SAA approvals requirements for product photos in test reports

Original notice of SAA approvals on May 31, 2021:

We follow a tightly controlled review process at SAA to ensure that we correctly review any application for compliance with Australian product safety laws and regulations and the appropriate safety standards for the product.

The first step taken by our engineering team is to review the photos of the product in the test report. We look carefully at the photos and the instruction manual and we create a risk assessment which is then the basis of the review of the test reports.

This is why we need very good quality photos. The Equipment Safety Rules used by the Queensland and Victoria regulations state the minimum requirements for photos and we apply this requirement to all applications we receive. This is what the rules state in appendix B2:

Test Reports must include detailed color photographs. The photographs generally should include:

1. Complete view of the product (external side, top and bottom);

2. Name plate of product;

3. Other warning labels on product or indicator marks;

4. Close-up of controls and switches;

5. Close-up of plug (including markings) or a copy of a relevant Certificate of Conformity;

6. Cord markings or a copy of a relevant Certificate of Conformity;

7. Cord entry into product;

8. Internal overall layout including wiring and component locations;

9. Close-up of incoming supply cord/cord anchorage/supply terminal block/earth connection; and

10. Marking on critical components (switches, capacitors, transformers etc).

Please take careful note of these requirements, because this causes us the most delays in reviewing applications. This should be something you carefully check in the test report before you send us an application.