Latest news
Summer 2018/19
energysafe issue 52
EESS to empower
consumers of electrical goods
By Adam Murdoch, Head of Electrical Equipment Safety and Efficiency
Revised
AS 3814
published
By Kevin Dwyer,
Gas Safety Officer
New requirements will soon be put in place
for household electrical goods with the
introduction of the Electrical Equipment
Safety Scheme (EESS).
The EESS – developed by Australian
energy regulators including Energy Safe
Victoria and passed into law by the
Victorian Government in September –
addresses the increasing numbers of
recalls and the deteriorating standard
of electrical goods.
The new legislation will target importers
and manufacturers based in Australia
and establishes a national database
where suppliers must register as
‘responsible suppliers’.
The national database will be searchable
and include a register of certifications,
responsible suppliers and registered
products. Consumers will be able to
check that a product is registered and
identify the responsible supplier for the
product. This includes purchases made
online from Australian suppliers.
“Previously, Victoria’s electrical
equipment safety system was designed
for electrical equipment manufactured
in Australia by large Australian-based
companies. The new EESS requirements
address a significant shift where
most electrical equipment is now
manufactured offshore.” He said.
The EESS is a national program, and
Victoria is the second jurisdiction to pass
an EESS Bill through its parliament after
Queensland. The EESS Bill passed the
Victorian Parliament without amendment
on 8 September.
We will keep you posted about the
plan for implementation.
ESV encourages all Type B
gas practitioners to familiarise
themselves with the new version
of AS 3814, as it will form the basis
for all applications that ESV reviews
for Type B appliance acceptance.
Some changes worth noting in this
revision include the addition of new
clauses relating to purging after
flame failure, safety shut-off valve
concessions, and the use of flexible
gas hoses in valve trains.
The revised AS 3814:2018 is
available on SAI Global.
If you have any questions in relation
to the new standards or ESV’s
application acceptance process,
contact ESV’s Gas Technical
Helpline on 1800 652 563.
A single regulatory compliance
mark, known as the RCM (pictured),
will identify appliances that comply
with Australian standards of safety.
Regulators will be able to trace products
back to the relevant supplier and,
if necessary, contact other responsible
suppliers that are importing the same
or similar equipment.
“When it is implemented, the EESS will
empower Victorian consumers to make
more informed decisions about the
electrical appliances they buy,” Director
of Energy Safety, Paul Fearon said.
“It also allows for a significant increase
in check-testing by regulators.”
The EESS Bill is available to at
esv.vic.gov.au/eess-legislation-
andregulations
12
AS 3814:2018 – Industrial
and Commercial Gas-
Fired Appliances, which
supersedes AS 3184:2015
was published
on 25 October 2018.