Global Regulatory Compliance

Friday, February 20, 2009

Australia - Safety for Non-Perscribed Equipment

A person who sells non-prescribed electrical equipment must comply with section 120 of the Safety Regulation. Generally speaking all non-prescribed electrical equipment must comply with the safety criteria of AS/NZS3820 (Essential safety requirements for low voltage electrical equipment). This would include, but not be limited to:

· a test report showing compliance to the relevant Australian product standard;
· if no relevant Australian product standard exists, a test report showing compliance to another relevant standard such as AS/NZS3350.1, AS/NZS60335.1 or AS/NZS 3100;
· a certificate of approval issued as per relevant Australian/NZ legislation;
· another method consistent with clause 5 of AS/NZS 3820

Equipment listed in schedule 3 of the Regulation which does not meet the regulatory definitions of AS/NZS 4417.2 Appendix E is non-prescribed. For example:
· appliance connectors or cord extension sockets that fall within the scope of AS/NZS3123;
· plugs or socket-outlets within the scope of AS/NZS 31311;
· cord extension sockets and outlet devices with a rating greater than 20A;
· television receivers without a single cathode tube, such as plasma screen and LCD devices; and
· water heaters with a capacity less than 4.5l or greater than 680l, or instantaneous types that do not have live parts in contact with the water.

Electrical installations
Some equipment through a process of onboard electrical work and manufacture, conducted by appropriately qualified persons who ensure the final assembly is electrically safe, become an electrical installation. Examples include, but are not limited to:
· a refrigeration system that is build onboard with a separate compressor connected to one or more condenser units in one or more cooled cavities (freezer, ice maker or fresh food refrigerated compartments); or
· a power supply system/battery charger manufactured onboard using a transformer, separate rectification assembly and separate voltage regulation parts.

Individual pieces of electrical equipment that make up the installation may be either prescribed or non-prescribed and each should be managed accordingly.

Further Sources of Information
Electrical Safety Office
Email: equipmentsafety@deir.qld.gov.au



PETER S. MERGUERIAN
peter@goglobalcompliance.com
GO GLOBAL COMPLIANCE, INC.
Tel: (408) 416-3772
Fax: (408) 416-3224
Cell: (925) 487-4640
Skype: petermerguerian
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