional documentation beyond what the standard mandates.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
THE MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTION ABOUT TAG COLOURS IN WA
The single most widespread misunderstanding about test and tag colours in Western Australia is that a tag needs to be replaced as soon as the seasonal colour changes. This is incorrect, and believing it can lead to unnecessary retesting costs and operational disruption.
MYTH
When the colour changes to the next quarter, items with the old colour need to be retested immediately
This is not how the system works. The colour change simply marks a new testing quarter, it does not invalidate existing tags that are still within their 3 month validity window from their original test date.
FACT
A tag remains valid for 3 months from it actual test date - regardless of colour changes
An item tagged red on 10 February remains valid until 10 May. On 1 March when the colour changes to green, that red tag is still perfectly valid. The tag only needs replacing when the 3 month window from the original test date has passes.
MYTH
All businesses in WA are required to follow the RGBY colour schedule.
The RGBY quarterly colour rotation is specific to the construction, demolition, and mining sectors under AS/NZS 3012. It does not apply to office, retail, hospitality, warehouses or any businesses operating under AS/NZS 3760
FACT
For non-construction businesses, tag colour is not mandated in WA.
Businesses operating under AS/NZS 3760 - including offices, retail, hospitality venues, warehouses and most commercial premises - are not required to follow a specific colour schedule. Many use consistent colours as a practical identifier, but this is a choice, not a legal requirement.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
TEST AND TAG COLOURS WA - FAQS
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No, this is the most common misconception about test and tag colours in WA. The colour change simply marks a new testing quarter. A tag remains valid for 3 months from its actual test date, regardless of when the seasonal colour changes. For example, a red tag applied on 20 February remains valid until 20 May, even though the colour changes to green on 1 March.
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Only businesses operating under AS/NZS 3012:2019 (specifically construction, demolition, and mining sites) are required to follow the quarterly RGBY colour rotation. All other businesses operating under AS/NZS 3760:2022, including offices, retail, hospitality, and warehouses, are not required to follow a specific colour schedule.
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The current colour depends on the month of testing. Red applies to December-February, Green to March–May, Blue to June–August, and Yellow to September–November. The colour tag applied to your equipment should correspond to the quarter in which testing was carried out.
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Yes. For businesses operating under AS/NZS 3760:2022 (such as offices, retail stores, hospitality venues, and warehouses) there is no mandated colour schedule in WA. You can use any colour, or consistent colours across different testing intervals as a practical identifier. What matters is the information on the tag itself (the test date, due date, and technician details) not the colour.
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Potentially. Some builders and principal contractors have their own site safety management plans and risk assessments that go beyond the minimum requirements of AS/NZS 3012:2019. These internal policies may require more frequent testing, specific documentation formats, or additional tagging requirements. Always check with your principal contractor or site manager for site-specific requirements before commencing work.
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