Like
all regulatory compliance regimes the EESS has both an administrative
part and a technical part. The EESS also builds on the current
arrangements modifying them and adding to them. If you are a retailer,
supplier, manufacturer or importer then you must understand and apply
the EESS where required.
The responsibility for the EESS is with
the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) who is responsible
for electrical safety across Australia and New Zealand. ERAC has
introduced a model legislation which has been implemented in the
relevant legislation of Australian States and territories and New
Zealand. The aim of the EESS is to create a harmonized legislative
environment for electrical equipment safety.
The EESS is based on:
Harmonized electrical safety legislation;
Uniform Equipment Safety Rules;
Australian and New Zealand Standards;
International standards.
Who must comply?
Responsible suppliers must comply. Definition of a "responsible supplier":
A person who manufactures the electrical equipment in, or imports the equipment into Australia; or
if
New Zealand is a participating jurisdiction, a person who manufactures
the equipment in, or imports the electrical equipment into, New Zealand.
What equipment must comply?
In-scope equipment must comply. The meaning of in-scope:
It is low voltage electrical equipment that is designed, or marketed as suitable, for household, personal or similar use.
It
is immaterial whether the low voltage equipment is also designed or
marketed to be used for commercial or industrial purposes.
Note: Low voltage electrical equipment that is rated at:
Greater than 50 V AC RMS or 120V ripple-free DC (extra-low voltage) and
Less than 1000V AC RMS or 1500V ripple-free DC (high voltage)
What about electrical equipment that is not "in-scope"?
Electrical
equipment that is not in-scope electrical equipment (for example, a
commercial oven in a bakery) still needs to be electrically safe. The
designer, manufacturer or importer is obligated to ensure the product is
tested and examined to be electrically safe, which is generally shown
by compliance with the safety criteria of AS/NZS 3820 Essential safety
requirements for electrical equipment.
Also the Work Health and
Safety regulations 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 AS60204.1: Safety of
machinery - Electrical equipment of machines.
So does the EESS
apply to commercial and industrial electrical equipment designed or
marketed exclusively for these environments? No. Does electrical safety
legislation and other legislation, regulations and codes of practice
apply to the equipment? Yes.
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.
The Levels
The in-scope electrical
equipment is classified in one of three levels under the EESS dependent
on a risk assessment conducted by ERAC.
Level 1
Equipment classified as Level 1 is potentially low risk.
Before Level 1 equipment can be offered for sale, Responsible Suppliers must:
Ensure
that the equipment is electrically safe and it meets the relevant
standard(s). Note that reports and technical information to other than
Australian and New Zealand standards may be used to demonstrate
compliance with the applicable standard(s).
Mark the equipment with the applicable compliance mark. This is the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
Level
1 equipment is not registered on the National Database but Responsible
Suppliers of Level 1 equipment must register on the database. So not the
equipment per se but the fact that you are a supplier of electrical
equipment.
Level 2
Level 2 electrical equipment is classified as a potential medium risk level.
Before Level 2 equipment can be offered for sale Responsible Suppliers must:
Register the item of electrical equipment on the National Database and link it to a registered Responsible Supplier
Compile
and hold or have access to a Compliance Folder. The Compliance Folder
contains reports and information demonstrating that the equipment
complies with the regulations and the applicable standard(s). Note that
reports and technical information to other than Australian and New
Zealand standards may be used to demonstrate compliance with the
applicable standard(s). The Compliance Folder must either be uploaded to
the National Database or the address where the Compliance Folder is
kept must be recorded on the National Database.
Mark the equipment with the applicable compliance mark. This is the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
Level 3
Level 3 electrical equipment is classified as a potential high risk.
Before Level 3 equipment can be offered for sale Responsible Suppliers must:
Register the item of electrical equipment on the National Database and link it to a registered Responsible Supplier
Have a valid and current Certificate of Conformity from a recognized certifier; and,
Mark the equipment with the applicable compliance mark. This is the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
Note
that reports to IEC or similar standards may be used to demonstrate
compliance with the applicable standard(s) and so satisfy the
requirements of the EESS. When using these reports supplementary
technical justification may be used to demonstrate compliance with the
Applicable Australian standards.
The applicable standards
For
level 1 equipment AS/NZS 3820 (Essential safety requirements for
electrical equipment applies). This standard and the applicable
Australian and New Zealand standard (AS/NZS) applies. If there is not an
AS/NZS standard the applicable International Electrotechnical
Commission's (IEC) standard applies with AS/NZS 3820. If there is no
applicable AS/NZS or IEC standard then AS/NZS 3820 applies by itself.
For
level 2 or 3 equipment the relevant standard as shown in AS/NZS 4417
(Marking of electrical product to indicate compliance with regulations)
applies or the standard that is accepted by a Regulatory Authority as a
standard that can be readily applied to that type of equipment.
Note,
equipment tested to other standards, most commonly IEC standards, may
be supplemented by additional assessment and the equipment found to be
compliant with the applicable AS/NZS standard, including AS/NZS 3820,
AS/NZS 4417 or that standard accepted by a Regulatory Authority
(Australian state or territory or New Zealand government agency).
The Compliance Folder
The
Compliance Folder contains all the supporting documentation confirming
that the equipment meets all of the relevant standard(s). The reports in
the Compliance Folder must be completed by an approved testing entity
or a suitably qualified person.
The National Database
ERAC has established a National Database for the supply of in-scope electrical equipment to Australia and New Zealand.
The database records:
the details of Responsible Suppliers
the Supplier Declarations made by Responsible Suppliers
the equipment details of all level 2 and level 3 equipment
the certification details of level 3 equipment
All
Responsible Suppliers must be registered on the database as well as
registering the level 2 and level 3 equipment they supply.
The
supplier declaration is a generic declaration all Responsible Suppliers
make that all electrical equipment they supply is electrically safe and
will continue to meet relevant standards and comply with the EESS.
What EMCSI Pty Ltd offers under the EESS
· Acting as an Authorized Representative and Suitably Qualified Person
· Using IEC/EN/AS/NZS Reports as the basis for declaring compliance with the EESS
· Testing, technical assessment and design solutions
· Preparation of all compliance documentation including the Compliance Folder
· Registration on the National Database for our clients
· Maintenance of our client's compliance information on the National Database
· Expert opinion and consultancy
.
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