LATEST NEWS

New Testing (IP Testing)
New Accreditation (Fridges and Freezers)
New Accreditation (Cooking Appliances)
New Accreditation (VCCI Japan EMI)
New Accreditation (FCC 68 part D)
New Accreditation (Luminaries)
New Accreditation (Household Appliances)
New Accreditation (Plugs & Sockets)
ACA Grandfathering Permitted Items

New Testing (IP Testing)

IP TESTING Austest Laboratories has developed two new chambers for Testing Customer Equipment against the ingress of moisture or dust - (IP Code). IP Rating is described by 2 Digits. The first relates to dust protection, the second digit relates to water protection.

Example: IP68 = Dust tight & Water tight.

Dust Protection Classes as follows:

0 Non-protected.
1 Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm.
2 Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm.
3 Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm.
4 Protection against solid objects greater than 1.0mm.
5 Dust Protected.
6 Dust Tight.

Water Protection Classes as follows:

0 Non-protected
1 Protection against dripping water.
2 Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degs.
3 Protection against spraying water.
4 Protection against splashing water.
5 Protection against water jets.
6 Protection against heavy seas.
7 Protection against the effects of immersion.
8 Protection against submersion.

For further details contact us on (02) 9882 6500 or Email us: austest@austest.com.au

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New Accreditation (Fridges and Freezers)

NEW NATA ACCREDITATION: Fridges and Freezers.

Refrigerators and Freezers following a successful quality audit by NATA, Austest Laboratories is now accredited to perform testing to AS/NZS 3350.2.24:2001 - Particular requirements for refrigerating appliances and ice-cream appliances and ice-makers. In addition to accredited testing Austest can offer advice and certification through the Electrical Safety Regulator.

For further details contact Muhammed on (02) 9882 6500 or e-mail austest@austest.com.au

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New Accreditation (Cooking Appliances)

NEW ACCREDITATION: Cooking Appliances.

Following a successful quality audit by NATA, Austest Laboratories is now accredited to perform testing to AS/NZS 3350.2.6:2001 - Particular requirements for stationary electric cooking ranges, hobs, ovens and similar appliances for household use, their rated voltage being not more than 250 V for single-phase appliances connected between one phase and neutral, and 480 V for other appliances. In addition to accredited testing Austest can offer advice and certification through the Electrical Safety Regulator.

For further details contact Muhammed on (02) 9882 6500 or e-mail austest@austest.com.au

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New Accreditation (FCC 68 part D)

NEW ACCREDITATION: FCC 68 part D (ACTA)

Austest Laboratories now has an agreement with a US based TCB to provide FCC part 68 D pre-compliance testing. In 2003 we will provide full testing to FCC part 68 D (TIA/EIA/IS-968): Telephone Terminal Equipment with an Analogue Interface.

For further details contact Muhammed on (02) 9882 6500 or e-mail austest@austest.com.au

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New Accreditation (VCCI Japan EMI)

NEW ACCREDITATION

2003 ACCREDITATION: VCCI Japan Austest Laboratories has applied to become a member of VCCI Japan.We will receive VCCI accreditation in the new year, in accordance with article 3. More information will be available in 2003.

Please contact us on (02) 9882 6500 or e-mail austest@austest.com.au

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New Accreditation (Luminaires)

NEW ACCREDITATION: FCC 68 part D (ACTA)

Following a successful quality audit by NATA, Austest Laboratories is now accredited to perform testing to a range of standards in the AS/NZS 60598 series. Such products include portable type luminaires, low voltage lighting systemy, decoration and chain lights and many more. In addition to accredited testing Austest can offer advice and certification through the Electrical Safety Regulator.

For further details contact Muhammed on (02) 9882 6500 or e-mail austest@austest.com.au

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New Accreditation (Household Appliances)

NEW ACCREDITATION: Household appliances

Following a successful quality audit by NATA, Austest Laboratories is now accredited to perform testing to a range of standards in the AS/NZS 3350 series. Such products include battery chargers, heating appliances, hair care appliances, electric fans and many more. In addition to accredited testing Austest can offer advice and certification through the Electrical Safety Regulator.

For further details contact Muhammed on (02) 9882 6500 or e-mail austest@austest.com.au

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New Accreditation (Plugs & Sockets)

NEW ACCREDITATION: Plugs & Sockets

Following a successful quality audit by NATA, Austest Laboratories is now accredited to perform testing to a range of standards including AS/NZS 3112 (Plugs and socket outlets), AS/NZS 3122 (Socket outlet adaptors) and AS/NZS 3109 (Appliance couplers). In addition to accredited testing, Austest can offer advice and certification through the Electrical Safety Regulator.

For further details contact Muhammed on (02) 9882 6500 or e-mail austest@austest.com.au

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ACA on Grandfathering Permitted Items

ACA on grandfathering permitted items

In response to industry lobbying, the ACA has changed it's requirements on permitted items.
The following extract is from the ACA's web site regarding this issue:

GRANDFATHERING OF PERMITTED ITEMS

This notice is important to you if you still intend to manufacture (in Australia) or import (into Australia)customer equipment that was previously permitted by AUSTEL or authorised by Telecom, or customer cabling products (ie. customer cabling and associated cabling equipment that was listed on the CCL immediately prior to 1 July 1997) and have not converted to the A-tick compliance process. All the above items are referred to here as permitted items.

On 30 June 1998 ACA released three new documents that provide a way-ahead for these permitted items:

• 1. Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Notice No. 2 of 1997 (Amendment No. 1 of 1998).
  This document amends, and is intended to be used in conjunction with, the Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Notice No. 2 of 1997.
  The combination of these two documents is referred to here as the Labelling Notice and is applicable to all customer equipment and customer cabling.
  The amendment deals with new features such as agents, modifications and the new requirements for permitted items.
  
  

• 2. ACA technical standard - ACA TS 101-1998.
  
  This technical standard effective from 1 July 1998, is applicable to permitted items and replaces ACA TS100-1997 which ceased to have effect from 30 June 1998. ACA TS101-1998 contains additional requirements over those in ACA TS100-1997.
  
  

• 3. ACA draft technical standard - ACA TS 102 - 1998 (Draft).
  
  ACA TS102-1998 is intended to replace ACA TS101-1998 as a permanent technical standard. ACA TS102-1998 (Draft) is open for public comment until 31 August 1998 and comment can be mailed or faxed to Grant Symons, Executive Manager, Telecommunications Standards, Phone (03) 9963-6860, Fax (03) 9963-6970. ACA TS101-1998, in conjunction with the Labelling Notice, allows manufacturers and importers of permitted items to continue to use existing labelling (ie. the AUSTEL permit label, Telecom authorisation label or the CCL label as appropriate) upon compliance with ACA TS101-1998. This process has additional requirements over the old grandfathering process, including the need for registration in some cases. 2 paths are available to permit holders where compliance to current requirements has not been established. Either retest products to the current vesion of the standard at an ACA recognised testing authority (test house) or go to a certification body seeking a statement of compliance. Note the average cost of a certification statement issued by Austest-BABT is less than AUD$800.

Austest provides international safety CB approval

The international IEC CB Scheme The CB scheme is a mutually recognised certification through the use of internationally accepted standards like the IEC 60950 for Information Technology Equipment. This can be beneficial since it can drastically reduce compliance costs if the product is being targeted at worldwide markets.

The participating countries in the CB Scheme are the following:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, and Yugoslavia.

Many other countries are not officially on above list but will nevertheless accept CB certification as proof of safety. In addition to the main standard IEC 60950, Austest Laboratories can test for national deviations, for example the US or Canada. With such country deviations, you can submit the report and certificate to any of the NCB's within these countries and obtain the applicable national safety mark. Some may require minimal in-country confirmation testing or fees for the use of the applicable marks much as UL and/or CSA does in North America.

In addition to electrical safety, most markets require EMC/EMI like the US (FCC Part 15) or Europe (EMC Directive). Austest Laboratories can perform such tests as well and help with paperwork requirements like declaration of conformity, marking and compliance folders.

For additional information contact Gunther at gunther@austest.com.au or call (02)9882 6500.

01 July 2001 deadline for grandfathered equipment

Under the grandfathering of permitted items, telecommunication Customer Equipment (CE) previously permitted by AUSTEL or authoriesd by Telecom can still be imported or manufactured for supply in Australia. Mains powered CE are of particular interest to the ACA due to their safety issues. This concerns mainly PABXs, fax machines and some specialist equipment. The ACA technical standard ACA TS 102-1998 covers grandfathered CE and requires equipment to be compliant, by 01 July 2001, with clauses 6.3.4.1 and 6.5 of Amendment 4 of AS/NZS 3260. Please check your existing test reports for this compliance.

For additional information please contact Sergei or Mohammed on (02) 9882 6500 or email at sergei@austest.com.au or mohammed@austest.com.au.

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