Equipment safety and performance standards define how consumer energy resource (CER) products must be designed, tested, certified and supplied in Australia. They apply to products such as inverters, battery energy storage systems, EV chargers, switchboards, control panels and other electrical equipment used in CER installations. 

Key points

• The Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) regulates the safety of electrical equipment supplied in Australia.
• CER-related products such as inverters, battery systems and EV chargers may fall under higher-risk EESS categories.
• Suppliers may need to register equipment, demonstrate compliance with relevant standards and apply the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
• AS/NZS 3820 and AS/NZS 3100 set broad safety and testing expectations for electrical equipment.
• EMC, voltage, switchgear and inverter installation standards can affect product design, documentation and certification.
• Product developers should consider equipment safety and performance standards early because they affect approval, installation and market access.

What is the Electrical Equipment Safety System?

The Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) is a national framework that regulates the safety of electrical equipment supplied in Australia. It is administered by the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) and implemented by state and territory electrical safety regulators.

Under the EESS, electrical equipment is classified into three levels based on risk: Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (medium risk), and Level 3 (high risk). CER-related products such as inverters, battery systems, and EV chargers typically fall under Level 2 or Level 3, requiring more stringent compliance.

Suppliers must register with the national EESS database and ensure that equipment meets relevant safety standards, such as AS/NZS 3820, AS/NZS 3100, and applicable product-specific standards. Level 3 equipment must be certified by an accredited certifier and listed on the national database before being sold.

The EESS also requires traceability of responsible suppliers and mandates that equipment be marked with an RCM. This system supports harmonisation across jurisdictions and facilitates enforcement by local regulators. Installers and retailers rely on EESS registration and the RCM to confirm equipment legality before installation or sale.

AS/NZS 3820: Essential safety requirements for electrical equipment

AS/NZS 3820 (AS/NZS 3820:2009) sets out the essential safety requirements for electrical equipment intended for use in Australia and New Zealand. It applies to equipment that operates at voltages up to 1000 V AC or 1500 V DC and that is designed for connection to the electricity supply system. The standard defines general principles for ensuring electrical safety, including protection against electric shock, fire, mechanical hazards, and harmful radiation.

AS/NZS 3820 does not prescribe detailed design or performance specifications but instead requires that equipment meet relevant product-specific standards and be constructed using sound engineering practices. It supports a risk-based approach, allowing manufacturers to demonstrate compliance through conformity assessment procedures, such as testing to IEC or AS/NZS standards.

AS/NZS 3820 relies on IEC publications to support harmonisation with global markets and simplify conformity assessments. These include the IEC 60335 and IEC 61010 series, IEC 60950, IEC 62368 and IEC 60664. CER such as PV inverters, BESS, and EVSE must comply with AS/NZS 3820 in addition to technology-specific standards like AS/NZS 4777.2, AS/NZS 5139 and AS/NZS 60335.

Compliance with AS/NZS 3820 is often required for electrical equipment to be listed on the EESS and accepted by state and territory electrical safety regulators. For CER product developers, AS/NZS 3820 is a foundational safety standard that underpins regulatory approval and market access.

AS/NZS 3100: General requirements for electrical equipment (approval and test specification)

While AS/NZS 3820 sets the overarching safety principles, AS/NZS 3100 provides the detailed technical requirements and processes to demonstrate compliance with those principles.

The standard outlines test criteria for protection against electric shock, fire, mechanical hazards, and overheating. It includes requirements for insulation, clearances, creepage distances, temperature limits, and mechanical strength. AS/NZS 3100 also mandates compliance with relevant EMC Standards and supports conformity assessment through testing and certification.

AS/NZS 3100 is a reference for demonstrating compliance with the EESS and provides a baseline requirement for market entry and installation of CER in Australia.

AS/NZS 61439: Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies

AS/NZS 61439 is the Australian and New Zealand adoption of the IEC 61439 series, which sets out requirements for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. It applies to assemblies used in residential, commercial, and industrial installations, including those incorporating CER such as PV, BESS, and EVSE.

The standard defines performance and safety requirements for assemblies such as switchboards, distribution boards, and control panels. It covers aspects including:

• Design verification: Assemblies must be verified by testing or calculation to ensure compliance with temperature rise, short-circuit withstand, dielectric properties, and mechanical operation.
• Construction rules: Requirements for enclosure protection (IP rating), clearances, creepage distances, and labelling.
• Functional units: Defines how components (e.g. circuit breakers, contactors) are arranged and isolated.
• Responsibility split: Clarifies roles of the original manufacturer and the assembly builder, especially when modifications are made.

AS/NZS 61439 is mandatory for new switchboard installations. For CER product developers, it is critical when designing or integrating equipment into switchboards or control panels. Compliance ensures safe operation, compatibility with network protection schemes, and acceptance by DNSPs and electrical inspectors.

AS IEC 60038: Standard voltages

AS IEC 60038 defines standard nominal voltage levels for electrical systems and equipment in Australia. It specifies low-voltage values (e.g. 230 V single-phase, 400 V three-phase) and medium/high-voltage levels (e.g. 11 kV, 22 kV, 33 kV, 66 kV, 132 kV, 220 kV) used in distribution and transmission networks.

These values align with international IEC Standards but are adapted for Australian conditions. The standard supports equipment compatibility, network planning, and regulatory compliance. CER product developers must ensure their equipment operates safely and reliably within these voltage ranges to meet installation and grid connection requirements under AS/NZS 3000 and jurisdictional SIRs.

AS/NZS 61000: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards.

AS/NZS 61000 is a multi-part standard that defines requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of electrical and electronic equipment in Australia and New Zealand. It ensures that equipment operates reliably without causing or being affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI) in its environment. The standard covers emissions limits, immunity requirements, testing methods, and installation practices.

CER products such as PV, BESS, and EVSE must comply with AS/NZS 61000 to meet safety and product performance obligations under the EESS and to satisfy network connection requirements.

Key parts include:

• AS/NZS CISPR 11 & CISPR 22: Limits and methods for measuring radio-frequency emissions.
• AS/NZS 61000.3: Limits for voltage fluctuations, harmonics, and flicker.
• AS/NZS 61000.6: Generic immunity standards for residential, commercial, and industrial environments.

These standards are harmonised with IEC publications and referenced by DNSPs and market bodies such as AEMO in technical connection requirements.

AS/NZS 4777.1: Grid connection of energy systems via inverters – Installation requirements.

AS/NZS 4777.1 (AS/NZS 4777.1:2022) sets out installation requirements for grid-connected inverter energy systems up to 200 kVA, including PV, BESS and bidirectional EVSE. It complements AS/NZS 4777.2, which covers inverter performance and grid interaction.

The standard applies to both single-phase and multi-phase systems connected to an LV network. It defines requirements for system design, installation practices, protection, isolation, labelling, and commissioning. Key objectives include ensuring safety, maintaining power quality, and supporting grid stability.

Requirements for product labelling and documentation include:

• Clear instructions for AC and DC isolation
• Labelling requirements for shutdown procedures and emergency contacts
• Commissioning checklists that align with the standard’s verification steps.

Designers must ensure their products can be installed in configurations that meet:

• A maximum 2% voltage rise from the point of supply to the inverter under full export conditions
• Phase balancing requirements for multi-phase systems, especially where multiple inverters are installed.

Installations must also accommodate:

• Mandatory AC and DC isolation.
• Fault protection devices (e.g., circuit breakers, RCDs).
• Grid disconnection capabilities that align with AS/NZS 4777.2 settings.
• Region codes and power settings. It requires that systems be commissioned with settings compliant with AS/NZS 4777.2 including reactive power control and Demand Response Modes and allowing the onsite configuration of region-specific inverter settings.

Designers should also ensure enclosure designs and internal layouts support compliant installation.

Compliance with AS/NZS 4777.1 is mandatory under all state and territory SIRs and is enforced by DNSPs during grid connection approval. Non-compliance with AS/NZS 4777.1 can result in rejection by DNSPs during grid connection approval. Product designers must ensure that installation practices enabled by their products are consistent with the standard to facilitate market entry and installer adoption.

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