S.I. No. 173/1987 - Industrial Research and Standards (Section 44) (13 a Plugs) Order, 1987.

S.I. No. 173 of 1987.

INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND STANDARDS (SECTION 44) (13 A PLUGS) ORDER, 1987.

I, ALBERT REYNOLDS, Minister for Industry and Commerce, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 44 of the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961 (No. 20 of 1961), hereby make the following Order:

1. (1) This Order may be cited as the Industrial Research and Standards (Section 44) (13 A Plugs) Order, 1987.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on the 1st day of July, 1987.

2. In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires—

"designated person" means the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, or a person designated by the Minister;

"I.S. 401 : 1986" means Irish Standard 401 : 1986 and (Amendment) No. 1 : 1987, being the Irish standard specification for 13 A plugs declared by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards;

"the Minister" means the Minister for Industry and Commerce;

"plug" means a portable fused accessory having projecting pins designed to engage with the contacts of a corresponding socket-outlet and incorporating means for the mechanical retention of an electrical cord and for transmitting an electrical current passing through the cord;

"13 A plug" means a 13 amperes rewireable type fused plug intended for use for household, commercial and light industrial purposes, in a.c. circuits only and operating on voltages not exceeding 250v. at 50 Hz;

"type approval" means approval for the purposes of this Order using the procedure specified in the Schedule to this Order and cognate words shall be construed accordingly.

3. It shall be unlawful to manufacture, assemble or sell a 13 A plug unless—

(a) it complies with I.S. 401 : 1986, and

(b) in the case of such manufacture, assembly or sale, on or after the 1st day of January, 1988, it is of a kind that is the subject of type approval and such type approval has not been withdrawn.

SCHEDULE

APPROVAL PROCEDURE FOR 13 A PLUGS

1. Where type approval for a 13 A plug is sought an application therefor shall be made in writing by the manufacturer or a supplier thereof to a designated person.

2. An application for type approval shall be accompanied by such fee as may be charged in accordance with section 38 of the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961 (No. 20 of 1961), for initial research, test, investigation and analysis and any subsequent cost of further research, test, investigation and analysis may also be so charged.

3. Testing shall be carried out in an accredited laboratory independent of the manufacturer or supplier.

4. Such samples of the plugs to be type approved as are reasonably required shall be submitted by the applicant. A minimum of 36 plugs shall be submitted for plugs with solid pins and a minimum of 72 plugs shall be submitted for plugs with non-solid pins.

5. The applicant shall submit such other information as may reasonably be required by a designated person.

6. Plugs shall be tested in accordance with Clause 5, "General conditions for Type Testing", of Irish Standard 401 : 1986.

7. Type approval shall be granted by a designated person in respect of a 13 A plug if—

(a) it is of a kind which conforms to I.S. 401 : 1986, and

(b) the designated person is satisfied by inspection or otherwise, that the design of the plug and its normal production will result in plugs which conform to I.S. 401 : 1986, and that the manufacturer has adequate quality control procedures in place to ensure this.

8. Plugs the subject of type approval shall be marked, or bear a label, with the words "Type Approved by" followed by the name of the designated person who granted the approval.

9. Type approval may be withdrawn by a designated person, on 28 days notice in writing giving the reasons for such withdrawal; and the manufacturer or supplier of the plug for which type approval has been withdrawn shall have the right to reply to these reasons in writing within that time to the designated person and to have his reply considered.

10. Where type approval of a plug is refused by a designated person the designated person shall give the reasons for such refusal to the applicant and the applicant shall have the right to reply to these reasons and to have his reply considered by the designated person.

11. Where type approval has been withdrawn or refused under paragraphs 9 or 10 of this Schedule the manufacturer or supplier may appeal to the Minister whose decision on the matter shall be final.

12. It is a condition of every type approval granted under the Order that a designated person shall be entitled from time to time to take samples of type approved plugs from the manufacturer or supplier to determine whether they remain in conformity to I.S. 401 : 1986 and the cost of such testing shall be borne by the manufacturer or supplier in cases where samples are found not to conform with I.S. 401 : 1986.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 30th day of June, 1987.

ALBERT REYNOLDS,

Minister for Industry and Commerce.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The objective of this Order is, in the interests of greater safety, to ensure that 13 A electrical plugs are designed, manufactured and constructed to a particular standard so as not to endanger persons or property. Under the Order 13 A plugs may not be manufactured, assembled or sold with effect from 1 July, 1987 unless they meet the specifications set out in Irish Standard 401 : 1986 and (Amendment) No. 1 : 1987.

From 1 January 1988, 13 A plugs may not be manufactured assembled or sold unless they are of a kind approved by a designated person. The National Standards Authority of Ireland has been initially so designated. Other organisations may be designated on application to the Minister for Industry and Commerce. It is intended that bodies notified under Article 11 of Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February, 1973 (Low Voltage Directive), would be eligible for designation.