• Energy Safety team continues to work during COVID restrictions  
• Requirements applying to the supply or sale of RCDs in New Zealand  
• Supply of simple portable luminaires  
• TPS cable prohibition reminder  
• DC isolator certification withdrawal  

The Energy Safety team continues to work during all alert levels. When we are not able to operate through our offices, we are still working remotely. Depending on the alert level we change the way we work to ensure we are not putting our people and the rest of the community at risk. 

We can be contacted by email (info@energysafety.govt.nz) or telephone within business hours by calling 0800 030 040 and selecting ‘option 4’.  

NOTE: Workplace gas and electrical incidents should be reported to WorkSafe by calling 0800 030 040 and selection ‘option 2’. Non-workplace events may be reported via our website.  

The Energy Safety team has audited the compliance of RCDs in New Zealand. The audit identified several RCDs that were non-compliant, some of which are unsafe.  

Suppliers and installers of RCDs are reminded that in New Zealand RCDs are both declared high-risk articles under ESR 84, and medium-risk articles under ESR 83. They therefore require a recognised approval or recognised EESS registration and a Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC).  

An RCD intended for connection to New Zealand standard low voltage electricity supply must be marked with 230 V or 400 V, or a voltage range including 230 V or 400 V, e.g. ‘230/240 V’ or ‘400/415 V’.  

Electricians are reminded that to avoid installing unsafe RCDs, they should verify that any RCDs they install are marked as being suitable for use at 230 V or 400 V.  

Suppliers are reminded that all approvals or EESS registration and test reports must confirm compliance of the RCD at 230 V or 400 V.  

For enforcement purposes, RCDs marked 240 V or 415 V imported before 31 December 2020 may be supplied, provided that the test reports must confirm that the RCDs complies with the testing requirements specified in AS/NZS 3190 at 230 V or 400 V. 

Energy Safety has been asked to provide clarity regarding requirements applying to simple portable luminaires in New Zealand. This follows the decision by Australian regulators to remove the simple portable luminaires from the Australian level 3 product or declared article list.  

In New Zealand, a simple portable luminaire remains a high-risk declared article. 

For compliance here, Energy Safety considers that a simple portable luminaire, assembled from high-risk articles components, can be considered approved for sale in New Zealand, in accordance with Regulation 86 or 86A as appropriate, provided the individual components each have relevant approval. A simple portable luminaire, as a complete assembly, must also be covered by a supplier declaration of conformity (SDoC).  

Registered electrical workers are reminded that prohibition of use of the non-compliant and unsafe TPS (tough plastic sheathed) cable marked Certificate No. EESS-150102-0’ and manufactured by Shanghai Jiukai Wire & Cable Co Ltd, comes into effect on 2 May 2022.  

This cable must be removed from service by then.  

If you find these cables when carrying out electrical work, you must advise the owner and/or operators accordingly and notify Energy Safety at info@energysafety.govt.nz.  

The relevant prohibition notices are the:  

• Electricity Regulations (TPS – Cable Supply and Installation) Notice 2018, and  
• Electricity Regulations (TPS – Use) Notice 2018.  

These notices can be found on the WorkSafe website. 

WorkSafe – Energy Safety has been advised that on 29 September 2021, SAA Approvals cancelled 18 certifications for DC isolators.  

As a result, the DC isolators identified are no longer allowed to be supplied and installed. Any SDoC issued based on any of the withdrawn certification is no longer suitable to be referenced on a CoC. 

EnergySafe Victoria has published a list of affected DC isolators.

A reminder to suppliers of RCDs that on 30 November 2020, a Gazette notice was issued by WorkSafe New Zealand making Type B & Type F RCDs high risk articles. These RCDs are commonly used with electric vehicle charging.  

See Gazette notice 2020-au5442 for the definition of equipment subject to the notice.