Electrical appliances and power tools – safety

Electrical appliances and power tools – safety, regulations, and the latest Standards

Australian and New Zealand joint electrical Standards developed by EL-002, the ‘Joint Australian/New Zealand committee on the safety of household and similar electrical appliances, tools, small power transformers, and power supplies’, are used by manufacturers, regulators, and testing houses to ensure that appliances and power tools that come into New Zealand are constructed and tested properly, safe to use, and approved for sale.

A large number of these Australian/New Zealand (AS/NZS) Standards for electrical appliances and tools listed in Schedule 4 of the Electrical (Safety) Regulations 2010.

Ensuring safety and local input into international Standards – EL-002 committee

EL-002 is a ‘mirror’ committee of two IEC technical committees (TC); the IEC TC 61 ‘Household and other similar appliances’ committee that develops IEC Standards for appliances, and the IEC TC 116 ‘Safety of hand-held motor-operated electric tools’ committee that develops IEC Standards for power tools. Being a ‘mirror committee’ means that EL-002 can provide local input into the development of these IEC Standards and ensure that New Zealand and Australia align with these IEC Standards.

The EL-002 committee aims to reduce a number of safety risks such as electrical shock and burns to users of household appliances. The committee considers many safety factors when preparing Standards for appliances and tools. These safety factors include personal protection against electric shock, effects of excessive temperature radiation, explosion, moisture resistance, clearances, mechanical stability, hazardous moving parts, and protection against fire.

Since 2000, the Secretariat for EL-002 has resided in New Zealand. Chaired by New Zealander Derek Johns, EL-002 won the 2009 Standards New Zealand ‘Outstanding Committee of the Year Award’ – its five New Zealand members and 25 Australian members represent a wide range of industry and government stakeholders.

Publishing IEC Standards as AS/NZS Standards

EL-002 reviews IEC Standards and sets priorities to adopt these Standards as Australian/New Zealand Standards. In those cases where an appropriate IEC Standard is not available and a specific issue needs to be addressed, EL-002 develops the required Standard then recommends it to the relevant IEC committee for development as an international Standard.

‘Adopted’ IEC Standards are published as joint Australian/New Zealand Standards with or without variations as follows:

-Identical (IDT) – the AS/NZS Standard is identical to the IEC Standard and is adopted and published as an AS/NZS Standard without any variations.

-Modified (MOD) – the AS/NZS Standard is adopted with modifications to meet the local conditions and is published as an AS/NZS Standard with variations.

Latest Standards and amendments

These Standards are continually updated by EL-002 The latest revisions and amendments to the AS/NZS Standards published by EL-002 this month are listed below.

AS/NZS 60335.2.31:2004 Amendment No. 4 to Household and similar electrical appliances –Safety – Part 2.31: Particular requirements for range hoods and other cooking fume extractors

AS/NZS 60335.2.4:2010 Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 2.4: Particular requirements for spin extractors

AS/NZS 60335.2.54:2010 Particular requirements for surface cleaning appliances for household use employing liquids or steam

AS/NZS 60335.2.59:2005 Amendment No. 3 to Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 2.59: Particular requirements for insect killers

AS/NZS 60335.2.73:2005 Amendment No. 2 to Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 2.73: Particular requirements for fixed immersion heaters

AS/NZS 60335.2.74:2005 Amendment No. 2 to Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 2.74: Particular requirements for portable immersion heaters

AS/NZS 60335.2.11:2009 Amendment No. 1 to Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Particular requirements for tumble dryers

AS/NZS 60745.2.13:2010 Hand-held motor-operated electric tools – Safety – Part 2.13: Particular requirements for chain saws

AS/NZS 60745.2.15:2010 Hand-held motor-operated electric tools – Safety – Part 2.15: Particular requirements for hedge trimmers

AS/NZS 61558.2.16:2010 Safety of power transformers, power supplies, reactors and similar products for supply voltages up to 1 100 V – Part 2.16: Particular requirements for switch mode power supply units and transformers for switch mode power supply units

Order these Standards from www.standards.co.nz (enter the Standard number as the keyword into the search panel), email enquiries@standards.co.nz, or call 0800 782 632 during business hours.

For more information please email enquiries@standards.co.nz or telephone 0800 782 632.

Related Touchstone articles

Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 – Standards for hazardous areas and electromedical equipment – May 2010.

Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 – related Standards to help compliance – April 2010.

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