In the global electrical safety system, each region has core standards tailored to its own needs. As a joint approval and test specification for plugs and socket-outlets issued by Australia and New Zealand, AS/NZS 3112 serves as the “lifeline” for safeguarding electrical safety in households, commercial and similar scenarios in the two countries. It is not only a technical document, but also a common language connecting manufacturers, importers, testing institutions and regulatory authorities, regulating the entire process of plugs and socket-outlets from design, production to testing and certification. Its refined safety requirements and systematic standard framework have made it the absolute benchmark in the field of electrical accessories in Australia and New Zealand.
1. Standard Overview: Positioning and Core Mission
The full name of AS/NZS 3112 is “Approval and Test Specification — Plugs and Socket-Outlets”, which is jointly formulated by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, and revised and maintained by the Joint Technical Committee EL 004 (Electrical Accessories Committee). It covers all safety requirements for plugs, socket-outlets and equipment with plug parts for household and similar purposes.
The core positioning of this standard is “safety first, comprehensive adaptation”. It clearly specifies that the scope of application covers products with a rated voltage not exceeding 500V and a rated current not exceeding 32A, which meets the plug and socket needs of most electrical appliances in daily life — from small mobile phone charger plugs to large household high-power electrical socket-outlets, all of which must comply with its specifications. Its core mission is to ensure that products meeting the standard will not pose safety risks such as electric shock and fire to users under normal use and foreseeable misuse scenarios, while ensuring the interchangeability and durability of products and promoting the standardized development of the electrical accessories industry.
2. Key Test Items
AS/NZS 3112 has established a comprehensive and rigorous test matrix, and all plug and socket-outlet products must pass a series of tests to obtain certification. Pego has summarized the test requirements under this standard and the involved testing equipment.
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No. |
Equipment name |
Corresponding Standards and Clause Numbers |
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Test for Plug |
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1 |
AN/NZS 3112 table 2.4 and clauses 2.13.4 & 2.13.5 |
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2 |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.7.1 and annex J 4.3.1 AS 60068-2-23 |
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3 |
Pin Bending Testing Equipment |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.7.2 and figure 2.8 |
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4 |
Plane Wooden Board for Temperature Rise Test |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.8 and figure 2.9 |
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5 |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.8 and figure 2.10 |
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6 |
Pin Movement Test Device |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.9.1 |
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7 |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.9.2 |
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8 |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.10 |
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9 |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.11 and 3.14.11 IEC60695-2-10 |
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8 |
AN/NZS 3112 clause 2.13.12.2 and figure 2.2 |
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9 |
Static Pull Test Device |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.12.3 to 2.13.12.6 |
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10 |
AN/NZS 3112 clause 2.13.13.2 and figure 2.5 |
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11 |
AN/NZS 3112 clauses 2.13.13.3 and 2.13.13.4 AS60068-2.30 |
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12 |
AN/NZS 3112 clause 2.13.13.4 and figure 2.6 |
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13 |
Apparatus for Abrasion Test on Insulating Sleeves of Plug Pin |
AN/NZS 3112 clause 2.13.13.6 and figure 2.7 |
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14 |
Gauges for Three-Pin Flat-Pin Plugs (10A, 15A, 20A) |
AS/NZS 3112 figure A.1 and clauses 2.8.1 & 2.8.4 &2.13.7.1 & 2.13.7 |
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17 |
Gauge for Two-Pin Flat-Pin Plugs with Parallel Pins |
AS/NZS 3112 figure B.1 and clauses 2.8.1 & 2.13.7.2 |
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18 |
Gauge for Flat and Round Pin Plugs |
AS/NZS3112 figure F.1 (a) (b) and clauses 2.8.1, 2.13.7.1 and 2.13.7.2 |
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20 |
AS/NZS3112 clause J4.7 |
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21 |
Small Test Finger (Test Probe 19) |
AS/NZS3112 clause J4.8 |
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22 |
AS/NZS3112 clause J4.8.4.1 |
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23 |
AS/NZS3112 figure 3.1 (a) (b) (c) |
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24 |
S/NZS3112 figure 3.1 (d) (e) (f) |
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25 |
AS/NZS3112 clause 3.8.1 AS/NZS 3100 figure 8.10 |
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26 |
AS/NZS3112 clauses 3.14.2 and 3.14.3 |
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27 |
AS/NZS3112 clauses 3.14.4 and 3.14.12.2 |
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29 |
AS/NZS3112 clause 3.14.4 |
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30 |
Test Plugs for Temperature Rise Test |
AS/NZS3112 clause 3.14.5 and figure 2.1(with brass pins) |
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31 |
S/NZS3112 clause 3.14.7 |
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Test for Socket-Outlets |
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32 |
AS/NZS3112 figure 3.10 and clause 3.14.8.1 |
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33 |
Three-Pin Gauge for Checking the Resistance to Lateral Strain |
AS/NZS3112 figure 3.6 and clause 3.14.8.2 |
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34 |
Two-Pin Gauge for Checking the Resistance to Lateral Strain |
AS/NZS3112 figure 3.7 and clause 3.14.8.2 |
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35 |
Maximum withdrawal force Testing Equipment |
AS/NZS3112 clause 3.14.8.3 |
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37 |
AS/NZS3112 clause 3.14.12.4 and annex K.3 IEC61032 figure 7 |
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38 |
AS/NZS3112 figure C1 and clauses 3.3.4 & 3.8.1 |
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41 |
Three-Pin Test Plug with Flat Pins for Abnormal Insertion Test (10A, 15A, 20A) |
AS/NZS3112 figure D.1 and clause 3.6.3 |
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44 |
AS/NZS 3112 figure G.1 (a) (b) and clauses 3.3.4&3.8.1 |
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46 |
AS/NZS 3112 figure K.1 |
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