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58 E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON
AU T UMN 20 1 6
SPOTLIGHT ON COMPLIANCE
P
rior to 2010 the Australian
Communications and Media
Authority (ACMA) proposed
changes to labelling arrangements
for electrical product supplied in
Australia and the implementation of a
consolidated Regulatory Compliance
Mark (RCM).
At the time the lighting industry,
including Philips Lighting, broadly
welcomed the opportunity for a
nationally consistent approach for
product safety and performance
standards, and an improved regulatory
framework for equipment suppliers
and consumers.
The industry recognised that there
were many benefits across the board
to the application of one form of
compliance mark for electrical safety
and electro-magnetic compatibility
(EMC). On 1 March 2016, the three
existing compliance marks contractors
will be familiar with - C-Tick, A-Tick and
RCM - are being consolidated into a
single compliance mark - the RCM.
WHATDOES THE RCMMEAN?
The single RCM on an electrical
product is the manufacturer’s or
supplier’s declaration that the product
being specified or installed complies
with the applicable ACMA technical
standards.
From 1 March 2016 even though
suppliers must use the RCM as the
compliance label, it is likely there will
still be devices that are labelled with
the C-Tick or the A-Tick and these can
continue to be supplied until labelled
stock has been exhausted.
CHECKING FOR ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
COMPLIANCE
Contractors are often required to
specify products sight unseen or may be
handed a product to install by a project
manager or home owner.
If in doubt about the compliance
of a product, contractors can visit
the national database that has been
designated for all supplier registration,
which can be found on the Electrical
Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC)
website
(www.erac.gov.au). This is a
database is jointly used by the ACMA,
ERAC and Radio Spectrum Management
(New Zealand).
A supplier intending to supply devices
that are required to be labelled under an
ACMA Labelling Notice must register on
the database as a ‘responsible supplier’.
CHECKING FORPRODUCT SAFETY
All electrical equipment in Australia
and New Zealand must comply with the
fundamental safety requirements and
any relevant standards under applicable
state, territory and national electrical
safety legislation.
If there is any doubt about product
safety, contractors can look up products
on the Electrical Equipment Safety
System (EESS), a national database
administered through ERAC, that
ON 1 MARCH 2016, THE THREE
EXISTING COMPLIANCE MARKS
CONTRACTORS WILL BE FAMILIAR
WITH - C-TICK, A-TICK AND RCM -
ARE BEING CONSOLIDATED INTO A
SINGLE COMPLIANCE MARK - THE
RCM.
STEVEARTHUR
, TRADE
CHANNEL MANAGER, PHILIPS
LIGHTING AUSTRALIA EXPLAINS.
GUIDING LIGHT
On 1 March, the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) will become the only compliance
mark for electrical safety and electro-magnetic compatibility.