Checktesting is a quality assurance process which aims to:

• Ensure that energy using products entering the Australian and/or New Zealand markets meet the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) specified in legislation, and
• That the performance of energy using products offered for sale in Australia and/or New Zealand meet the energy efficiency and performance claims made by suppliers on labels and in product registrations.

Regular check testing is undertaken on a range of domestic and commercial product types including whitegoods, air-conditioners, electric water heaters, ICT, lighting, motors and commercial refrigeration.

Only NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accredited laboratories or laboratories accredited by bodies with a mutual recognition agreement with NATA, and with a registration that permits them to issue test reports for the test in question, will be approved to undertake check testing. In circumstances where stage 2 check testing is to be undertaken at a supplier’s own Australian located NATA registered laboratory, regulatory agencies will accept the results provided a NATA appointed witness is present throughout the testing. Costs associated with the provision of a NATA appointed witness are borne by the supplier.

Initially, a stage 1 check test, to the relevant Australian and New Zealand Standard, is performed on one sample of the model selected for testing. For some products more than one sample is required. This sample will generally be independently purchased (usually through a retail outlet) and tested by a laboratory accredited to undertake check testing on behalf of the regulatory authorities.

Where the stage 1 check test shows non-compliance with the relevant standard, the supplier can elect to request the cancellation of the registration for the model in question or proceed to stage 2 check testing.

If the supplier elects to cancel the registration of the model in question a letter will be sent to the regulator in the state the product was registered recommending cancellation of the product’s registration. Once the product’s registration has been cancelled the supplier is contacted about providing consumer and environment compensation for the additional energy consumed and greenhouse gases produced by the product.

If the supplier chooses to proceed to stage 2 testing they must provide a list of products, held in stock, from which 2-3 units are randomly selected for testing. Stage 2 check test procedures require that satisfactory test reports from an accredited check testing laboratory on two units (where the failure relates to performance standards) or three units (where failure relates to a ‘supplier declaration’ eg claims on labels) be supplied to the compliance program administrator.

If the products fail the stage 2 check test the registration is automatically recommended for cancellation by the relevant regulator, and a process is entered into with the supplier to provide consumer and environment compensation for the additional energy consumed and greenhouse gases produced by the product.

Costs

Stage 1 check test costs are generally met by the regulatory agency. Where the registration holder elects to undertake stage 2 check testing, the registration holder will be liable for all stage 2 check testing related costs irrespective of the outcome. Where a unit selected for check testing is demonstrated to be defective in manufacture, the registration holder will be liable for all resulting additional costs incurred for check testing.