Yearly Archives: 2014

[:en]

Standards Updates

AS/NZS 60598.2.1:2014 has been released and now features Amendment A which contains all required testing for LED tubes. We are encouraging all clients to begin applying this standard for any LED tube applications. Existing requirements will be accepted as well in the meantime. AS/NZS 3105:2014 has been released and this has now incorporated AS/NZS 3197 which has been withdrawn by Standards Australia. There is a transition period to allow the use of AS/NZS 3105:2012 for a further 2 years from publication date and the NSW DFT have confirmed they will accept this. AS/NZS 3100 has a further amendment 3 which should now be reported with any new applications. There is a 2 year transition period until the amendment is mandatory. A new gazette has been released by the NSW DFT updating the declaring definitions. You can click this link and scroll down to the 36th page to view it.

Certificate Expiry

The rules around certificate expiry are very strict and very clear:

1. Once a certificate has expired, the number is withdrawn and the approval cannot be extended or re-opened.
2. The renewal application must be lodged with SAA a minimum of 2 weeks before expiry.
3. The renewal application must contain test reports as evidence of compliance to the latest applicable standard.
4. New photos of the latest production must be included with the application.
5. There is no need to update to latest standards until it is time for the certificate is renewed.
6. Extensions of a Certificate of Approval are permitted by the NSW DFT, but as a REAS we must seek their approval and pay a fee of AUD 459 (NSW fee) plus AUD 100 (SAA fee) before we can extend any certificate. These must be lodged well in advance of expiry of a certificate. There is also no guarantee they will be granted.
7. We do send out reminder emails before expiry to the approval holder and the consultant who made the application.

Investigations

There have been several high-profile recalls of products in Australia recently. These often relate to products not being manufactured as per the approved article. We remind all our clients that it is unacceptable to change an approved article in any way, including marking, plastic or metal types, PCB layouts or component types unless the change has been tested and the approval modified. It is also a requirement of our terms and conditions that we are informed of any investigation of a product which we have approved. The Government is doing its job and performing check testing of product in the market and any unsafe product will be recalled.[:]

SAA Marketplace

This part of our website is getting the most traffic in our history, with thousands of hits! The only thing missing is our clients’ products. The most requested items are LED lighting and components such as switches, lampholders, plugs etc. There is now a dual-language English/Chinese Brochure which you can request by replying to this email. The application form is also bilingual. We would encourage you to promote this service to your clients as it enables them to properly capitalise on the brand value associated with their SAA Approval.

LED Tubes

Standards Australia has published AS/NZS 60598.2.1 which includes Amendment A for LED tubes. The requirements are more or less what the regulators have been requiring to date. We will continue to certify LED tubes to the set of requirements we have listed in our LED lighting requirements brochure, or the new AS/NZS 60598.2.1 until the earlier requirements are withdrawn by JAS-ANZ from their policy document. It would be good practice for all those involved in the approval of LED tubes to familiarise themselves with the new standard and to begin applying it as soon as possible.

Portable Outlet Devices

A new version of AS/NZS 3105 has been published on 28 April 2014. The standard was prepared to supersede the 2012 version of AS/NZS 3105 and AS/NZS 3197 two years after publication. As such, we are also accepting AS/NZS 3105:2012 in conjunction with AS/NZS 3197 in the meantime. There are some significant changes to the way the products are assessed and we urge any party involved in the testing and approval of these items to familiarise themselves with the new version of the standard.

Section 7

It is important that section 7 of the Application Form is filled in correctly. Even if the testing has been conducted to the IEC version of the standard, the applicable AS/NZS version of the standard and the year of publication MUST be filled out in the bottom right hand corner of the box. The signed form is a declaration by the applicant that the product conforms with the Australian standard and is a legal document which forms an important part of our approval process. WE ask that you pay attention to filling this out correctly as otherwise it holds up the application process.

[:en]

What is it?

It is a place for SAA Approval Holders to advertise their products to potential buyers around the world.

Why use it?

The buyer will have certainty that the product they are browsing has an SAA Certificate.
The seller will be able to access the large number of buyers who require genuine SAA certificates for the products they import.

Who is asking for the service?

SAA gets inquiries nearly every day asking for details of approved products by potential customers. Here is an example:
Hello..i regularly use SAA lookup for a buying guide and not getting results ..
Finding many items have a SAA number on its website but no model number
how can i check an item without the model..just with the SAA number??
thank you,
Jonny

Who can list and what can they list?

Any SAA Certificate of Approval or Certificate of Suitability holder may list the products contained on their certificates.

Does the SAA Certificate Holder have to list their products?

Certainly NOT! If the Approval holder wishes to remain anonymous, that is their right. This is simply a method to connect our SAA clients with prospective buyers in Australia and is entirely voluntary.

Who will be looking at the Marketplace?

SAA is bombarded weekly by requests for SAA approved products. Of course, we must be completely impartial to all certificate holders and we cannot divulge company or certificate details to these inquiries.
This is a lost opportunity.

What details will you list?

There will be space for the approval holder’s details, including an email hyperlink and webpage hyperlink, details of the product, brand name, model number and SAA approval number and the ratings. You can also optionally have a photo of the approved product.

What are the costs?

It will cost AUD 120 per certified product and will be valid and visible until the certificate expires. Photos can be added at AUD 50 per photo. This is great value!!!

In which order do the listings appear?

For each listing generated by a search, the order of the listings will be randomly generated by our software. This is to be fair to all those wishing to list.

SAA Approvals Terms and Conditions

All terms and conditions and obligations listed in document S-0110 Terms, Conditions and Obligations of the Applicant and Certificate Holder apply.

Right of Withdrawal

SAA Approvals Pty Ltd reserves the right to withdraw any listings entirely at their own discretion.[:]

[:en]

Additional Staff

In the past few months we have expanded our team by 40%. Now that all staff are fully trained, this means quicker turnaround times for you.

Turnaround Time

We are currently turning around projects in 3 days – well inside our 5 day service target.

Quality

As the largest private Certifier in Australia for electrical products, you can be sure that we have the expertise and accreditation scope to quickly and professionally certify your products for Australia. Our quality and reputation are second to none and we pride ourselves on our quick and professional services.

EESS

Our certificates are uploaded to the EESS database and will continue to be accepted for the registration of level 3 equipment in the RCM system as legislated in Queensland. Note that there is no requirement or need for level 1 and 2 equipment certificates to be uploaded to the Government database.[:]

[:en]

[:]

[:en]

Renewals

When renewing certificates, it is very important that the certificate is renewed before it has expired. In order to help you with the renewal process, an in-depth guide has been written. This document is available at: https://www.saaapprovals.com.au/wp-content/uploads/S-0023-Renewal-or-Extension-app-Guide-Ver-5.pdf

PV Inverters

• Inverter Chargers require the battery charging function to be assessed. We prefer this to be achieved by testing clauses 11, 17, 19 and 22.101 of AS/NZS 60335.2.29, or by the application of relevant clauses of AS 62040.1.1.
• The Fee structure for inverters will change from 1 April 2014 to the following. Note that this ONLY applies to PV inverters and we have no plans to change our other charges. This will apply to any applications received from 1 April 2014.
  • AS/NZS 3100, AS 4777.2 and AS 4777.3 – $660
  • AS/NZS 3100, AS 4777.2, AS 4777.3 and IEC 62109-1 and IEC 62109-2 – $660 + $480.

AS/NZS 60335.1:2002 with amendments 1 to 3

Note that this version of the standard expires on 29 April 2014 and any certificates issued from this date must be to the 2011 version of the standard. This means we will need applications at least a month before hand to ensure that the certificate can be issued before the standard expires.[:]

[:en]

Different Certificate of Approval Numbering for 2014

From 1 January, the SAA numbering system will change for all declared articles. The new numbers will be SAA-XXXXXX-EA. Please note the dashes between the number and the SAA and the EA. This change has been brought about by New South Wales Department of Fair Trading to achieve consistency across private certifiers. The Non-declared articles will continue to be SAAXXXXXX.

Is My Certificate Still Valid When the Standard Changes?

The answer to this question is YES. Any SAA certificate is valid until the expiry date shown on the certificate or if we withdraw it for some reason. If the standard changes in the meantime, the new standard will need to be applied for any applications for renewal or to add a completely new model, but the original certificate will remain valid until the date shown.

New Terms and Conditions

This document has been updated and re-issued on our website here. Please familiarise yourself with this document as it is fundamental to understanding our business together.[:]