Sale, hire and advertising of certain electrical products (
proclaimed products) in South Australia is controlled under the
Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000.
On this page:
Safety approval of electrical products Recognised laboratories for safety testing of electrical productsImporter and manufacturer responsibilities after safety approval Energy efficiency approval of electrical products Minimum energy performance standards Recognised laboratories for energy efficiency and MEPS testingSafety approval of electrical products
In South Australia 56 classes of electrical product are identified to have the potential to pose safety risks when used by households, these are called
proclaimed products.
Proclaimed products must have safety approval from an Australian approving body before being sold, let or offered for sale or hire in South Australia.
Standards under the
Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000 set down the basic requirements the product must meet to be considered electrically safe. A safe electrical product will typically have protection from:
- live parts
- overheating from either normal operation or misuse
- fire propagation.
A safety approval indicates that the product has been type tested to the relevant safety standards and is therefore safe to use under normal conditions.
How to apply for a safety approval of an electrical product
Approval applications will only be considered for products manufactured in, or directly imported into, South Australia.
For information on legislative requirements in other Australian states you need to refer to regulators in those states.
To apply for a safety approval of an electrical product you must submit an application consisting of:
- a completed approval application form (PDF 183KB)
- a sample of the product for viewing and examination if requested
- a complete and detailed test report and the associated certificate, covering relevant safety standards, from an approved testing establishment in accordance with Australian standard AS/NZS 4417.2 Clause A2.2
- photographs, drawings and other descriptive material as required by the Office of the Technical Regulator.
Submissions for the approval of electrical products (proclaimed or non-proclaimed) must follow the guidelines as set out in the notes section of the
approval application form (PDF 183KB) and submitted to the
Office of the Technical Regulator.
An application fee, report check and certification fee as well as an hourly fee (time spent for examining the accuracy of the test reports) is payable as part of the approval application.
While it is compulsory for
proclaimed products to apply for pre-market approval, non-proclaimed products may also be voluntarily submitted for approval.
Safety testing, examination and recognised test laboratories
Applicants for product safety approval are required to submit a test report from an authorised local or overseas test establishment confirming compliance with relevant Australian/New Zealand standards produced. The
Office of the Technical Regulator does not have a product testing facility.
All Australian approval authorities require the application of the approval and test specification as set out in the Standards Australia/New Zealand series.
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Recognised laboratories for safety testing of electrical products
Safety and approval marking
A certificate of approval is issued to indicate the approval of a proclaimed product.
Proclaimed products are required to carry the approval marking to indicate that they are approved for safety. Exemptions from this requirement are only given if the product’s small size renders the application of approval marking very difficult.
Approval markings can also be carried by non-proclaimed products to indicate that they have safety approval.
National recognition of safety approvals
Australian states and territories have similar legislation and rules for the approval of electrical products. This legislation provides for reciprocal recognition of approvals granted in any Australian state. This means that products approved in South Australia are recognised in all other states and approvals issued in other states are recognised in South Australia.
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Importer and manufacturer responsibilities after safety approval
Importers and manufacturers who hold safety approval certificates are required by the Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000 to:
- maintain necessary levels of safety
- avoid the wrongful use of approval marks
- notify the Office of the Technical Regulator of any modification to a product
- notify the Office of the Technical Regulator of change of address within 21 days of the change.
The Act provides for the withdrawal of approvals as well as the application of penalties for offences committed under the Act. Under specific circumstances authorised inspectors can enter traders’ premises and inspect goods.
The product manufactured after the grant of an approval must be identical with the sample of the product that was originally tested. Any change in the design, material or components of the product constitutes modification and must be submitted to the Office of the Technical Regulator for examination. The office may refer the product to a test laboratory for further testing.
Unsafe electrical products
Sale of electrical products, whether proclaimed or not, that are unsafe or potentially hazardous may be prohibited by the Office of the Technical Regulator under the Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000.
The Act also requires that electrical products offered for sale meet the requirements of the minimum safety standard as set out in the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3820.
The Office of the Technical Regulator investigates incidents that have caused or may cause electric shocks or fires, and undertake corrective and preventative action.
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Energy efficiency approval of electrical products
Applications for energy efficiency approval must lodged online at the national energy rating website and in the format prescribed in the applicable Australian Standard.
Applications also include a test report indicating the energy efficiency of the product according to the relevant Australian energy efficiency standards.
The Office of the Technical Regulator is responsible for the energy efficiency approval of electrical products in South Australia. Applications for approval are only accepted for products that are manufactured in, or directly imported into, South Australia.
A number of fees as well as an hourly examination fee will be payable at the completion of the application process.
Australian Standards for energy efficiency labelling
The energy efficiency labelling regulations refer to a number of Australian standards which stipulate the testing methodologies (part 1 of the relevant standard) and include the test report form, the form of the label and the application form (part 2 of the relevant standard).
Example of an electrical appliance's energy rating label
Relevant Australian Standards for product energy efficiency labelling| Product | Australian Standard |
| Clothes dryers | AS/NZS 2442.2 |
| Clothes washers | AS/NZS 2040.2 |
| Dishwashers | AS/NZS 2007.2 |
| Refrigerating appliances | AS/NZS 4474.2 |
| Refrigerative air conditioners | AS/NZS 3823.2 |
| Ballasts for fluorescent lamps | AS/NZS 4783.2 |
| TV sets | AS/NZS 62087.2.2 |
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Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS)
The Office of the Technical Regulator is responsible for the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) approval of electrical products in South Australia. Applications for approval are only accepted for products that are manufactured in or directly imported into South Australia.
For more information on MEPS or to lodge an application see the national energy rating website.
Australian minimum energy performance standards (MEPS)| Product | Australian Standard |
| Ballasts for fluorescent lamps | AS/NZS 4783.2 |
| Distribution transformers | AS/NZS 2374.1.2 |
| Electric motors (3 phase) | AS/NZS 1359.102.3 |
| Linear fluorescent lamps | AS/NZS 4782.2 |
| Refrigerative air conditioners | AS/NZS 3823.2 |
| Refrigerating appliances | AS/NZS 4474.2 |
| Refrigerated display cabinet | AS/NZS 1731.14 |
| Water heater | AS/NZS 4692.2 |
| Close control air conditioners | AS/NZS 4965.2 |
| External power supplies | AS/NZS 4665.2 |
| Incandescent lamps | AS/NZS 4934.2 |
| Liquid chillers | AS/NZS 4776.2 |
| Compact fluorescent lamps | AS/NZS 4847.2 |
| Set top boxes | AS/NZS 62087.2.1 |
| TV sets | AS/NZS 62087.2.2 |
| ELC / ELV Converter | AS/NZS 4879.2 |
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Recognised laboratories for energy efficiency and MEPS testing