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Compliance Insights July 2023

The July 2023 updates to standards and regulatory frameworks impacting the design, import or distribution of electrical products in Australia and New Zealand.

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September 7, 2023

Draft Standard/Amendment Published

DR AS/NZS ISO 8124.4:202X

Safety of toys, Part 4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities
FYI only
Closing date for comments: 2023-09-01

Regulatory Changes

Electrical Safety — CTF3 and CTF4 CB Reports 

Australian electrical safety regulators are considering instructing third-party certifiers not to accept CTF3 or CTF4 IECEE CB scheme reports. These CTF (client test facility) stages allow for testing to be conducted by manufacturer staff (under some level of supervision or monitoring by CB test lab staff).

It is expected that CTF1 and CTF2 reports (where CB test lab staff are directly involved with testing at the manufacturer’s site) will continue to be accepted.

We understand that the regulators will be consulting with their stakeholder reference groups shortly.

Minimum Energy Performance Standards — Australia

The Australian Government is proposing important improvements to the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 (the GEMS Act):

  • Making it easier for suppliers and businesses selling custom or bespoke products
  • Extending grandfathering provisions to compliant stock
  • Enabling new testing methods to be recognised

https://www.energyrating.gov.au/news-and-stories/improving-efficiency-greenhouse-and-energy-minimum-standards-act-2012 

Water Efficiency Newsletter for Australia

The Australian government’s newsletter InkWELS noted that:

  • When text advice is used instead of a Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) label, the WELS registration number must be included 
  • A new product registration database is under development

https://www.waterrating.gov.au/news/inkwels-issue-2-2023

Standard/Amendment Published but Pending Application

The following standards have application dates within the next 6 months:

AS/NZS 3120:2021

Approval and test specification - Cord extension sockets
New edition; Published on 01 October 2021

  • Cl. 1.3.3 New Definition - Cord extension sockets with clamping or locking mechanism
  • Cl. 2.4.1 Terminal and Internal Connections - Material, 
  • Cl. 2.5.1 Contacts - Material and
  • Cl. 3.8 Inlet Plugs - Screws, current carrying parts and connections: 
  • Additional information on what is considered to be "corrosion-resisting metal"  
  • Additional requirements for terminals and internal connections (must be checked by the test of AS/NZS 3100 protection against mechanical and electrical failure)
  • Cl. 2.12 Means of entry and cord anchorage: 
  • Allowance for manufacturer or supplier to specify cord or range of cords

 Reference to specific clause (Cl. 2.20.4) added for the non-rewireable socket tests

  • Table 2.1 Socket rating 7.5A removed
  • Cl. 2.17 Added tumbling barrel test and IPXXD probe test for cord extension sockets incorporating a switch
  • Cl. 2.18 New requirement (and test Cl. 2.20.3) added for cord extension sockets with a clamping mechanism
  • Cl. 2.19.1 (f) New marking requirement for cord extension sockets with a clamping mechanism
  • Cl. 2.20.2 Clarification that the withdrawal force test is conducted without any clamping mechanism engaged/clamped
  • Cl. 2.20.3 New test for cord extension sockets with a clamping mechanism

Table 2.4 Cords for cord anchorage test revised - 0.75 mm2 and <10 A rating deleted from table

  • Cl. 2.20.13 Clarification added that the depth of contact tests is verified per AS/NZS 3112 depth of contact tests
  • Figure 3.1 Correction to R27.0 value in drawing
  • Cl. 3.6 - Clarification added that parts shall be subject to the mechanical strength test of AS/NZS 3100 

Date of application: 2023-10-01

AS/NZS 60335.1:2020 Amendment 1

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 1: General requirements 
Amendment 1; Published on 2021-11-26

  • For AS variation only: Defines the “rated voltage” for the purposes of testing to be “230-240 V” for appliances intended to be connected to main supply if the marked supply voltage does not include 230 V or 240 V  

Date of application: 2023-11-26

AS/NZS 60335.2.25:2020

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Particular requirements for microwave ovens, including combination microwave ovens
New edition; Published on 18 December 2020
Supersedes AS/NZ 60335.2.25:2011Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-25 Ed 7:

  • Clarification for normal operation that last cycles excluded 1 minute rest period 
  • Clarifies that winding temperature rise is measured “during the tests” 
  • Cl.19.101 Added alternative measurement method during abnormal operation if microwave leakage exceeds 100 W/m2
  • Cl. 22.120 Additional requirement that interlock switch operated by detachable part should not cause accidental operation 
  • Cl. 22.121 Additional requirement for simultaneous activation of heating elements and motors

Date of application: 2023-12-18

AS/NZS 60335.2.30:2015 Amendment 4

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2.30: Particular requirements for room heaters 
Amendment 4; Published on 2021-11-26
Modified text adoption of IEC 60335-2-30:2009 Ed 5 Amendment 2:

  • Adds surface temperature probe specification for accessible surface measurement (Cl. 11.3, Cl. 11.8 and Table 101 updated) 
  • Requires supply cord for outdoors heaters to be polychloroprene sheathed or equivalent synthetic elastomer   
  • Cl. 30.2.1 Due to AU/NZ national differences, the wording “switched off” is replaced with “switched off or otherwise rendered inoperative” 

Date of application: 2023-11-26

AS/NZS 60335.2.32:2020

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2.32: Particular requirements for massage appliances 
New edition; Published on 27 November 2020
Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.32:2014
Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-32:2019 Ed 5:

  • Cl. 11 Additional requirements for accessible surface temperatures 
  • Cl. 20.2 Alternative stability requirements for hand-held appliances (
  • Cl. 21.101 New mechanical strength test (drop test) for hand-held appliances)

Date of application: 2023-11-27

AS/NZS 60335.2.53:2011 Amendment 2

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2.53: Particular requirements for sauna heating appliances and infrared cabins 
Amendment 2; Published on 2021-11-26
Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-53:2011 Ed 4 Amendment 2:

  • Minor changes to warning statements for instruction manual - enhancing the supervision/inspection requirements 
  • Cl. 11 Added setup and temperature rise requirement for sauna room of Annex AA, prefabricated sauna and prefabricated infrared cabin during normal operation
  • Cl. 19.101, Cl. 19.102 Clarification to type of sauna heaters subject to abnormal operation
  • (Cl. 22.103) Enhanced limitations on maximum operational duration for timers or programmable timer
  • (Cl. 22.110) Additional requirement that sauna heating appliances shall have indication light or display option when switched on

Date of application: 2023-11-26

AS/NZS 60335.2.84:2020

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Particular requirements for toilet appliances
New edition; Published on 27 November 2020
Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.84:2014
Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-84:2019 Ed 3

  • Cl. 7.12.1 Added installation instructions in IM for the placement of warning label regarding disposal of glowing cigarette or other burning material)
  • Cl. 22.105, Annex R Additional requirements for appliances that have programmable electronic circuits that limit the number of heating elements and motors from being energized at the same time 

Date of application: 2023-11-27

AS/NZS 60335.2.95:2020

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Particular requirements for drives for vertically moving garage doors for residential use
New edition; Published on 27 November 2020Supersedes AS/NZS 60335.2.95:2012Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-95:2019 Ed 4- Cl. 7.12 Minor revision to instruction requirements to separate between “substance of” items and more general information 

  • Cl. 7.12 Added requirements for instructions to include safe handling details for drives over 20 kg 
  • Cl. 7.15 Added requirement for markings to be included in the instructions
  • Cl. 7.15 Added allowance for Trademark and model name can be retrieved from label barcode, which should be visible on appliance after installation
  • Cl. 20.101 to CL. 20.106 Clarified requirements for mechanical safety tests during protective electronic circuit (PEC) fault testing 
  • Cl. 19.13 The driven part must also stop at safe position during these tests 
  • Cl. 25.8, Cl. 25.15 Added relaxations for class III appliance supply cords

Date of application: 2023-11-27

AS/NZS 60335.2.107:2020

Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Particular requirements for robotic battery powered electrical lawnmowers
New edition; Published on 18 December 2020
Supersedes AS/NZ 60335.2.107:2013
Identical adoption of IEC 60335-2-107 Ed 2.1

  • Added definition for peripherals, automatic mode, cell, battery, fully charged, discharged, general purpose (battery/cell), switched circuit and power switch 
  • Cl. 7 Additional requirement for rating label marking, warnings and instruction manual
  • Cl. 8 Clarifying charging stations and perimeter delimiter are to be protected against live parts
  • Cl. 8.101 New protection against electric shock requirement for hazardous battery voltages 
  • Revise leakage and high voltage assessment to include all mains   powered peripherals  
  • Cl. 19.7, Cl. 19.9 Remove motor lock rotor and running overload test 
  • Cl. 19.11 Clarification to electronic fault testing 
  • Cl. 20 Revised stability and mechanical hazards requirements for manual controller, manual stop, cutting means stopping time, traction drive stopping and restart procedures, as well as a new standing and kneeling child foot probe test
  • Cl. 22 Revised construction requirements for disabling devices, working area, perimeter delimiter, sensors and manual controller, as well as new requirements for machine connectors used for charging and contact surfaces used as obstruction sensing devices
  • Cl. 24 Revised switch component requirement to address the loading condition experienced by the machine(
  • Cl. 29 Revise creepage and clearance requirements for the machine and non-mains-powered peripherals
  • Annex JJ Additional information for operation of the lift sensor, tilt sensor, obstruction sensor and rollover sensor 
  • Annex KK Revised requirement for battery operation and charging  replaces Annex B and Annex S

Date of application: 2023-12-18

AS/NZS 62841.3.1:2015 Amendment 2

Electric motor-operated hand-held tools, transportable tools and lawn and garden machinery - Safety - Part 3.1: Particular requirements for transportable table saws 
Amendment 2; Published on 2021-11-26
Identical adoption of IEC 62841-3-1:2014 Ed 1 A1

  • Additional statements to be added in instruction manual:
  • Cl. 18.8 Added minimum performance level for “provide run-down time as required by 19.105” as part of requirement for electronics circuit providing safety critical functions 
  • Cl. 19.101.2.8, Cl. 19.102 Clarification to saw blade guard and guarding below table abnormal operation )
  • Cl. 19.102 Wording “rupture resistance” replaced by “ultimate tensile strength”   )
  • Added limit for ultimate tensile strength and Izod notched impact strength required for saw blade guard’s other non metallic material   
  • Cl. 21.103.2 Changes to depth of cut and bevel angle setting construction assessment 
  • Extra warning statement for battery tools   

Date of application: 2023-11-26

AS/NZS 62841.3.9:2020

Electric motor-operated hand-held tools, transportable tools and lawn and garden machinery - Safety - Particular requirements for transportable mitre saws
New edition; Published on 26 November 2020
Supersedes AS/NZS 62841.3.9:2015Identical adoption of IEC 62841.3.9:2020 Ed 2.0

  • Increase the maximum saw blade diameter to 410 mm  
  • Cl. 19.101.7 Minor changes to abnormal operation of mitre saw 
  • Cl. 20.1 Clarification to guard material requirement 
  • Cl. 21.102.1 Modification to table top dimension requirement

Date of application: 2023-11-27

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