Australia Publishes Mandatory Safety Requirements for Hoverboards

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued mandatory safety requirements for self-balancing scooters, also commonly known as hoverboards.

Issued in July, Consumer Protection Notice No. 7 of 2016 requires manufacturers and distributors who offer hoverboards for sale in Australia to demonstrate compliance with either:

Requirements specified in the following sections of UL 2272, Outline of Investigation for Electrical Systems for Self-Balancing Scooters:

1. Fuses as specified in section 11;
2. Protective circuits and safety analysis as specified in sub-sections 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4 and 15.5;
3. Cells as specified in section 16;
4. Overcharging as specified in section 23;
5. Short circuit protection as specified in section 24;
6. Temperature control as specified in section 26; and
7. Cell imbalanced charging as specified in section 27.

Requirements specified in the following IEC standards:

1. For batteries, as specified in IEC 62133; and
2. For battery control systems preventing electrical appliances from attaining excessive temperatures in normal use, as specified in section 11 as amended by Annex B, of IEC 60335-1, or as specified in section 11 as amended by Annex B, of AS/NZS 60335.1.2011; and
3. For battery control systems preventing abnormal operation of electrical appliances, as specified in section 19, as amended by Annex B, of IEC 60335-1, or as specified in section 19, as amended by Annex B, of AS/NZS 60335.1.2011.

The regulations came into effect on July 17 and are currently scheduled to remain in effect for two years.

Read the complete text of the ACCC’s regulation regarding hoverboards.