Tài liệu KRONE - White Paper - A-Tick, the new ACA Standard pdf

WHITE PAPER UNDERSTANDING A-TICK the new ACA standard By Peter Meijer Technical Training Manager JP, BE (Elec), MSc. KRONE (Australia) Holdings Pty Limited Released by KRONE All 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. the Australian Compliance Number, such as KRONE’s 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 without 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 is 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 work? 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 to ensure the information in its publication is accurate and current. KRONE does not accept any responsibilities or liabilities for 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 JNo.5548 - 1293 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 Voltage With-stand Testing . 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. 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