Exemptions and Allowances

Moulded plug and cord for connection to equipment or moulded cordsets supplied with equipment have multiple level 3 components.

Clarification for RCM marking requirements and registration requirements for moulded plug and cord or cordsets is provided in the alternate regulatory marking allowance issued by the Queensland Electrical Safety Office.

For a copy of the exemption and registration requirements, click here – 002-Exemption-for-Supply-Cords.

Some cable marking equipment is not capable of printing the RCM symbol as required. This issue is common for all types of inkjet/dot-matrix printing processes used for marking some supply flexible cords and building wiring cables.

Energy Safe Victoria approves the use of the alternative approval mark to the RCM in accordance with section 62W of the Electricity Safety Act 1998 for supply flexible cords and building wiring cables that use inkjet dot-matrix printing processes to apply markings to their cables and cords.

For a copy of the exemption and alternative approval mark, click here.

The Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) Standing Committee of Officials (SCO) has approved an extension of certification and registration on certain electrical equipment until 31 January 2021. The Queensland Regulator issued a Rule (by gazette notice) to grant the use of existing safety standards currently in force.

This relates to the following items and related relevant edition or amendments of safety standards (equipment types and standards not listed are not affected by this ruling):

• Vacuum cleaners and water-suction cleaning appliances – AS/NZS 60335.2.2:2010 +A1+A2+A3+A4
• Dishwashers – AS/NZS 60335.2.5:2014+A1
• Hair care appliances – AS/NZS 60335.2.23:2012+A1
• LED lamps – Self ballasted – AS/NZS IEC 62560:2014
• Battery charger – AS/NZS 60335.2.29:2004+A1+A2
• Kitchen Machines – AS/NZS 60335.2.14:2013
• **Refrigerators – AS/NZS 60335.2.24:2010+A1

What does this mean for Responsible Suppliers?

• Responsible Suppliers who have registered equipment types that rely on certificates issued to the standards listed above can request the certificate holder to obtain a certificate extension (up to 31 January 2021), or if the responsible supplier is the certificate holder they can directly ask the issuing certifier to extend the certificate.
• Responsible Suppliers will be required to supply the certifier with the estimated number of units of equipment unsold.
• Certifiers have been informed of their ability to extend extensions to 31 January 2021.
• Once the certificate is extended you can log into your responsible supplier account and extend your registration to 31 January 2021.
• Modifications to existing certificates (modifying existing models on a certificate or adding a new model that is a variant of an existing model on the certificate) can still be made to any of the affected certificates and does not affect the expiry date of the certificate.

Information on Refrigerator certificates

The regulator also notes in reviewing the certificates related to the Industry request that there are many certificates issued by certifiers that have not applied the Information Bulletin issued by regulators in October 2018 (Information Bulletin #0022). To rectify this inequity, regulators have determined all refrigerator equipment registrations on the EESS database shall have the information bulletin 0022 applied.

Refrigerating appliances where the certificate is only to AS/NZS 60335.2.24:2010 +A1, and does not include A2:

For certificates issued before October 2018, the expiry date on the certificate will remain valid.

For certificates issued after October 2018:

1. if certificate was issued in accordance with information bulletin 0022 –  expiry date would have been 30 June 2020 – that certificate can be extended to 31 Jan 2021 and equipment registration can then be updated to 31 Jan 2021.
2. if certificate was not issued in accordance with information bulletin 0022 – expiry date is later than 30 June 2020 but before 31 Jan 2021 – that certificate can be extended to 31 Jan 2021 and equipment registration can then be updated to 31 Jan 2021.
3. if certificate was not issued in accordance with information bulletin 0022 – expiry date is later than 31 Jan 2021 – any registration using that certificate will need to have new certificate (to AS/NZS 60335.2.24:2010 +A1+A2) for the registration to remain after 31 Jan 2021.

The Gazette notice is published at here

The Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) Standing Committee of Officials (SCO) has approved an extension of certification and registration on camping refrigerators until 31 July 2021. The Queensland Regulator issued a Rule (by gazette notice) to grant the use of existing safety standards current in force as at 1 June 2020.

This relates to the following items and related relevant edition or amendments of safety standards (equipment types and standards not listed are not affected by this ruling):

• Camping Refrigerators – AS/NZS 60335.2.24:2010+A1
  Note: camping refrigerators are portable refrigerators complying with requirements in AS/NZS 60335.2.24:2010+A1 as refrigerators intended for camping use, and does not include any camping refrigerator that is a fixed appliance. Camping refrigerators do not include refrigerators for installing in caravans or RV’s or relocatable homes etc.

What does this mean for Responsible Suppliers?

Similarly to the June 2020 Acceptance of Alternate Standards, suppliers can request certifiers extend camping refrigerator certificates to 31 July 2021 (if required) and then extend their registration to 31 July 2021.

Information on Camping Refrigerator certificates

Camping refrigerators are exempt from parts of the requirements stated in the June 2020 Information on Refrigerator certificate requirement in that they will not require re-certification to AS/NZS 60335.2.24:2010 +A1 +A2 until 31 July 2021 for the registration to remain valid.

Download a copy of the gazette

Note: this gazette is only related to camping refrigerators, all other requirements as listed in the June 2020 gazette and information provided in the June 2020 Acceptance of Alternate Standards remain in place.

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