SAA Certification

SAA, or Standards Australia International Limited, is the only standards certification organization in Australia. All electrical products must undergo safety certification (SAA). The testing agency performs destructive tests on electrical appliances to assess their safety and reliability. For example, they test the appliances under continuous overload conditions at high temperatures to evaluate their safety performance. Washing machines are subjected to leakage tests to check for water leakage, and electrical outlets are tested under abnormal use conditions to identify potential safety hazards.

SAA Certification Overview

SAA, or Standards Australia International Limited, is the sole standards certification organization in Australia. All electrical products must undergo safety certification (SAA). The testing agency conducts destructive tests on electrical appliances to assess their safety and reliability. For example, they test appliances under continuous overload conditions at high temperatures to evaluate their safety performance. Washing machines are subjected to leakage tests to check for water leakage, and electrical outlets are tested under abnormal use conditions to identify potential safety hazards.

There are two main types of SAA marks: one for type approval and one for standards. Type approval only covers the sample tested, while the standards mark requires each product to undergo factory inspection. Currently, there are two ways to apply for SAA certification in Australia: one is through a CB test report, and if a CB test report is not available, certification can be applied for directly.

As of now, there are 43 accredited certification bodies that can process certification applications. Some of them include:

  1. Office of Fair Trading, New South Wales
  2. Department of Industrial Relations, Queensland
  3. The Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector, Victoria
  4. SAA Approval Pty Ltd (SAA Agency)
  5. Office of Energy Policy, South Australia
  6. Office of Energy, Western Australia
  7. Office of Electricity, Standards and Safety, Tasmania
  8. Ministry of Commerce, New Zealand

After obtaining a certificate from one of the above agencies, the certification company’s abbreviation code and registration number are used as the “safety mark,” for example, “N12345,” indicating a certificate issued by NSW with registration number “12345.” Safety certifications do not have a specific certification mark; the issuing agency’s mark should not be used on labels. The certification number must be displayed on the label.

Australian standards begin with “AS,” and joint standards with New Zealand begin with “AS/NZS.” Australian and New Zealand standards are generally aligned with IEC standards, with some national differences. Australia and New Zealand promote standardization and mutual recognition of certifications, allowing products certified in one country to be sold in the other. Australian safety certification covers all six Australian states.

Product Range

SAA certification encompasses both mandatory and non-mandatory electrical products:

  1. Mandatory Products (Declared Electrical Products): These cover 56 major categories, including external power supplies or chargers, electrical wires, plugs, household appliances (e.g., AS/NZS 60335-2-9, -14, -15, -23, -80), and lighting fixtures (e.g., AS/NZS 60598-2-4). Mandatory products must obtain an approval certificate from the monitoring department, known as SAA certification, and must display the certification number.

  2. Non-Mandatory Products (Non-Declared Electrical Products): These include products not subject to mandatory certification, such as commercial kitchen equipment. While non-declared products are not required to be certified, their safety is the responsibility of the seller or manufacturer, who may voluntarily apply for certification. The monitoring department issues a Certificate of Suitability for products that meet the standards. Products with this certificate can display the certification number, and the final letter on the certificate indicates the issuing state or region.

Application Process

  1. Prepare and submit samples and documentation.
  2. The laboratory conducts testing.
  3. Test reports and documentation are submitted to the certification body.
  4. Upon approval of the documents, the certification body issues the SAA certificate.

Certification Mark

There is no specific certification mark; the certification number must be displayed on the label.

Additional Information

  • Technical Information: AC 240V/50Hz for Australia; AC 230V/50Hz for New Zealand
  • Mandatory or Voluntary: Both mandatory and voluntary
  • Certificate Validity: Up to 5 years
  • Factory Inspection Requirements: None
  • Certificate Holder Requirements: Must be a locally registered company or local agent