Introduction to RCM certification in Australia

RCM is the abbreviation of regulatory compliance mark. The products to be made are mainly telecommunication products, radio communication products and electrical products. Electrical products are mainly divided into non regulated and regulated products, because not all products marked with RCM need to be registered. Unregulated products do not need to be registered. Currently, only level 3 electrical products need to be registered, including 56 categories with high risk factors, such as power adapter and vacuum cleaner.

Generally, the identification of RCM shall be marked on the product label. For the original agent number, the new RCM does not need to indicate the agent number.

Since this requirement was issued on March 1, 2013, there is a three-year transition period, which has been enforced since March 1, 2016. Therefore, the manufacturer must strictly follow the requirements to carry out the relevant tests of this standard. Due to the new RCM requirements, unlike before, in addition to the high risk that the importer will bear the product quality is unqualified, plus the importer needs to pay the registration fee and the annual registration fee, so there will be very few companies that can provide this service.

RCM certification mark

1. Safety (product safety certification)

Product safety certification includes two parts: electrical products are divided into regulated products and non regulated products.

1) Regulated electrical products are classified according to as / nzs4417.2, including electric heating equipment, refrigeration equipment, electric tools, parts, etc. Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are the three licensing units in the certification process. It is compulsory for controlled electrical appliances to obtain the certificate of approval issued by the monitoring department, and stipulate the identification (the certificate number must be printed). The first letter of the certificate number shows which state or region the certificate was issued by. Such as:

(1) Q04051 (Queensland) --- Q number

(2) W2015 (Western Australia) - W number

(3) V03101 (Victoria) --- ESV certificate V number

(4) Nsw18099 (New South Wales) - DOF certificate NSW number

2) Unregulated electrical appliances can be sold directly without certification, but the manufacturer must ensure that the electrical safety of the products complies with the Australian standard as / nzs3820:1998 (essential safety requirements for low voltage electrical equipment); the monitoring department will issue a certificate of compliance for the products that meet the requirements of the standard. The electrical products with the certificate of compliance can be marked with the certificate Number, the last letter of the certificate shows which state or region the certificate is issued by, such as:

(1) CS / 431 / Q (Queensland)

(2) CS / 108 / NSW (NSW)

2. EMC test (EMC)

The EMC compliance program in Australia is developed in accordance with the radio communications Act 1992 and covers a wide range of products, including electric motor-driven and heating electrical products, electric tools and similar products, electric lights and similar equipment, television receivers and audio equipment, information technology products, industrial science and medical equipment and points Gas engine and arc welding equipment, etc. According to the risk degree of electromagnetic interference generated by the product, the plan divides the product into three categories, and the second and third categories of products must be attached with c-tick mark. However, no matter which category the product belongs to, it must comply with relevant EMC standards.

Class I products: products with only slight impact on devices using wireless spectrum, such as manual switch, simple relay, brushless squirrel cage induction motor, AC power supply / power transformer, resistance, etc. This kind of products can apply for the c-tick mark voluntarily when they are produced and sold.

Class II products: products that have a great impact on devices using wireless spectrum, such as microprocessor or digital device connected with clock, rectifier or slip ring motor, arc welding equipment, switching power supply, photometric regulator and motor speed controller, information technology (CISPR 22) category telecommunication terminal equipment (from class III to class II since November 7, 2003) 。

Three types of products: products that have serious impact on devices using wireless spectrum, such as industrial, scientific and medical instruments and equipment group 2 (cispr11).

RCM certification application process

1. The third-party testing laboratory (such as Hua Ming testing) evaluates the products and determines the test standards to be implemented;

2. In case of any nonconformity in the test, the laboratory will rectify the product to meet and meet the requirements of Australian standards;

3. Pass the test and issue the test report;

4. Submit the test report to the Australian certification authority for document review;

5. Australia passed the audit and issued RCM certificate;

6. The client can complete the registration of Australian website by himself or by the laboratory.

RCM certification considerations

1. RCM logo shall be added to the products at that time. Please note that this requirement was announced in Australia on April 19, 2013;

2. When doing RCM certification for plug-in adapter, random test of plug shall be done;

3. Lamp products: for example, T8 LED lamp and fluorescent lamp need to be sent to Australia for assessment because they can be directly replaced by users and have high safety risk;

4. Different issuing agencies will have different time.

Application for RCM certification

(1) If the product has CB and different countries, it can be directly transferred to safety certificate. In addition, the EMC part can let the agent help to make the announcement. The product can be sold to Australia and marked with RCM mark.

(2) Safety certificate: when applying for the safety part, if the product is direct plug in, the Au plug test (test standard: as / NZS 3112:2004) shall be conducted for the product. If the product is desktop, the test is not required.

(3) EMC report - either c-tick report (testStandard: as / NZS CISPR 32) or CE EMC report.

RCM certification requirements

1. The new law will be formally implemented from March 1, 2016.

2. SAA certification and c-tick certification will be phased out and replaced by RCM certification, which covers safety regulations and EMC (c-tick may still be applicable to some low-power wireless products).

3. All electronic products will be divided into three categories: high, medium and low risk. We don't have detailed division scope information. Generally speaking, products with battery drive and voltage below 12V are low risk, 240V standard voltage products are medium risk, and high voltage products are high risk. The buffer period of low-risk products is 6 months, and the buffer period of medium and high-risk products is 3 years (this period is recommended by relevant Australian associations, but the specific laws and regulations have not been finally confirmed by the government).

4. RCM certification can only be applied by local companies in Australia, which must apply to the Australian government for an RCM number. Chinese producers and exporters can apply for IEC or as / NZS report in their own name, but the report must be submitted