Fundamentals of Australian Electrical Equipment Safety
Like all product compliance regimes Electrical Equipment Safety has both an administrative part and a technical part. The responsibility for electrical safety resides with the States and Territories who are responsible for electrical safety across their jurisdictions.
The legislation is based on:
- Uniform Equipment Safety Rules;
- Australian and New Zealand Standards;
- International standards.
Who must comply?
- Everyone who manufactures or imports the electrical equipment into Australia must comply.
What equipment must comply?
- Low voltage electrical equipment that is designed, or marketed as suitable, for household, personal or similar use.
- Commercial and Industrial equipment
The Electrical Safety Acts and Work Health and Safety Acts enacted by each state and territory and the Electrical Safety Installation Regulations of each state and territory apply. Guidance is given in the codes of practice that support the legislation. Relevant Australian standards include AS 3820 and AS60204.1.
In general, Australia is a highly regulated environment and suppliers to the Australian market must inform themselves of the applicable legislation and standards or risk fines and product recalls.
Compliance Certificates
These are only required for household and similar products placed on the Australian market, however all products including commercial and industrial must meet relevant Australian standards prior to being placed on the market. In the case of household and similar products certificates and registration on the National Database is required.