Electrical safety compliance
Electrical safety testing services
Electrical safety testing is mandatory in all Australian States and Territories and in New Zealand. All suppliers and manufacturers of electrical products must ensure those products are safe — meeting essential standards, showing regulatory compliance marks and conforming to other applicable regulations.
What are the regulations?
In Australia
Electrical safety testing is mandatory in all Australian States and Territories. To legally sell in-scope electrical equipment under the EESS and NSW Fair Trading, the Responsible Supplier — the on-shore manufacturer or importer — must meet all the requirements of the EESS, including:
- that the electrical equipment offered for sale is categorised as risk Level 1, 2 or 3 and is electrically safe;
- that the product is marked with the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) in accordance with the requirements listed in AS/NZS 4417.1 and AS/NZS 4417.2.
In New Zealand
All suppliers and manufacturers of electrical products in New Zealand must ensure those products are safe. This includes meeting essential standards, showing regulatory compliance marks and approval numbers, and conforming to other WorkSafe New Zealand requirements.
What we provide
What you can expect from our electrical safety compliance service:
- Full electrical safety testing including country deviations for Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the UK, Canada and the USA, liaising with globally accredited test laboratories
- Top-up testing to cover country deviations such as Australia and New Zealand
- Assessment of an existing AS/NZS or CB report, and closing the gap against the latest standard requirements
- Technical support in resolving non-conformity issues
- Lodging certificate of conformity or suitability applications through EESS-certified regulatory bodies such as SAA, SGS, ESV and NSW Fair Trading
- Responsible Supplier representation as an EESS/ERAC Authorised Representative for product registration and renewals
- Review of compliance documentation such as test reports, label markings and technical construction folders
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is electrical safety testing?
Electrical safety testing is compulsory for electrical and electronic equipment sold in Australia and in international markets. Each item of equipment must comply with a product-specific safety standard, or with a generic standard where no product-specific one exists, before it can be approved. The purpose is to establish that the product is safe for consumers and for the surrounding environment.
Does my product need electrical safety testing?
In many cases, yes. Under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS), electrical equipment that is in-scope must meet the applicable electrical safety requirements before it can be legally supplied in Australia or New Zealand. In general, equipment is considered in-scope where it:
- has a rated voltage greater than 50 V AC RMS or 120 V ripple-free DC; and
- has a rated voltage less than 1000 V AC RMS or 1500 V ripple-free DC; and
- is designed or marketed as suitable for household, personal or similar use.
It is not enough to assume a product is outside the EESS simply because it may also be used in commercial or industrial settings. If a regulator considers the product to be in scope, it will generally be treated that way unless the Responsible Supplier can show otherwise.
What are the risk levels under the EESS?
In-scope equipment is classified as Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (medium risk) or Level 3 (high risk). The level determines the evidence required: Level 3 equipment requires a certificate of conformity issued by a recognised certifier before registration, while lower levels rely on the Responsible Supplier holding evidence of compliance. Classification depends on the product type as listed in the EESS equipment classification database, not on your own assessment of how risky it is.
Who is the Responsible Supplier?
The Responsible Supplier is the first party to sell in-scope equipment in Australia — typically the on-shore manufacturer or the importer. The Responsible Supplier must hold an Australian Business Number, be registered in the national database, and be able to produce evidence of compliance on request. An overseas manufacturer with no Australian entity must appoint a local Authorised Representative to take that role.
Want to learn more?
Speak to a Chartered Professional Engineer about your product, your target market and the approval pathway that actually applies to it.
Talk to an engineer
Not sure whether your product is in scope?
Send us the model details and rated voltage. A free 15-minute consultation will usually settle scope, risk level and the evidence you need.