Compliance Insights April 2024

New standard/amendment publications

AS/NZS CISPR 36:2021 Amendment 1

Electric and Hybrid Electric Road Vehicles – Radio Disturbance Characteristics – Limits and Methods of Measurement for the Protection of Off-Board Receivers Below 30 MHz
Amendment 1 published on May 3, 2024
FYI only

AS/NZS 3190:2016 Amendment 2:2023

Approval and Test Specification – Residual Current Devices (Current Operated Earth-Leakage Devices)
Amendment 2 published on April 13, 2024

• Allows RCCBs and RCDOs incorporated within PSOAs and PRCDs to comply with AS/NZS 61008.1 or AS/NZS 61009.1 (as appropriate), provided that all other relevant sections of AS/NZS 3190 are met (Cl. 3.2.2.1).
• Test voltages for Type FS devices changed from 1.1 x rated voltage to 264 V (single-phase) and 456.5 V (multiphase) (Cl. 5.7.6.2).
• Options for marking of rated voltage restricted to 230 V, 240 V, 230/240 V, 400 V, 415 V or 400/415 V only (Cl. 7.1.1).
• Test voltages for tripping tests require testing at 80% of 230 V/400 V (Cl. 8.8.2).
• Multiple clauses revised to require test voltages of 230 V (single-phase)/400 V (multiphase) to be used in place of rated voltage (Cl. 8.8.4, 8.9.1, 8.11, 8.12, 8.17).
• Multiple clauses revised to require test voltages of 240 V (single-phase)/415 V (multiphase) to be used in place of rated voltage (Cl. 8.14, 8.16, 8.19).

Applicable upon publication

Draft standard/amendment published

DR AS/NZS 3120:2021 Amendment 1:2024

Approval and Test Specification – Cord Extension Sockets
Additional requirements for cord extension sockets incorporating a plug pin clamping mechanism; these require the pin withdrawal test to be conducted in both unclamped (normal limits apply) and clamped (60 N limit applies) configurations (refer to Cl. 2.20.3 replacement text in the draft document)
Closing date for comments: June 20,  2024

Regulatory changes

Electrical safety — Australia

EESS Certification Database updates: The EESS Platform Update team held a meeting with private certification bodies in late April to discuss the project’s progress. It was noted that a number of new information fields will be required by December 2024 as private certifiers transition onto the new EESS platform. The state government regulators currently have these fields flagged as optional in their online system and it is expected that these will become mandatory for regulatory approval applications at the same time.

The specific fields we would like to highlight are as follows:

Company contact email address (internal EESS regulatory use only): The EESS platform anticipates that a single company contact email address will be used (rather than multiple email addresses per applicant). The recommendation is that this be a role-based email address (such as EESScompliance@company.com) rather than a personal email address. 

Product photo thumbnail (publicly visible): This is an external photo of the certified product(s). You may wish to consider providing a “marketing quality” example; otherwise, the photos contained within the test report will be used.

Nameplate photo (publicly visible): This is a photo or artwork of the rating nameplate as it will appear in the market.

More information about the EESS platform updates can be found at https://www.eess.gov.au/about/about-the-new-eess-platform/

MEPS — Australia

Choosing the right refrigeration determination to register your product

Registrants and sellers to register their household refrigerator or refrigerated cabinet under the correct GEMS determination

Choosing the right refrigeration determination to register your product | Energy Rating

Standards/amendments published but pending application

The following standards have an application date within the next six months.

AS/NZS 60320.1:2023

Appliance Couplers for Household and Similar General Purposes, Part 1: General Requirements (IEC 60320-1:2015 (ED. 3.1) MOD)
New edition published on June 30, 2023
Modified adoption of IEC 60320‑1, Ed. 3.1

• Adds interconnection coupler, plug connector and appliance outlet to the standard, along with different combination setup; adds interconnection parts definition.
• Removes some terminal definitions.
• Clarifies requirements for non-standardized appliance couplers and end-use condition.
• Part of the requirement of couplers complying with standard sheets is moved from IEC 60320-1 to IEC 60320-3 (including countersunk requirement).
• Test samples shall be conditioned for more than 168 hours before testing, and more sets of samples are required for testing (Cl. 5.3, Annex C).
• Allows rated currents to be in ranges with maximum limit of 16 A (instead of set value, e.g., 0.2 A, 2.5 A, 6 A, etc.) (Cl. 6.2).
• Removes 35°C ambient temperature testing condition (Cl. 9.4, 10.1).
• Clarifies that external parts of appliance outlet and plug connectors are also required to be of insulating material.
• Some clamping tests for rewireable connectors are removed and directed to IEC 60999-1 standard (Cl. 12).
• Non-standardized, non-reversible couplers’ polarisation shall be verified for contact position (Cl. 13.2).
• Adds different insulation resistance limit and test voltage for functional, basic, supplementary and reinforced insulation during insulation resistance and electric strength assessment (Cl. 15).
• Clarifies total mass calculation during maximum withdrawal force verification (Cl. 16.2).
• Includes non-standardized types during maximum and minimum withdrawal force verification (Cl. 16.2, 16.3).
• Minor modification to heating test for connectors/plug connectors (not subject to Cl. 23.7 and no need to measure temperature rise — Cl. 18.2).
• Considers rated current range for breaking capacity and temperature rise requirement, e.g., > 0.2 A to < 10 A, ≥ 10 A, etc.) (Cl. 19, 21).
• Adds power factor for normal operation test current (Cl. 20).
• Updated type of cord reference according to IEC 60245 standard (Cl. 22.1).
• Added table for list of torque and pull force required for different current rating connectors instead of applying 100 N and 0.25 Nm to all (Cl. 23.6).
• Impact hammer, ball pressure and tracking test details are referenced to its relevance standard (Cl. 23.4, 24.1, 27.2).
• Removes appliance inlet shroud pressure test (old Cl. 23.4, 23.8).
• Removes 1-hour 100°C heat resistance and 100°C pressure test (old Cl. 24.1.1, 24.1.3).
• Removes nickel plating on pins of appliance inlet in very hot conditions requirement (old Cl. 25.8).
• Change of clearance, creepage and solid insulation assessment; introduces rated impulse voltage determination and closer to IEC 60335 method (Cl. 26.2, 26.3).
• Adds alternative resistance to rusting assessment (Cl. 28).
• Adds accessible surface check that live parts are not coming through (Annex B.4.1).

Date of application: June 30, 2024

AS/NZS 60335.2.4:2021  

Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – Safety – Part 2.4: Particular Requirements for Spin Extractors
New edition published on Nov. 26, 2021
Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.4:2010
Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-4:2021, Ed 7.0

• Aligns the text with IEC 60335-1, Ed 5.2.
• Includes Test Probe 18 (child’s finger) assessment when defining accessible parts.
• Includes Test Probe 18 (child’s finger) for accessibility of live parts (Cl. 8).

Application date: Nov. 26, 2024

AS/NZS 60335.2.24:2021  

Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – Safety – Part 2.24: Particular Requirements for Refrigerating Appliances, Ice-Cream Appliances and Ice-Makers
New edition published on Nov. 26, 2021
Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.24:2010
Modified adoption of IEC 60335-2-24:2020, Ed 8

• Multiple notes promoted to normative text throughout.
• Definition of free space has been clarified (Cl. 3.6.104) by suggesting that 150 mm sphere or 200 mm cube can be used to identify volumes to be disregarded from the calculation.
• Measurement of the input current of refrigerating appliances using inverter-driven motor compressors is included (Cl. 10.2); duration of test is six hours (instead of one hour for conventional motor compressors).
• Compatibility tests for winding insulation of motor-compressors used with different types of refrigerants and oils have been introduced (Cl. 22.9); not required if the motor-compressor component complies with IEC 60335-2-34.
• Multiple changes and clarifications in the flammable refrigerant testing requirements (Cl. 22.108, 22.109) due to changes in the IEC 60079 series of standards.
• Aluminium fins of heat exchangers and other aluminium parts in contact with outer surfaces of copper pipes excluded from galvanic assessment (Cl. 22.111).
• Adds enhanced mechanical strength classification and test to accessible glass panel assessment (Cl. 22.116).
• In refrigerating appliances, new requirements for material encasing and in contact with thermal insulation have been introduced and replace needle flame testing or V-0 or V-1 classified material (adds Cl. 22.117 and Annex EE, removes Cl. 30.2.101). Note: AU/NZ national differences replace Annex EE with “void” and only accept metallic material or 5VA polymeric materials..
• Additional requirements for motor-running capacitors (capacitor simply housed within metallic or ceramic housing would not comply) (Cl. 24.5, 24.8).

Date of application: Nov. 26, 2024

AS/NZS 60335.2.34:2021

Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – Safety – Part 2.34: Particular Requirements for Motor-Compressors
New edition published on Nov. 26, 2021
Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.34:2016
Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-34:2021, Ed 6

• Use of a motorette for winding wire compatibility tests introduced (Cl. 3.8.102, Annex BB).
• Optional pressure endurance test introduced (Cll. 18.101, Annex EE).
• Compatibility test for insulation inside the housing clarified (Cl. 22.9).
• Clarification of clearances inside the housing for motor-compressors suitable for use at altitudes exceeding 2,000 m (Cl. 29.1).
• Breaking strength of tie cord after temperature heating cycle has been updated (Annex CC).

Date of application: Nov. 26, 2024

AS/NZS 60335.2.113:2017 Amendment No. 1  

Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – Safety – Part 2.113: Particular Requirements for Cosmetic and Beauty Care Appliances Incorporating Lasers and Intense Light Sources
Amendment 1 published on Nov. 11, 2022
Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-113, Ed. 1, Amendment 1

• Removes definition for embedded laser and maximum permissible exposure.
• Changes laser beam warning symbol (Cl. 7.6).
• Adds different leakage current limit for applicator and additional leakage current assessment between applicator and piles of the supply with each supply conductor (Cl. 13.2, 13.101).
• Adds mechanical strength against crushing and drop test for detachable power supply (Cl. 21.102, 21.103).
• Adjusts laser type grouping/classification (Cl. 22.107).
• Changes stray optical radiation exposure limit (Cl. 22.108, 22.109, 32.101, 32.102).
• Considers beauty care appliances with lasers or intense light source as unattended appliances and others as attended appliances for glow wire (Cl. 30.2).

Date of application: Nov. 25, 2024

AS/NZS 62841.2.1:2018 Amendment No. 1  

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 2.1: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Drills and Impact Drills
Amendment 1 published on Nov. 25, 2022
Identical adoption of IEC 602841-2-1, Ed. 1, Amendment 1

• Clarifies that rotary screwdrivers, impact wrenches and rachet drivers are not within the scope of this standard, but IEC 62841-2-2. (Cl. 1).
• Splits the safety-critical function (SCF) for output speed prevention in Table 4 into two categories (> 150% of no-load speed < 3,500 rpm and > 130% of no-load speed > 3,500 rpm) (Cl. 18.8).
• Modification that no-load speed at rated voltage shall be < 120% of rated no-load speed (Cl. 19.6).
• Additional handle hazard assessment for electronically controlled torque (Cl. 19.102.3, 19.102.4, Annex K.18.8, K.19.102).
• Power switch trigger and lock-off devices to prevent inadvertent starting is not applicable (Cl. 21.18.1.2).
• Clarification for impact drills and diamond core drills during noise and vibration emissions (Annex I).

Date of application: Nov. 25, 2024

AS/NZS 62841.2.3:2021

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 2.3: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Grinders, Disc-Type Polishers and Disc-Type Sanders
New edition published on June 25, 2021
Supersedes AS/NZS 60745.2.3:2011
Identical adoption of IEC 62841-2-3, Ed. 1
New edition replacing AS/NZS 60745.2.3:2011
Date of application: June 25, 2024

AS/NZS 62841.2.6:2021

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 2.6: Particular Requirements for Hand-Held Hammers
New edition published on June 25, 2021
Supersedes AS/NZS 60745.2.6:2009
Identical adoption of IEC 62841-2-6, Ed. 1
New edition replacing AS/NZS 60745.2.6:2009
Date of application: June 25, 2024

AS/NZS 62841.3.10:2017 Amendment No. 1

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 3.10: Particular Requirements for Transportable Cut-Off Machines
Amendment 1 published on Nov. 25, 2022
Identical adoption of IEC 602841-3-10, Ed. 1, Amendment 1

• Updates safety-critical function (SCF) Table 4 by including SCF for “Prevent exceeding thermal limits” and “Function to have two separate actions before motor start” and removes “lock-off function” and “prevent self-resetting SCF;” also changes the “desired switched off power switch” minimum. performance level to 50 years (Cl. 18.8).
• Removes the recording requirement of wheel speed during wheel guard strength test (Cl. 20.102.1)
• Dust collection requirement (Cl. 21.35) and non-self-resetting protection device or circuit (Cl. 23.3) are not applicable.
• Clarifies the steel bar type for cutting during noise test (Annex I.2.5).

Date of application: Nov. 25, 2024

AS/NZS 62841.4.2:2018 Amendment No. 1

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 4.2: Particular Requirements for Hedge Trimmers
Amendment 1 published on Nov. 25, 2022
Identical adoption of IEC 602841-4-2, Ed. 1, Amendment 1

• Clarifies that maximum speed is attained when adjusted in accordance with manufacturer’s spec and/or instruction; when maximum speed is not attended under no-load condition, manufacturer shall provide special hardware or software to attain this (Cl. 3.11, 5.103).
• Minor modification to marking and instructions (Cl. 8.2, 8.14).
• After IPX testing, the appliance should not start with power switch in off position; creepage distance of insulation shall not be reduced by traces of water; if creepage distances can be reduced, it will be short-circuited and evaluated for fire risk and loss of safety-critical function (SCF) (Cl. 14.2.2).
• Added warning for overheating of cutting device during continuous operation (Cl. 17.2).
• Minor change to handle perimeter dimension. (Cl 19.101.1.1).
• Additional requirement for 25 mm clearance around blade control (Cl. 19.101.1.2, 19.101.1.3, 19.101.2.1, 19.101.2.2, 19.101.2.3).
• Adds torque (2 Nm) used for adjustable handle assessment (Cl. 19.101.3.2).
• Additional requirement for hand protection for single-sided hedge trimmers (Cl. 19.102.2.1).
• Blunt extension exempted for Category 4 hedge trimmer with a blade configuration where there are only two handles and the front handle is a stick-type handle that is permanently fixed to the smooth side of a single-sided cutting device (Cl. 19.103.2.4).
• Clarifies that same sample can be reused for drop test if without failure (Cl. 20.3.1).
• Change of the measurement point for deflection/deform strength from blade control and cutter blade to power switch and cutter blade (Cl. 20.101.3.3).
• Additional requirement for operator presence sensor whose motion is mechanically obstructed; the response time of returning to locked state upon release of blade control extended from one second to five seconds (Cl. 21.17.1, 21.18.102.3).
• Minor modification to handle and shaft of extended-reach hedge trimmer (Cl. 21.30.101).
• Non-self-resetting protection devices not applicable for machines fitted with two blade controls that require simultaneous actuation and extended-reach hedge trimmers (Cl. 23.3).
• Considers cr/cl requirement for transient overvoltages originating in the equipment not exceeding 4,000 V and clarifies method of how protection against deposition can be achieved (Cl. 28.1).

Date of application: Nov. 25, 2024

AS/NZS 62841.4.3:2021

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 4.3: Particular Requirements for Pedestrian Controlled Walk-Behind Lawnmowers
New edition published on Nov. 26, 2021
Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.77:2002
Identical adoption of IEC 62841-4-3:2020, Ed. 1
Date of application: Nov. 26, 2024

AS/NZS 62841.4.4:2021

Electric Motor-Operated Hand-Held Tools, Transportable Tools and Lawn and Garden Machinery – Safety – Part 4.4: Particular Requirements for Lawn Trimmers, Lawn Edge Trimmers, Grass Trimmers, Brush Cutters and Brush Saws
New edition published on Nov. 26, 2021
Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.91:2008
Identical adoption of IEC 62841-4-4:2020, Ed. 1
Date of application: Nov. 26, 2024