13
Winter 2018
energysafe issue 51
Electrical
news
New prescribed categories
of electrical equipment
By Naveen Kapoor, Compliance Officer,
Electrical Equipment Safety
Under section 57 of the Electricity Safety
Act 1998 (the Act), Energy Safe Victoria (ESV)
may declare any class or type of electrical
equipment as prescribed by publishing in
the Victorian Government Gazette.
The Gazette G23 states all categories listed
in B2 of Appendix B of AS/NZS 4417.2 to be
prescribed.
The standard AS/NZS 4417.2: Specific
requirements for particular regulatory requirements
specifies the requirements for the Regulatory
Compliance Mark (RCM) and its use on electrical
equipment to indicate compliance.
A new edition of AS/NZS 4417.2 published
on 2 July 2018 will supersede the 2012 edition of
AS/NZS 4417.2 on 2 July 2019. The new edition
has 60 Level 3 (High Risk) prescribed equipment
categories and 11 categories classified as Level 2
(Medium Risk).
Level 3 − High risk
For all Level 3 equipment, a compulsory
Certificate of Approval is required for supply.
However, with any Level 2 equipment the supplier
is required to maintain compliance folder.
The Level 3 category introduced in the new
edition of the standard is evaporative coolers.
Level 2 − Medium risk
The following categories of equipment
are classified as Level 2.
» » Air conditioner incorporating non-flammable
or low flammable refridgement
» » Floor polisher/scrubber
» » Heating pad − flexible
» » Power line communication device
» » Projecter
» » Recessed luminaire-light emitting
semiconducter type
» » Sewing machine
» » Simple portable luminaire
End of
bushfire
season report
By Rob Skene, Strategic Advisor
for Bushfire Safety
This report is the culmination of the
weekly reports prepared by ESV during
the fire season.
The reports detail the impact of fire
incidents on Victoria’s electricity networks,
and the fire prevention activities undertaken
by network operations.
» » Television receiver − CRT type
» » Television receiver − non-CRT type
ESV advises suppliers to liaise with test
laboratories on the testing of their equipment
and to obtain a certificate of approval before
2 July 2019.
Also, a reminder that changes previously
made to the current edition of the standard
AS/NZS 4417.2 came into effect on 30 June 2018.
These changes included nine additional
categories of electrical equipment to prescribed
equipment.
While the requirements for these categories
were published in June 2017, many suppliers have
failed to obtain Certificates of Approval resulting
in loss unable to supply their equipment.
New categories of prescribed electrical
equipment
» » Beauty care lamp
» » DC isolator
» » Electric hot water bottle
» » Electric overblanket/duvet/wrap
» » Glue gun
» » Light emitting semiconductor lamp
» » Night light
» » Portable luminaire
» » Wall switch
Many suppliers have requested exemptions
from ESV for this change. Please note that section
57 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998 does not
provide ESV with an exemption power.
Section 57 of the Act requires prescribed
electrical equipment to be approved and marked
with an approval marking before it can be offered
for supply in Victoria. Failure to comply with this
requirement may result in enforcement action.
For a full list of prescribed equipment, head to
www.esv.vic.gov.au/electrical-equipment-classes.
Relevant
safety
standard for
evaporative
coolers
By Jean-Marie Ntahonkiriye,
Compliance Officer, Electrical
Equipment Safety
During the 2017–2018 financial year,
ESV check tested roof top evaporative
coolers for household use.
Following our tests, we established that
some suppliers and manufacturers were
unaware of the relevant safety standard for
evaporative coolers AS/NZS 60335.2.98:
particular requirements for humidifiers.
All electrical equipment including
evaporative coolers are required to comply
with the relevant safety standard to meet
the obligations of section 54 of the Electricity
Safety Act 1998 (the Act).
Regulation 6(b) of the Electricity Safety
(Equipment) Regulations 2009 prescribe
clauses 4.2, 4.3 and 4.5 of AS/NZS
3820:2009: Essential safety requirements
for electrical equipment as the minimum
standard for the purposes of complying
with section 54 of the Act.
AS/NZS 3820 identifies generalised
hazards that must be assessed in order
to show compliance.
AS/NZS 3820 also states that these
hazards may be addressed by complying
with the relevant electrical safety standard
The specific requirements for evaporative
coolers are covered in AS/NZS 60335.2.98.
List of Electrical equipment
classes available at
www.esv.vic.gov.au
The End of season summary report:
» » presents statistics on the number of fire
starts for the current and previous years
» » discusses the performance of the
distribution businesses, and
» » analyses the fire starts by size, cause
and location.
The full report is available on ESV’s
website.
Powerline Bushfire Safety Committee
All documents drafted by the Powerline
Bushfire Safety Committee (PBSC) are made
available for public review. You can find these
by visiting ESV's website at
www.esv.vic.gov.au
Requirements of AS/NZS 60335.2.98
Some of the key requirements in the
standard include:
» » testing at ambient temperatures of 40°C
» » not using a self-resetting thermal cut-out
for compliance with clause 19, and
» » additional testing requirements for
evaporative coolers for use in high
bushfire risk area.
ESV reminds importers/manufactures
and suppliers that it is your responsibility to
ensure that the products you supply meet
the minimum electrical safety standards
applicable to the equipment class.
ESV urges home owners to have
their evaporative coolers regularly serviced
by the manufacturer’s service agent or
a recommended repairer.