Electrical Connection Autumn 2016

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www. e l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n . c om . a u 59
BY
STEVE
ARTHUR
records the registration details of
responsible suppliers of electrical
equipment in Australia and New Zealand.
A new EESS is being introduced by
some Australian State and Territory
electrical equipment safety regulators.
Under the EESS the previous risk levels
for electrical equipment (ie. Prescribed/
Declared and Non-Prescribed/Non-
Declared) are being replaced with a
three tier risk level system. Under this
new system, the risk levels a contractor
needs to be familiar with are:
> Level 3 (formally prescribed/ declared
equipment) - product must be
approved and certified as compliant
to use prior to sale, evidenced by a
Certificate of Approval/Conformity;
be marked with the RCM; have a
registered Responsible Supplier
(whose name and details are linked to
the equipment) and be registered on
the ERAC database.
> Level 2 (new level introduced by EESS)
- there is currently no equipment
classified as ‘Level 2’, however state
regulators have indicated that
luminaires may be moved from Level 1
to Level 2 in future.
> Level 1 (formally non-prescribed
equipment) - equipment requires
evidence that the items meet the
relevant standard at the time the item
was either manufactured or imported.
This evidence is to be kept by the
‘responsible supplier’ for a period of 5
years starting on the day the item is
last manufactured or imported by the
responsible supplier.
CHECKWITHTHE SUPPLIER
There have been examples of where
the RCM has been used by opportunistic
importers on non-compliant product.
So if there is any doubt, contractors
can contact the supplier and/or
manufacturer directly.
If an LED luminaire is compliant for
example, the supplier should be able to
produce, upon request, the appropriate
documentation to ‘prove’ that the
product being supplied is compliant.
This includes a test report or technical
construction file showing the device
complies with an applicable technical
standard as well as a declaration of
conformity and description of the device.
It is important to note contractors
still need to be mindful that even
when purchasing well-known and
reputable brands, the product must be
approved for sale and use in Australia.
Philips Lighting and other reputable
manufacturers go through a lengthy
approvals process to ensure product
compliance in Australia. Although
products may look similar on the
surface, if they are not approved for
use in Australia there are possibly
differences in specifications and
materials that could pose safety risks.
WHAT’S THE RISK FORTHE
CONTRACTOR?
It is crucial for contractors to
remember what is at risk when
purchasing and installing products
that do not comply - customer safety,
livelihood and reputation are just the
tip of the iceberg.
In Australia, the liability for products
that are found to be non-compliant to
Australian standards usually falls on
the manufacturer or importer of the
product. However, if it can be proven that
the electrical contractor knew that the
product was non-compliant, some of the
liability will also fall to the contractor.
If it is the electrical contractor that
purchases product from overseas, then
the contractor is considered to be the
importer of the product and therefore
liable for damages that arise from its
non-compliance.
It is important to note here that liability
for incorrect installation of complaint
products also falls to the contractor, not
the manufacturer or importer.
With so much at stake, any upfront
savings on a product purchase is
therefore negligible in comparison to the
potential financial and personal costs
associated with installing a product that
does not meet Australian standards.
CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCEAND
SAFETYCHECKLIST
Electrical and lighting product
compliance and safety in Australia tends
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avoid non-compliant product:
> Purchase products from a local
reputable wholesaler (offline or online)
> Choose well-known brands with a
reputation for quality
> Search the ACMA and EESS database
to check for product compliance and
safety
> For individual product compliance
details, contact the manufacturer or
local distributor directly
> Watch out for obvious signs
including no certification marks, no
supporting compliance documentation
forthcoming from the equipment
supplier or unclear installation
instructions.
Contractors can get actively involved
with electrical industry initiatives such
as Does it Comply?, an initiative aimed at
stamping out the use products that do
not comply with Australian Standards.
Visit to
complete the online training module.
For information on product
compliance, or to report a suspected non-
compliant or counterfeit product visit the
ERAC website -
For updates on Australian Standards
visit
Steve Arthur has been involved in
the electronic component and lighting
industry for more than 15 years in
Australia and internationally. Steve
has previously led the OEM business for
Philips Lighting in Australia and is now
bringing his expertise and passion for
lighting and energy efficient LED lighting
solutions to the Trade Channel.