POINT OF SALE FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
by: John Spiers, Cleantech Pty Ltd.
1. Before you sell any piece of electrical cleaning equipment, the sales person
should make sure that the machine has not been damaged in transit and that it is
safe to sell. If the machines are imported from overseas, check that they have the
right plug on them. If not this will sometimes mean that you will have to change
the whole lead and use a moulded plug rather than a hand fitted plug depending
on the site it is going to. You also need to check that imported machines conform
to Australian Standards and are approved to all electrical safety and have
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).
2. You will also need to electrically test and tag the machine even though it is a
brand new machine as most job sites will insist that it is tagged.
SYMBOLS ON ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
The term Double Insulated means that you need to go through two barriers of insulation
before you are in contact with metal which otherwise would have to be earthed. An
example of double insulation is your extension lead. You have copper wire which is
covered by PVC sheathing, this is the first barrier and the cover over your wires is your
second barrier of PVC. On electrical equipment the symbol for double insulation is
represented by a square box inside another square box.
The term C Tick is used in reference to all electrical and electronic equipment being
tested for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). What this means is if you are using
equipment which has not been tested and approved, you could damage sensitive
electronic equipment by electromagnetic radiation. It can also give an incorrect reading to
digital equipment which is being used more and more these days. Electromagnetic
Radiation is emitted from most electrical motors especially things like vacuum cleaner
motors and polishing machine motors. You are in breach of the law to sell electrical equipment without a C Tick. This is identified on the identity plate of the machine by a
tick inside a C.
IMPORTED MACHINES
With imported machines you should ask the importer or wholesaler is the machine tested
to Australian Standards and show you copies of the certificate to prove this. Selling
machines that do not conform may leave you open to prosecution if someone is harmed
or something is damaged or just selling a machine that has not been approved.
TESTING & TAGGING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
The way the rules stand at present regarding safe testing and tagging electrical equipment
is that any competent can test and tag electrical equipment. What this means is that
someone who has been trained by another person (i.e technician) to be deemed competent
can now test and tag. It must be stated that there is no law to say that you need a qualified
electrician to test and tag machines. It must be further stated that the final responsibility
rests with the company providing the service not the technician doing the job. If there is
injury caused by someone not doing the job competently there can be severe penalties
imposed on the company providing the service.
Disclaimer
This is a guide only and is offered with no responsibility. Compliance with the relevant regulations should
be properly determined
copyright © John Spiers, Cleantech Pty Ltd. 2008
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