Appliances
[ Last Updated 18 June 2007 ]
Q. What do I Need to do in Order to Introduce a New Appliance into the Market?
A. All electrical appliances sold in New Zealand are required to be safe. This is generally achieved with compliance with a recognised Joint AS/NZS Standard. Therefore, before introducing a new appliance into the New Zealand market, you should obtain documentation showing compliance with one of the recognised Standards listed in AS/NZS 4417, Part 2. A range of electrical appliances requires approval or certification prior to sale. More detail on appliance requirements maybe found in the Appliances and Fittings section.
Q. Where Should I Look for Detailed Information on Installing Electrical Wiring and Other Products into a House, Office, Factory or Construction Site?
A. This work should only be undertaken by licensed electrical workers. Detailed information is, however, available in the applicable AS/NZS Standard such as AS/NZS 3000 or its companion standards, which are available from Standards New Zealand. For information on new electrical products, refer to manufacturers' instructions.
Q. What Checks are Necessary Before I Sell a Second-hand Appliance?
A. All second-hand appliances are required to be either safe to use or be disabled from future use. Safety can be verified by having the appliance tested for compliance with AS/NZS 3760 by a competent person. A copy of the testing results should be retained by the seller and made available, if requested, to the purchaser.
An appliance sold for recycling or a historic collection should be disabled and labelled as described in AS/NZS 4701 (copies of AS/NZS 3760 and 4701 can be obtained from Standards New Zealand).
Q. What Testing Should I Do if Repairing an Appliance?
A. After any electrical repairs to an electrical appliance have been carried out, the appliance must be verified as being electrically safe before being returned to service. A person may comply with this by testing in accordance with AS/NZS 3760. It is advisable to keep a copy of the testing results and label the appliance in accordance with the requirements of the Standard.
Q. I Note that AS/NZS 3760: 2003 has been Published and that its Scope Differs from that of AS/NZS 3760: 2001. How Does the Latest Version of the Standard Apply in NZ?
A. The 2001 version of AS/NZS 3760 remains the version cited in the Electricity Regulations 1997 under the 2002 Amendment and it is recognised as applying only to portable equipment (fittings and appliances). It does not apply to portable equipment associated with medical electrical or hazardous areas. This equipment would be covered by AS/NZS 3551, AS/NZS 2381 and Standards cited by those Standards.
AS/NZS 3760: 2001 is also not recognised for fittings of electrical installations or connectable installations (which includes appliances). These are covered by the applicable Standards including NZS 3000 section 6 (and its successor) or, for medical or hazardous area locations, AS/NZS 3003 and the AS/NZS 2381 series.
Changes to AS/NZS 3760:2001 incorporated in the 2003 version of the Standard included the following:
- The environment for frequency of inspection and test has been revised to be more usage based, rather than specific site based;
- Customized solutions based on risk assessment are now allowed;
- The “Responsible Person” has been defined and the qualifications of a “Competent Person” clarified by notes;
- Guidelines to the knowledge of electrical principles with which a Competent Person is likely to be familiar have been added as an Informative Appendix, applicable in New Zealand only;
- Additional definitions have been formulated;
- The inspection and test responsibilities of the hirer and hiree are now stated and the inspection, test and tag intervals for the hirer clarified;
- Numerous minor text changes.
These new changes should be used as guidelines in applying the the current 2001 version of the standard.
Q. What are the Competency Requirements of Non-registered Persons Testing Appliances and Using 3760-Type Labels?
A. While currently not defined in the Electricity Regulations the competency guidelines set out in the 2003 version of AS/NZS 3760 may be used.
Q. When an Unregistered Person has Tested an Appliance and Found it Faulty, can that Person Repair the Appliance?
A. Only if it is a domestic appliance and is owned by that person and they follow the requirements of ECP 50: 1993. Otherwise, an electrical worker authorised to do that work, must do the repair.
Q. Who is Responsible for the Safety of Appliances Sold in Auction Rooms?
A. The Auctioneer's Act provides that the vendor is responsible for the goods sold "on behalf" by an auctioneer.
Q. Where do You Find the Requirements for Testing Appliances in Schools, Hotels, etc?
A. AS/NZS 3760 specifies the testing required, the labelling of tested equipment, and the time intervals between testing. AS/NZS 3012 sets the requirements for construction and demolition sites. AS/NZS 281.1 sets the requirements for hazardous areas and AS/NZS 3550 sets the requirements for medical electrical.
Q. Is the Polarity Testing of Extension Cords Detailed in AS/NZS 3760?
A. Yes, the 2003 version has an appendix on the polarity testing of cords.
Q. Does AS/NZS 3760 Cover Repair Work on Appliances?
A. AS/NZS 3760 covers the testing of appliances following repair and is recognised by the Electricity Regulations as the appropriate Standard for this type of work.
Q. AS/NZS 3760 is Highly Prescriptive, How is it Applied and From When?
A. The Electricity Regulations recognise AS/NZS 3760 as a means of testing to ensure operational safety of an appliance, cords and electrical equipment following repair as well as prescribing regular inspections.
Q. Are there any Limits on the Sale of Electrical Equipment by Homeowners?
A. Yes. A used appliance must be electrically safe at time of sale. This may be achieved by testing (and tagging) in accordance with NZS 3760:2001 or if it has been disabled and marked in accordance with AS/NZS 4701.
Q. When should I Issue an Electrical Safety Certificate?
A. Electrical Safety Certificates may be used as an alternative to the labelling requirements of AS/NZS 3760 after repairs or testing have been carried out to an electrical appliance.
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