Electricity FAQs: Appliance Safety
[ Last Updated 3 July 2007 ]
Q. How Can I Know that the New Appliance I Buy is Electrically Safe?
A. Regulation 80 of the Electricity Safety Regulations 2010 requires that every new or used appliance that is sold or offered for sale must be electrically safe. "Electrically safe" means that there is no significant risk of injury or death to any person, or of damage to any property, as a result the use of the appliance or the passage of electricity through the appliance.
Generally, electrical appliances sold in New Zealand achieve their safety through compliance with a recognised New Zealand standard. Typically, the things to look for are:
- A correct plug. Appliances fitted with an incorrect plug for use in New Zealand are generally not safe to use in New Zealand.
- Voltage markings. All appliances sold in New Zealand are required to be safe at our supply voltage of 230 Volts. Any appliance that is not marked with a voltage rating of 230 Volts or not marked with any voltage rating should be considered as suspect. Some appliances are designed for a range of voltages and this is indicated by a dash (-) between the two voltages of the safe range, e.g. 200-240.
- Other labels. A safe appliance will always be marked with the manufacturer/supplier's name and, in the case of a light fitting, with a maximum rating of the light bulb to be used in it. Any appliance not bearing such markings cannot be compliant with the appropriate safety standard and therefore should be treated with caution. If in doubt, ask for a declaration of safety from the supplier.
Q. How Safe are Second-Hand Electrical Appliances?
A. When buying a second-hand appliance, ask for an inspection and test report showing compliance with Standard AS/NZS 5761, or look for a label signed by a competent person showing the date of the testing or servicing of that appliance. An example of an Electrical Safety Certificate issued by a licensed electrical worker is shown below.
Appliances that pass the inspection and test(s) may, alternatively, be tagged (by competent non-licensed electrical workers) to indicate they have passed the Standard test. The tag should carry the name of the person who performed the testing and the date of the test (or retest date).
Appliances that do not pass should be withdrawn from service immediately, be labelled warning against further use, and sent for repair, disposal or destruction.
Q. How Can I Keep My Water Cylinder Temperature Safe, Yet Ensure it's Hot Enough to Avoid "Bugs"?
A. Keep the hot water temperature in your cylinder above 60°C. It is important that the water in the cylinder is hot enough to kill bacteria such as legionella.
Compliance Document G12—Water Supplies of the Building Code states that hot water supplied to sanitary fixtures provided for personal hygiene (e.g. showers, baths, hand basins) should be a maximum of 45ºC for places such as childcare centres; schools; old people’s homes; etc. Elsewhere the maximum temperature to such fixtures should be 55ºC. This can be achieved by fitting a tempering valve to your cylinder. Hot water to the kitchen and laundry may be at cylinder temperature. The code is available from the Department of Building and Housing.
If there are young children in the home you might want to consider adjusting your tempering valve on your hot water cylinder to lower the temperature to 45°C at the tap. This is a safe water temperature for children, ensuring they don't get burned. Ask your local energy supplier or a licensed plumber for advice on how to adjust it, if necessary.
Always ensure that the thermostat and element covers are in place to prevent electric shock.
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