In the second quarter of 2021, there is a shake-up coming to the regulatory framework for portable power boards, and indeed all electrical “assemblies”, with a new set of standards coming into force nationally.

Certified product must not only be designed and built to meet standards, but must also pass stringent testing by independent, certified laboratories. This requires significant upfront investment, which is often a barrier to legitimate entry for many companies. Be aware that there are several powers boards currently on the market that are not certified. Others claim a level of “certification” but cannot demonstrate it. The new standards (AS61439) are compulsory. Power board manufacturers selling products that do not meet these standards after May 2021 are breaking the law, however companies/customers using older or uncompliant power boards will have a window of three to five years to update. Powersafe has and will be investing considerable time and energy to ensure all their products – from their largest three-phase mountable power board to extension leads – comply with all these standards. This dedication to research and quality has been at the core of Powersafe’s development over the past 15 years, its power boards meeting, and sometimes exceeding, previous standards (AS3012, AS3190) with several features most other suppliers exclude. Knowing the changes coming, it is safe to conclude, that certification will increasingly be on the shopping lists of all responsible buyers of portable power boards and related products.