Ceiling insulation requirements for industry

How to become accredited

The Essential Services Commission (ESC) provides further information on requirements for accredited providers and how to register for the activity. Accredited providers can also download the ceiling insulation guide and access other activity resources.

Before any ceiling insulation works can begin, the accredited provider must have a contract in place with the customer for the delivery of the activity.

The accreditation requirement is currently specific to the ceiling insulation activities under the VEU program. Installers may enter into the contract on behalf of an accredited provider as their agent. Accredited providers can also partner with installers to deliver or manage parts of the activity, provided all applicable VEU requirements are met.

For more information about the ceiling insulation activity and accreditation requirements, visit the ESC's ceiling insulation activity webpage.

Installer requirements

Only installers verified by the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) as Certified Insulation Installers can carry out insulation upgrades.

EEC certified installers are searchable at - Find a certified expert - EEC Professional Certifications.

For more information on the requirements and other industry development questions, please email energy.upgrades@deeca.vic.gov.au.

Training and certification

Businesses participating in the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) ceiling insulation activity must ensure all onsite installers hold the required certification.

This includes business owners, employees and subcontractors, all of whom must have EEC Certified Insulation Installer (CII) certification to carry out VEU ceiling insulation upgrades.

Certification application fees commenced on 1 October 2026. Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and asylum seeker/refugee applicants remain eligible for a subsidy.

Businesses can save more than $1,000 per installer if applicants are eligible for a subsidy.

For more information visit the EEC website.

Eligible products and requirements

Products must be applied for this activity on the ESC webpage.

Strict product standards ensure safety and performance. Manufacturers will be able to apply to the ESC to have their products listed. To be eligible, products must:

• meet thermal performance and fire safety requirements
• hold a related CodeMark Certificate of Conformity that attests compliance with AS/NZS 4859.1 and AS/NZS 1530.3*.

These products are not permitted:

• foil‑faced insulation
• cellulose fibre insulation
• loose-fill insulation.

For more detail on product requirements for this activity, download the VEU specifications at Industry specifications.

Pre-installation requirements

Electrical safety assessment

A Pre‑Installation Electrical Safety Assessment (PIESA) must be completed by a licensed electrician employed by a Registered Electrical Contractor. It must be provided to the owner of the property and the person installing the insulation no less than 24 hours prior to work beginning.

The PIESA will check for:

• unsafe or prohibited wiring/cables (eg. split metal conduit, rubber, lead and cloth sheathed wiring)
• prohibited lighting (e.g. halogen downlights)
• solar PV or battery cables
• any other electrical hazards in the ceiling space.

The assessment also identifies any rectification work required before an installation can proceed.

All rectifications must meet AS/NZS 3019 and AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules).

Cable and wiring requirements

All mains connected cables in the ceiling space must:

• be protected by a Residual Current Device (RCD) where required
• be thermoplastic insulated and sheathed (TPS), or an equivalent cable type that meets the most current version of AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring rules)
• meet basic protection requirements.

Note:  Ceiling spaces that contain split metal conduit , rubber, lead and cloth sheafed wiring are ineligible for the activity unless rectified.

Eligible premises must only have IC and/or IC-4 luminaires in the ceiling area to be upgraded. Any other lights (e.g. CA-class luminaires, non-IC luminaires, ‘do-not-cover’, or unmarked luminaires) need to be replaced with the required IC and/or IC-4 fittings that can be safely covered by insulation before the property can qualify for a VEU ceiling insulation discount.

To see all items, download the Pre-Installation Installer Safety Assessment.

Notification to the regulator

The accredited provider must submit a pre‑installation notification to the ESC before each upgrade. This protects consumers by helping to:

• clearly identify who is responsible for each upgrade before work
• identify safety or quality issues early and introduce improvements where needed
• monitor compliance with program rules and reduce the risk of harm
• enable regulators to step in quickly and investigate issues if they arise.

Details about how to submit a pre-installation notification are available via the ESC Ceiling Insulation Activity Guide.

Installer safety assessment

Before work begins, the installer must complete a Pre‑Installation Installer Safety Assessment (PIISA), which confirms that:

• the worksite is safe
• hazards and controls are identified in a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
• an electrician will be onsite where required by the electrical safety assessment
• all insulation will be installed in line with AS 3999 – Bulk thermal insulation installation.

To see all items, download the Pre-Installation Installer Safety Assessment:

Our work with regulators

The ESC is responsible for the regulation of the VEU program.

Solar Victoria and the ESC are working with Energy Safe Victoria and WorkSafe Victoria to create a strong safety and compliance framework for ceiling insulation upgrades installed through the VEU program.

This collaboration supports:

• coordination of quality, risk and safety oversight
• safety checks on the day of installation
• quality and safety audits
• development of technical guidance to support safe working practices onsite.

Specifications and regulatory framework

The VEU specifications set out the technical requirements for this activity, including minimum product requirements, incentive calculations and minimum co-payments. VEU specifications for this activity come into effect on 14 April 2026.

Download the VEU specifications at Industry specifications.

Regulations

The Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Amendments (Ceiling Insulation) Regulations 2026 provide the legal foundation for delivering ceiling insulation upgrades. They set the mandatory rules that must be followed and take priority over all other program documents, guidance and specifications.

The Regulations are designed to ensure insulation installations are carried out safely, consistently and to a high standard across Victoria.

Industry resources

VEU ceiling insulation webinar

Industry pack

Frequently asked questions

For more industry resources, including answers to common questions, visit the activity resources on the ESC website.

Page last updated: 05/10/26