Everything You Need to Know about "RCM"

in a Single Newsletter



LED DRIVERS - ANZ SAFETY APPROVALS
 
Australia/New Zealand has very strict electrical safety regulations especially for importing LED drivers. Flouting the regulations can lead to hefty penalties, blacklisting, product recalls and even imprisonment to all perpetrators who fail to abide by the safety regulations. 

To ensure that the LED driver is safety compliant, a Compliance Mark/Symbol is placed on the product. The Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) (also shown in below figure) indicates that the product adheres to all safety regulations and can now be sold legally.

This newsletter gives a brief outline on the steps needed to secure the RCM mark.
RCM Logo
 

WHAT IS REGULATORY COMPLIANCE MARK (RCM)?
 
The Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) is a symbol/mark which is placed on products that have successfully complied with all the mandatory technical standards put forth by the Australian bodies responsible for electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility regulations. 

Use of the RCM is detailed in the AS/NZS 4417 series of standards and the Equipment Safety Rules. Suppliers are advised to familiarize themselves with all relevant Acts, regulations and standards.

Why bother with the RCM?
To put it simply, Liability. 
 
 

WHAT IS THE RCM COMPLIANCE PROCESS?
 
To get the RCM mark, all the importer needs to do is just apply online on the ERAC website, provided they have completed the following steps.

STEP 1: Make sure you have Australian/New Zealand Business Number or use Australian Local Agent

STEP 2*: Comply with the technical standards
  1. Prepare technical product description
  2. Obtain testing certification of product compliance from an accredited testing facility
STEP 3: Complete Declaration of Conformity for each product

STEP 4**: Register on ERAC (Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council) website to get Responsible Supplier (RS) Number.

STEP 5: Adhere to the RCM labelling regime including affixing the RCM logo on the product as required.

STEP 6: Establish & maintain compliance records.
 

*Third-party certifier recognised under the Recognised External Approvers Scheme (REAS) can provide the Certificates of Conformity/Approval for Declared/Level 3 and the Certificate of Suitability for Non Declared/Level 1 & 2 products.

**Registration website: Register at https://equipment.erac.gov.au/Registration/Default.aspx
 
 

WHO ARE THESE APPROVED THIRD PARTY CERTIFIERS?
 
The External Electrical Product Safety Certification scheme is recognised by the Australian government and oversee the issuing the mandatory Certificates of Conformity/Approval for Declared/Level 3 and the Certificate of Suitability for Non-Declared/Levels 1 & 2 products

The following companies can be approached to get the job done:

The scheme meets the requirements for both REAS (NSW OFT) and EESS (ESO Qld). Both Global-Mark & SAA certificates authorise the use of the RCM mark on the products.

After the Certificate of Conformity/Approval is issued Global-Mark/SAA will upload the details of the certificate to the ERAC website, allowing the Australian responsible supplier to be able to register their products.
 

HOW CAN SUPREME HELP?
 

SCI provides LED Drivers who possess the Certificate of Conformity to Australian standards. Most of the LED Drivers carried by SCI have either the Global Mark or SAA Certificate. 

So, you can directly jump to Step 4 and register the product on ERAC website and apply for RCM. 

LED DRIVER BRANDS WHICH SUPPORT RCM
 

Both Global-Mark & SAA certificates authorize the use of RCM mark on the products.

These third-party certifier recognised under the Recognised External Approvers Scheme (REAS) must additionally mark products with the certificate approval number issued by those authorities.

Certificate numbers can be in the following formats:N11, N10422, NSW1234, A/10234/EA, SAI SMK EA 10578, SAA10156EA, SGSEA10345, AGA 11024EA, QAS:TE1234 or SAI:TE1234.
Inquire Now
Visit the Lighting Compass now to learn, at lightning speed, and quickly select and sample the right LED drivers for your projects.

References:

"Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC)," [Online]. Available: http://www.erac.gov.au/.
"Standards Australia Home Page," [Online]. Available: http://www.standards.org.au/.

The Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA), "Product labelling," [Online]. Available: http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Suppliers/Product- supply-and-compliance/Steps-to-compliance/product- labelling. [Accessed 10 02 2016]

Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council, Australian/New Zealand Electrical Equipment Safety System - Equipment Safety Rules, http://www.erac.gov.au/images/Downloads/Equipme nt%20Safety%20Rules.pdf, Version 1.1.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), "EMC Standards," [Online]. Available: http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Suppliers/Equipme nt-regulation/EMC-Electromagnetic- compatibility/emc-standards-list. [Accessed 10 02 2016].