EESS platform FAQs

The technology the Certification and Registration databases sit on is well over 10 years old and its ability to support all our needs is limited. Users want an easier to use system and administration requirements have evolved. It is essential that we have a platform that meets all those needs. This will improve security, functionality and use-ability – for certification, registration processes and information sharing between regulators and industry.

The EESS is supported by a single platform available for registration and equipment certification.

No. The EESS Platform has a single log-on and, as a Responsible Supplier and / or Certificate Applicant, you can manage equipment certification and registrations.

The platform’s new look and feel includes clearer key steps in a process, so you will know where you are and what to do next. There are also in-built tips and instructions to help what you are doing at that point.

As a more modern system and for increased consistency, transparency, traceability and improved usability of a certificate, enhanced certificate details will be displayed on the EESS platform. To achieve this all certificates will require data in a particular format (and some additional data above what had previously been displayed, including nameplate and product examples). Certificate applicants will already have this additional data and information available in test reports or technical files required to obtain certification.

In the first release of the EESS platform, uploading information such as nameplate and product examples was optional and only performed by EESS Regulators issuing certificates. The second release enabled Third Party Certifiers to be able to upload this additional information for the benefit of certificate holders and responsible suppliers.

While this additional data such as nameplate and product examples will not be mandatory until December 2024, once a Third-Party Certifier is on-boarded onto the new EESS system they will be able to include this additional data. Note, all Third-Party certifiers will also need to be on-boarded by early December 2024.

Prior to December 2024, it will be up to the certificate applicants (or responsible suppliers who use their certificates) to decide if they wish to benefit from this improvement now to have a more complete set of data uploaded onto the EESS platform, and whether they choose to use a certifier who can provide this service earlier than end of 2024.

Requiring users to change their password on a regular basis is a key feature to ensuring security of your data.

The new public search functionality provides a single system search engine for members of public as well as industry bodies to search for responsible suppliers, registered and certified equipment.

Subsequent releases will include features to enable industry bodies and others to utilise the platform to obtain more general data for analysis and reporting purposes. No private or commercial in confidence data or information will be made publicly available.

Users must use their individual (company) email addresses to register. However, the platform provides notification management and a Dashboard (which provides clear visibility of application status) to help users to manage their applications.

The EESS platform has been to set up to enable compliance with the uniform requirements of the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS). The platform will therefore have the equipment types, definitions and risk levels as listed in AS/NZS 4417.2.

Responsible Suppliers, Certificate Applicants and Consultants can have as many users as they require.

The platform has been developed to support the current legislative requirements. These legislative requirements are such that they do not require extensions of certificates to allow for sell through of equipment already at the retail level (even if the certificate has expired, subject to no identified safety issues). If the Responsible Supplier wants to continue to sell the equipment where the certificate has expired, they need to obtain a new certificate to the latest safety standard.

When retrieved, all the data in the previous database associated with the certificates has come across into the new platform.

As an Applicant and / or Responsible Supplier, operating with more than one ABN, you will need to set up 2 entities within the platform, each with their own ABN and contact details, if you intend to apply for certification or equipment registration via each entity. A person with a unique email address can only be linked to one entity.

If you are a consultant, you will set up your company in the platform as a consultant. You will be able to apply for certification on behalf of multiple Applicant organisations, so long as that applicant or responsible supplier organisation has invited you to be connected to their organisation.

Once the certification application has been submitted, you cannot edit that application. However, you can apply for a modification to ensure your certificate is updated and current.

Third Party Certifiers can continue to upload certificate data in the same way they currently do but will need to be on-boarded to the EESS Platform by early December 2024.

No. The EESS platform will not affect the Electrical Equipment Safety System, the platform is a tool to support legislative requirements.

Yes and No – The fundamental requirements of each process are similar. However, the intent of the EESS Platform is to improve rigour and useability. Some process steps may be simplified while others may require more input.