SAA, RCM and C-tick are three major Australian regulatory guidelines that were established to check the quality of electrical products in Australia. The RCM replaced the C-tick in 2016 because it is more expansive in the scope of guidelines for electrical products. Hence, LED drivers are required to have the RCM mark. On the other hand, SAA is a standard body in Australia that regulates the overall quality of products that are allowed to enter Australia.
What is the SAA Certification?
SAA Approvals is accredited by the Joint Accreditation Service of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ), as a third-party certification body. SAA Approvals is also gazetted by the NSW Office of Fair Trading Department of Commerce as a Recognised External Approvals Scheme. SAA is also accredited by the Queensland Government to issue certificates under the RECS scheme which are uploaded to the EESS/RCM database. This allows us to issue certificates for regulated electrical equipment that has been proven to comply with the safety requirements of the applicable Australian / New Zealand standard, and is recognised everywhere in Australia and New Zealand.
EMC Certification From SAA
SAA also provides EMC certification services for the Australian and New Zealand markets. They review accredited test reports to the relevant standards recognized by the Australian and New Zealand EMC regulators and prepare the documentation required by local manufacturers and importers.
What is C-Tick Certification?
The C-tick is an identification trademark used to make sure that the product and the supplier are connected by placing it on the outer surface of the product. You can register for the compliance mark by making an application.
To be able to sell products, C-Tick makes sure that suppliers comply with the electromagnetic compliance standards. It was established by the spectrum management agency. So, to get a C-Tick certification, you must have good product compliance work, have a declaration of conformity, keep a compliance folder and get the product labeled.
What is the RCM Certification?
The RCM registration mark in Australia and New Zealand indicates that the supplier has declared that their product complies with the safety and other requirements outlined in their respective electrical safety laws/regulations, as well as the electromagnetic compatibility requirements outlined in their respective radio communications acts (the Australian Radio Communications Act and the New Zealand Radio Communications Act). RCM replaced C-tick in 2016 to make the regulatory process easier for electrical suppliers.
RCM signs can only be used on products that comply with both electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility regulations. The RCM logo is owned by the Australian federal government, and the RCM logo is recognized as a qualified supplier qualification statement by both the electrical safety statutory authority and the electromagnetic compatibility statutory authority. The statutory governing bodies of the other states are acceptable as long as the supplier is authorized to use the RCM logo in any one state, resulting in the achievement of a state passage that has already been approved by the federal government.
What are the Requirements for the RCM logo?
All products that comply with applicable laws and regulations. If it is determined that a product bearing the RCM logo does not meet the requirements of the applicable laws and regulations, the supplier will face the penalties outlined in the Australian Trademark Law (ATL). The RCM is arguably the most appropriate logo, which will change the coexistence of the previous or current three markings C-Tick, A-Tick, and RCM. The RCM logo will be the only uniform logo used to demonstrate that the product meets the ACMA and ERAC requirements. Here is the example.
RCM certification is divided into three parts: SAA (product safety certification or safety); C-tick (compliance with regulatory requirements); and Emc (electromagnetic compatibility).
What is the RCM Compliance Process?
An importer must fulfill certain requirements before applying online on the ERAC website.
- Step 1: Ensure that you have an Australian/ New Zealand Business Number or that you are working with an Australian Local Agent.
- Step 2: Follow the technical guidelines and make a detailed product description.
- Step 3: Complete each product’s declaration of conformity.
- Step 4: Register on ERAC website to get Responsible Supplier (RS) number.
- Step 5: Follow the RCM labeling guidelines including putting the RCM logo on the product if necessary.
- Step 6: Create and maintain records of compliance.
What is the Difference between RCM and SAA Certification?
SAA certification is an Australian safety certification that is required for high voltage products that meet certain criteria. RCM is an Australian certification that is identical to a trademark. RCM certification includes the following components: RCM = Safety + EMC + Importer Declaration
Which is the Difference between RCM and C-Tick?
The C-Tick was not an electrical safety approval mark. Its sole purpose was to serve as an EMC compliance mark. Before the implementation of new regulations in 2016, ‘prescribed’ power supplies had to bear both a C-Tick and an electrical safety approval number. The RCM mark, which stands for Regulatory Compliance Mark and Compliance Mark, was introduced to make things easier. The RCM mark has replaced the C-Tick and the electrical safety approval number on a “prescribed” power supply.
Why is it Important for LED Drivers to Meet Regulatory Standards?
If you purchase electrical items from overseas, it is your responsibility as an importer to ensure that any LED driver which is used with the LED light fitting has Australian approvals and displays the RCM mark on the packaging. If the non-approved LED driver you import results in the death of a person by electrocution or the start of a fire, you’d be severely punished by the law. Even if no one gets harmed or injured, you are still likely to face a regulatory crackdown. This is the same if you purchase the products locally.
uPowerTek LED Drivers and RCM
uPowerTek LED drivers meet all the criteria for the RCM. You can verify this by checking for the labeled logo on the products.
However, you must watch out for LED drivers without an RCM mark as the number of unapproved LED drivers coming into Australia without an RCM mark is increasing because they’re either imported with LED light fittings gotten from suppliers in Asia or overseas-based distributors online, thereby making it hard to notice without keen observation. You can know this by checking the Australian address, RCM mark, and ABN number.
Summary
SAA sees to it that activities across all areas of electrical products are standardized. C-tick is concerned with the electromagnetic compliance standards of an electrical product. RCM has replaced C-tick because it ensures electrical safety in addition to the EMC compatibility of a product. uPowerTek LED drivers meet the criteria for RCM and you can confirm this by checking for the logo under the products
