Recognised External Approval Scheme (REAS) classifies certain electrical items as declared articles that shall be certified to specified standards before entering the Australian or New Zealand market. Definitions and certification requirements are on the New South Wales website Approval electrical articles. A Certificate of Approval will be issued once a declared article complies with the specified standard(s). A Certificate of Approval will have a term of five years unless otherwise specified by NSW Fair Trading and published in gazettes.
Recognised External Certification Schemes (RECS) classify In-Scope electrical equipment risk levels. Risk level 3 equipment and risk level 2 equipment classification definitions are in AS/NZS 4417.2:2020. Any In-Scope electrical equipment that is not risk level 3 equipment or 2 equipment is risk level 1 equipment.
Risk level 3 equipment must be certified to ensure a safe design before it is ready for the Australian or New Zealand market. A Certificate of Conformity will be issued once risk level 3 electrical equipment complies with the specified standard(s). A Certificate of Conformity will usually have a term of five years or maybe of shorter duration for particular types of electrical equipment as determined by the ERAC Equipment Working Group and published on the EESS website.
Risk level 2 and 1 equipment may have a voluntary certification. Risk level 2 equipment complies with the specified standard(s) in AS/NZS 4417.2:2020. Risk level 1 equipment complies with AS/NZS 3820:2020 requirements. A Certificate of Suitability will be issued once the electrical equipment demonstrates satisfaction with safety requirements. A Certificate of Suitability will have a term of five years.
When requiring explanation and guidance regarding certification issues on legal requirements of RECS, OZ Cert Pty Ltd may refer to EESS for clarification.