The A-Tick is a compliance mark developed by the Australian Communications Authority ACA for telecommunications equipment.. The A-Tick mark indicates that a product can legally be connec
Trang 1WHITE PAPER
UNDERSTANDING A-TICK
t he new ACA st andard
By Peter Meijer Technical Training Manager JP, BE (Elec), MSc.
KRONE (Australia) Holdings Pty Limited
Released by KRONE
Trang 2All new products connected to the telephone network
must carry an A-Tick or AUSTEL permit* or the old
Telecom Authorisation The A-Tick is a compliance
mark developed by the Australian Communications
Authority (ACA) for telecommunications equipment
It has been introduced to give consumers confidence
that a telecommunications product meets the safety
and technical standards set by the ACA
The A-Tick mark indicates that a product can legally
be connected to an Australian telecommunications
network The A-Tick label appears on a range of
products including structured cabling infrastructure
products, fixed and mobile phones, answering
machines, facsimile machines and modems
The A-Tick is a protected symbol and can only be used in
accordance with the conditions laid down by the ACA
Who administers the A-Tick?
The ACA regulates the Australian communications
industry, protects consumers and promotes fair
competition, efficiency and technical excellence
An important part of the ACA’s role is to ensure that
consumers are provided with a diverse range of
telecommunications equipment that meets the safety
and technical standards set by the authority
The ACA works closely with telecommunications
suppliers and the community to establish policies,
procedures and regulations suited to the diverse and
constantly evolving telecommunications industry and
its consumers
What products require the A-Tick?
Telecommunications products must have an A-Tick or display the labels of previous labelling schemes such as the Telecom Authorisation or AUSTEL permit Products without an A-Tick or the previously accepted labels may be unsafe and cause damage when connected to the network
It is a condition of the Cabling Licence and, for Registered Cablers under the Cabling Provider Rules (CPR), that all cable, cabling product and customer equipment such as customer switching systems, phones, external and internal modems and answering machines installed by the cabler must meet the ACA’s Labelling Notice requirements The A-Tick is part of those requirements
The A-Tick label consists of two parts: the A-Tick Logo and other information that identifies the
manufacturer/importer This latter identifier is usually
Why have an A-Tick
All new products connected to the telephone network must carry an A-Tick or the old AUSTEL permit *
Apply A-Tick
Telecommunications Act 1997
Austel Permit CCL
List
Australian Communications Authority (ACA)
Labelling Notice (Federal Govt.Gazellal)
Item Category
Eg A22
Test Standard
Eg TS008
KRONE Quality Assurance ISO 9001 Prevents Variation
Compliance Folder
• Declaration of Conformity
• Test Results
Updates Closed 1998 Old Records still valid.
Updates Closed 1998 Old Records still valid.
Regulations Applying to Telecommunications Cabling Products Sold in Australia
* A few older approved products may still be listed under the old CCL list.
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N355, or it can be the organisation’s business name
or trademark
For cabling components, the A-Tick must be displayed
on the component unless the component is too small
in which case it is to be displayed on the packaging
Customer Cabling is a separate issue and, under the
ACA’s Labelling Notice, it should be identified at least
every 2 metres on the sheath of the cable with the
company identifier, the product identifier, and the
A-Tick, if practicable
KRONE’s customer cabling and related customer
equipment including cables, patch cords, plugs,
sockets, modules and connectors fall under Category
A22 of the ACA Labelling Notice and therefore comply
with technical standard ACA-TS008-1997 (or AS/ACIF
S008 as it will become) at compliance level 2
Rest assured, our Asia-Pacific R&D Test Laboratory
located at our regional headquarters at Berkeley Vale
on the New South Wales Central Coast conducts the
necessary tests to ensure our products exceed TS008
requirements The KRONE Lab is certified and audited
by the independent international Underwriters
Laboratories (UL) in America to conduct transmission
performance testing It is also audited by Standards
Australia under ISO9001 to ensure that all the required
testing is done to show compliance with local
standards Then, ACA auditors review these findings Unlike several importers that keep their records overseas, our Compliance Folders are kept in Australia
at the KRONE Labs These Compliance Folders contain product identification, all the necessary test results and the official Declaration of Conformity as required by notices under section 407 of the Telecommunications Act 1997
Why have an A-Tick?
The A-Tick shows that the product has been specifically tested to meet Australian requirements
Consider this: Australia has higher UV than Europe or America We have unique rodent and insect problems like termites attacking cables We have a drier
climate, humidity ranging from high (causing lower electric strength) to low (resulting in more static build-up) and greater distances between towns America uses 110 volts, we use 240 volts for electrical supply Europe uses 1KV/1 minute for electric strength, Australia uses 1.5 KV/1 minute from conductor to sheath on its cables to provide additional safety in our widely varying climatic conditions and different earthing/protection conditions If telecommunications cabling products are to meet Australian safety, network integrity, and interoperability requirements, there are unique climatic and technical conditions to satisfy
Accordingly, the Government has put in place legislation and regulations that set out the minimum test requirements for all telecommunications products sold and installed in Australia With regard to cabling and cabling products, installers and end users can identify an approved product by the A-Tick compliance mark on the product and/or on the packaging
What happens w ithout the A-Tick?
The ACA is conducting a marketing campaign to advise consumers that telecommunications products must have an A-Tick label If they don’t they may be unsafe and could cause damage when connected to the network Consumers are also being warned that it Measuring Contact Resistance
Trang 4is illegal to connect equipment that does not carry a
compliance label and penalties can be imposed
A small percentage of products available today may
carry an AUSTEL permit or a Telecom authorisation
These are also safe to connect
Consumers are also being warned that, in addition to
the safety risks, products that do not carry the A-Tick
may deliver poor sound quality and unclear speech
and they could have problems in dialing the 000
emergency number or other telephone numbers
How do I know if a cable is an A-Tick
approved type?
Cable and cabling product is approved if it has an
A-tick symbol on it (or on its packaging) or it is listed on
the ACA’s Certified Components List
Who do I contact if I see non-compliant cabling w ork?
Contact the ACA’s Cabling Team on (03) 9963 6824 or (03) 9963 6823 or e-mail cabling@aca.gov.au For complaints to be actioned you will be requested to put the complaint in writing
Where do I find reference material on the A-Tick?
Information about the ACA’s Labelling Notice requirements is available from its website at:
www.aca.gov.au and it tells Australian manufacturers and importers of foreign equipment what conditions apply to the products for use in Australia
An easy-to-read, consumer-oriented brochure about the A-Tick is available at retail stores across Australia
or from the ACA state and regional branches Another brochure has been developed for suppliers and retailers highlighting the importance of the A-Tick in ensuring consumer confidence in products
For more information on these brochures or any other matter, please contact the ACA’s Telecommunications Standards and Compliance Team on (03) 9963 6800 or the website: www.aca.gov.au/standards.index.htm
KRONE makes all reasonable endeavours t o ensure t he inf ormat ion in it s publicat ion is accurat e and current KRONE does not accept any responsibilit ies or liabilit ies f or any inaccuracies, errors or ommissions.
For further information please contact:
KRONE (Australia) Holdings Pty Limited
PO Box 335, Wyong NSW 2259
2 Hereford Street, Berkeley Vale NSW 2261 Tel: 02 4388 4422
Fax: 02 4388 4499 Email: kronehlp@krone.com.au Web: www.krone.com.au
KRONE (N.Z.) Technique Limited
PO Box 38-177 Wellington Mail Centre Wellington, New Zealand Tel: 0800 657 663 Fax: 0800 355 100 Email: sales@krone.co.nz
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