DC Isolators: Cancelled compliance registration
Direct Current (DC) Isolators are classified as high-risk electrical equipment and are required to be certified to a specific manufacturing standard before being able to be sold in all States and Territories.
The registration of these products requires a valid certificate of conformity to the applicable manufacturing standard. The product is assessed to meet these criteria by the State regulator under a nationally accepted certification process.
All State regulators were advised by SAA Approvals Pty Ltd (a private certification body) have recently cancelled 18 certifications for specific identified DC isolators. This means the registration associated with the affected DC isolators certifications are cancelled as of 29 September 2021. MEA is not aware of any additional product failures or safety issues with these devices.
Download the full list of cancelled certifications.
Responsible Suppliers (RCM) of these specific DC isolators cannot supply to the trade until they are re-certified and re-registered. This process of re-certification and re-registration can be lengthy.
The state regulators have not identified a recall for affected isolators is needed at this time.
Each State and Territory in due course will provide the industry with guidance on the future use of the affected isolators.
Regulators in NSW, and the Northern Territory have been contacted but are yet to advise of their positions.
To date the following regulators have publicly advised:
Victoria
Affected isolators can be installed, but ESV recommends not to install until successful re-certification.
ACT
Affected isolators cannot be installed.
Queensland
Affected isolators should not be installed until successful re-certification.
Western Australia
Electrical contractors holding stocks of any of the listed isolators should not install them until they have been re-certified and re-registered.
South Australia
The affected isolators can be installed, but the Office of the Technical Regulator recommends not to install until successful re-certification. The OTR has aligned its advice with that of ESV.
Advice can be found on the OTR eCOC portal.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, it is illegal to sell, or offer for sale, DC isolators unless they are approved, marked with the regulatory compliance mark and comply with the relevant standard in accordance with the Electricity Industry Safety and Administration Act 1997 (Tas). It is important that electrical contractors only install DC isolators which have current approval, otherwise their safety and compliance is unverified.
MEA recommendations
If you have purchased an affected DC isolator at any time prior to the September 29.
- Do not install the isolator;
- Contact the seller for advice on either returning the product or receiving a compliant replacement;
- Seek an alternative product that is compliant;
There is no requirement for any of the affected DC isolators already installed to be replaced or the systems in which they are installed are in any way electrically unsafe.
If you decide to install an affected isolator, be aware that after re-certification, the isolators are found not to be compliant to Australian standards, there may be a required recall. This will mean replacement at no cost to the end user.
Electrical equipment compliance databases are maintained by two independent authorities. Compliant products can be identified on either of the links below.
If you need assistance with technical or safety compliance, Master Electricians have unlimited access to the MEA Safety and Technical hotlines. Phone 1300 889 198 to speak direct to the experts.