Many multimeters and test equipment is sold in Australia and on line that does not meet the required safety standards.I would like to see an end to this practice on safety grounds.
My federal MP refers me to state consumer afairs, however this is an importation issue and can only be solved at Federal level.
Welcome to the community Robert.
Please tell us more about this. What are the standards that this gear does not meet? What are the practical consequences, are people often harmed by this kind of equipment?
This site is a professionalâs magazine and web site. It covers the requirement and alludes to just being marked as compliant is no guarantee it is.
To meet Australian safety requirements, a multimeter must be designed, constructed and tested to Australian safety standard AS 61010.1:2003, which is based on international standard IEC 1010. It should also be verified by independent lab testing. A multimeter tested to these standards has been checked to ensure its internal components are designed and constructed to protect the operator from hazards including electric shock and burns in environments with high electrical risk.
A marking alone is no guarantee the multimeter has been tested to the standard, particularly if it was purchased overseas. Always seek further evidence the product has been tested by a reputable lab to the correct electrical safety standard.
Note that while it is illegal to use many products in Australia, it is not illegal to import or sell them. it is a pervasive failure in the regulatory system.
Choice has long been aware and active, including these topics on the Community.
That isnât the right avenue to follow, unless you have purchased a multimeter which didnât comply with the relevant standard and the seller is refusing to provide a resolution.
In Australia, electrical equipment including test equipment is the responsibility of:
https://www.eess.gov.au/equipment/selling-electrical-equipment-in-australia/
State government Electrical Safety Offices also have jurisdiction for unsafe electricity equipment. The EESS website above has a link to States which have also taken on jurisdiction.
If it is sold in a bricks and mortar store, they should be compliant with the relevant Australian Standard. If one has evidence that multimeters being sold in Australian bricks and mortar stores does not meet the standard, a complaint can be lodged with the state government electrical safety office.
If the multimeters can be bought from online searches in Australia (say from a foreign website and imported for use), this is allowed and it is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that any multimeter purchased meets the relevant standard(s). An importer includes a consumer buying the product online and getting it posted to their Australian home address.
Non-compliant multimeters will be found for sale online as it is impossible to block websites which market multimeters to anywhere in the world. I am unsure whether the Electrical Safety Offices will be interested in receiving complaints that there are websites selling non-compliant multimeters as there are many things which are banned or regulated which are available for purchase online - multimeters are just one.
That is incorrect for regulated electrical equipment. It is illegal to import or sell electrical equipment which is non-compliant.
There is evidence it is not policed whether rigorously or at all (ref such as ebay merchants and others) but when all is said and done, test equipment is not easy to find on the EESS site so this from FT NSW.
Multi-meters are not listed. There are differences in requirements for âdeclared articlesâ and others as best as I can discern. The EESS goes into risk levels and âin scopeâ with lists that are mostly âend user appliancesâ rather than test equipment. Not as simple as the FT NSW page so I could have missed something there.
Standards Australia has guidelines for multimeter selection (HB 187-2006 (guide to selecting a safe multimeter) this standard should be approved by Federal government and then supply of non-compliant meters would be enforceable.
I fail to understand why my Federal MP thinks that this is a state issue.
In Australia, legislation which governs the supply chain is state based. It is mostly state government jurisdiction and legislative responsibilities. This is handled by state government electrical safety offices.
To meet Australian safety requirements (especially those designed to be used on >230V a multimeter) must be designed, constructed and tested to Australian safety standard AS 61010.
EESS in-scope electrical equipment covers equipment such as multimeters. It is a statutory requirement that all electrical equipment, including multimeters, are electrically safe.
They arenât listed. It is an in-scope electrical equipment which has a statutory requirement to he electrically safe.
Where is the evidence?
The contrary exists. It is monitored for non-compliance. Monitoring is carried out by state government electrical safety offices. These offices also investigate electrical related incidents and respond to complaints.
Having worked in the electricity sector, I have first hand experience in how the offices operate and how they disseminate information about electrical events, and corrective actions. Their processes are mature and are very much about preventing recurrence and protecting individuals.
Please read my previous post.
As indicated above,
One needs to have evidence to support the veracity of any allegation.
Many of us have it. Some donât admit it. One could equally ask for your evidence of best practice regulatory policing.
Checked my multimeter, bought in a bricks and mortar shop in Vic. It is labelled as complying with FCC requirements and tested by UL. Nothing more. --30â
Welcome to the community @av1
Assume the interest here is in an occupational capacity of someone working in the industry with relevant authorisations/qualifications. Itâs a little unusual for the concern to be raised with a consumer organisation such as Choice. Those working in the industry understand the importance of ensuring the test equipment they use is properly maintained and safe to use. The use of electrical test equipment on electrical equipment is regulated at state/territory level. By regulation itâs use on electrical installations, equipment etc is restricted to persons meeting prescribed qualifications and work conditions.
There are state level Electrical Safety Offices, and industry/professional organisations who might typically look at the concerns mentioned. As pointed out in the previous posts Choice has highlighted concerns that include more broadly the sale and or importation of unsafe consumer products. Products intended for restricted occupational use may be of limited interest to the Choice community.
Past experience suggests those in the electrical industry are aware of the risks of using test equipment that may not meet standards. Hence the products purchased are chosen from reliable suppliers and known reputable brands. At least one would hope for that to be so. Are there specific examples by product supplier, brand, model where there have been product failures identified?
Is there some other situation where other than a restricted occupational need other users are at risk?
Two of many items that appear to be held in Australia for distribution but have no mark of compliance with Australian electrical safety compliance requirements. While some do have CE marks these do not comply with Australian regulations which instead use the âAustralian equivalent of the CE mark [which] is the RCMâ #1 and they need to be registered for the Registration â Responsible Supplier â EESS.
#1 This link is to a Law business involved in helping businesses obtain relevant certification. The link is not a recommendation of any business, it is purely used to provide information about the required marking requirements.
With EBay, it isnât possible to know exactly where the seller is. A seller can nominate a location, even if they are located overseas. Many foreign sellers are known to nominate local locations to improve the likelihood of a sale. There are many reports of buyers thinking they have bought within Australia (or the country they live), only to find when the product is received, the postage/franking information shows the seller is located elsewhere.
The two examples there isnât any information indicating the product comply with Australian electrical safety requirements, so, one must assume they donât comply. Buying either of these products, there is a high risk that the buyer is the importer and thus responsible for ensuring compliance. It would be recommended that any consumer does not buy such devices as they take on the responsibility associated with the productâs compliance.
It would be interesting to see if there are any Australian bricks and mortar stores (or their associated websites) sell non-compliant equipment.
Something worth adding is many consumers possibly donât know this is the case nor what the risks are of importing electrical equipment which is potentially non-compliant with EESS requirements. There is a higher risk or electrical fires, electric shock and in the most tragic circumstances, electrocution. There have also been reports in the media of house fires from the import of cheap rechargeable electrical equipment where their batteries have self combusted.
As it is extremely easy to buy electrical equipment online, possibly Choice could look at providing information on the risks on buying electrical equipment online and what to look out for. This may assist consumers in ensuring that any electrical equipment meets Australian electrical safety laws and has been tested to be safe.
It is also recognised that from time to time a electricity equipment may be sold which after time, is found to be non-compliant. There has been a limited number of examples such as electrical switches and wiring which have been subject of Australia wide recalls.
Whether a historical artefact in this topic or not, my current (no pun) âprosumerâ multimeter is from the original Dick Smiths bricks and mortar stores purchased a few years before they collapsed, not a web site and not the Kogan owned follow-on web site. I am not aware if any of the regulations changed since.
It is clearly a product made for the also defunct Radio Shack company in the USA, as were most Dick Smiths goods.
That in itself is a problem putting what is a complex issue requiring specialist knowledge about regulatory issues and electrical goods onto individual lay consumers. Even Amazon AU sells some electrical products delivered from Amazon US or UK with a disclaimer summarised as âthey may be differentâ.
It possibly has changed. All electrical equipment which complies now has to have a RCM label on the appliance.
Older electrical equipment before mandatory RCM labelling was required (1 March 2016) may not have the RCM label. For older equipment, it does not mean it is non-compliant. It means the equipment was purchased pre-mandatory RCM labelling.
It is extremely easy and does not require specialist knowledge. All consumers need to do is ensure that any new electrical equipment has a:
on it. If it doesnât have the logo, it is non-compliant and poses potential risks.
If a product does not have a logo is the more reliable answer we do not know?
To consider the responsibility for determining whether a consumer product requires the logo and under which conditions has been delegated to each State and Territory.
To note this discussion relates to multimeters used for making electrical measurements. Are they intended for use by ordinary consumers or qualified and usually licenced trades/professionals?
Perhaps it has been decided by the respective government representatives, as to whether the provisions of the EESS supported legislation require all electrical multimeters and similar test equipment to have an RCM mark? The authority to respond appropriately is not represented by the discussion in this topic.
Reality is there are numerous types of electrical test equipment offered for sale by reputable known retailers and trade specialists. Some appear to have an RCM marking. Some do not. Have they met the same recognised international standards and testing requirements?
Noting that commercial and industrial equipment does not require an RCM label/mark, Australia accepts other forms of accreditation or evidence of compliance with the nationally accredited standards and legislation. Specifically for equipment considered to not be a consumer electrical appliances/equipment.
Its usefulness is somewhat limited by the need to spend nearly AU$100 to purchase a pdf copy. One might suggest if should be freely available to all to follow. It may also given more recent legislative changes require some revisions.
The principle requirements for certification are compliance with:
Noting the different observations in recent posts, does a problem arise because of the status of the guide document mentioned? Or is the greater issue with those ensuring products sold are complying with the Australian Standard AS61010.1:2003?
Itâs been suggested the states and territories have an existing authority to enforce compliance. To the extent they have or have not may be why the Federal MP chose to avoid commitment.
A general observation of MPâs at all levels is the response one might consider reasonable often differs, depending on which brand they belong to and whether they hold the reins.
The thread has seemed to have gone away from the original post. A couple of clarifying comments to bring it back on the original subject:
The Victorian MP was incorrect in advising that the State Consumer Affairs Office should be approached. In Victoria, the responsibilities lie with:
Victoria (VIC)
Energy Safe Victoria
Level 5, Building 2, 4 Riverside Quay
Southbank, VIC 3006
PO Box 262, Collins Street West, Melbourne, VIC 8007
(03) 9203 9700 (03) 9686 2197
www.esv.vic.gov.au
and Energy Safe Victoria would be the agency to contact if one has evidence that non-compliant (unsafe) electrical equipment is being sold within Victoria. It is worth noting that one canât rely on online product photographs or websites for determining compliance. Compliance may need to be requested direct from the seller/manufacturer.
