Appliance Testing (Test & Tag)-AS/NZS 3760:2003

Legislation: Specifies the procedures and criteria for the in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment which is designed for connection by flexible cord. It also applies to cord extension sets, portable outlet devices, portable residual current devices and portable isolation transformers.

This is the Standard that specifies safety inspection testing and tagging protocols for compliance with The Electricity Act 1992, The NZ Health & Safety in Employment Act 1992 and OSH regulations. The appliances that require safety testing are anything that plugs into a normal power point including computers, normal extension leads and power packs.



Frequency of Testing

The minimum frequency of testing under the OSH safety standards depends on the environment that the appliance is in and the risk of a fault.

Summary of Minimum Requirements	Test & tag at least every:
Building or construction site and other hostile environments	3 Months
Workshops, factories, place of work and clean equipment	6 months
Environments where the appliance or cord may be flexed or damaged	12 months
Bedroom areas of rest homes, hotels, motels and hostels	2 Years
Environments where the appliance or cord will not be flexed or damaged	5 Years
If an appliance is relocated, then the new environment test requirements apply

For further information can be found at the following websites

• Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
  
• Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995
  
• Electricity Act 1992
  
• Electricity Regulations 1997
• AS/NZS 3760 2003