All electrical appliances must go through an electrical test and tag to have their safety status marked with a label.

There are different tag prices of products that are required to test and can have a different hourly rate. All electrical appliances must go through an electrical test and tag to have their safety status marked with a label. The combination of the service of test and tag prices differ and so does the minimum charge. The equipment and appliance markings can consist of the following:

  • Manufacturer's name or trademark/name or business name, address, and telephone number.

  • Country of origin of the equipment.

  • Product identification, such as model or style numbers.

  • Electrical safety marks, including logo symbols (these will vary by country).

It is also compulsory to add a sentence warning in the service of test and tag that no repairs should be carried out on the product other than those detailed in the instructions with the test date and this allows them to have different service of test and tag prices. This needs to be done either above or below the safety mark on certain products according to local regulations to show the occupational health of the product before the test.

What equipment do you need to electrical test and tag?

There are several different types of electrical appliances you can do electrical testing on and tag for a business. Depending on their value, services, pricing, quality, and workability like single phase items. Service of test and tag include:

  • Testing and tagging of air conditioning and refrigeration product.

  • Testing electrical tools, components, or appliances.

  • Lighting products.

  • Testing electric blankets or warm weather electric covers.

  • Testing thermostats/heaters/coolers/air cleaners/humidifiers.

  • Testing escape lighting units, exit signs and emergency lighting.

In general, the test is important and must be carried out on each product on-site and can have different pricing. Each electrical appliance must be tested and marked in accordance with the Australian Standard for electrical products which is AS 4024 with the tag prices on-site to mark their quality. You may have to pay an extra cost or value for the items tested and tags that are unusual and will have to pay different test and tag prices. It is usually an affordable job for the clients and customers and the tags can be done easily by the technicians.

How to test and tag?

Test and tagging a piece of equipment requires an electrical safety assessment by a qualified professional who has been trained in tagging appliances. The technicians will test and tag each appliance using specialised tools and his services on-site, which include circuit testers and insulation testers that can identify or test defects found within the system.

The certification test services process can also check, determine and give reports whether there are chips or cracks in the casing, internal fuses, and panel boards.

In addition, the service process test and tag of equipment are done against other standards for quality reasons and keep the Australian standard as an example which can have different money or prices to pay.

  • The Australian Standard 4474-1993 for socket outlets and attachment plugs for general use.

  • Australian Standard 4219-2004 for safety extra-low voltage electrical installations.

The tagging is done on-site if it meets all current electrical safety regulations after testing and inspection, then a sticker or label is attached to the equipment detailing that it has been approved by the test. The sticker must include the test and tag agency number, which is unique and corresponds to the person who has been trained in testing and tagging appliances after tests. If you can find this on your equipment, then you are using an approved plug at present. This also means if there are any problems with your appliance there will be evidence available should you need to make a warranty claim on the subject.

What equipment do you use to test and tag?

A qualified professional has to carry out the electrical safety tests assessment of products that require a test and tag. This requires them to use specialised tools such as circuit testers and insulation testers that can identify non-compliances found within the system.

Electrical equipment in a business is normally checked against the Australian Standard Electrical Equipment (AS 4024) which states the test and tag methods, procedures, and results for an electrical product. The testing or inspection agency (person who does the visual inspection of equipment and tests and tags it before operation) will state if it complies with AS 4024 or not, so you can be sure your plug has been tested for safety reasons in the workplace.

How much does it cost to have something tested and tagged?

The minimum charge of having an inspection, testing and tagging on an appliance will vary based on a business' location, as well as the type and size of the product that needs to be checked with a test in the workplace. There is a general tag price list to follow and volume discounts. However, electrical testing and tagging typically has a minimum test charge between $1 per device to around $5 per device; while tag prices can cost anywhere from less than $3 to over $5 per device. Depending on the business, a one-off fee can be paid to test and tag equipment as it is brought in, or you may pay an annual test fee or price tags to have every piece of electrical product checked and items tested at the same time along with the test results and the tag results.