Search Legislation

The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994

 Help about what version

What Version

  • Latest available (Revised)
  • Original (As made)

More Resources

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

PART I

Electrical devices to which Part I applies

4.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, this Part applies to the following devices namely any plug, socket or adaptor ordinarily intended for domestic use at a voltage of not less than 200 volts, to any fuse link which is suitable for use in any such plug being a standard plug and to any cartridge fuse link which is suitable for use in any other plugs and adaptors but does not apply to any electrical device specified in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

(2) This Part does not apply to any plug or socket inside or forming an integral part of electrical equipment which is so designed that the plug is not capable of being engaged with or disengaged from the socket without something first being done to the equipment (whether or not including the said plug or socket) which requires the use of a tool.

(3) In the case of a plug or socket inside or forming an integral part of electrical equipment and required to conform to a British Standard referred to in Schedule 2 to these Regulations, this Part only applies to the extent that it is practicable to do so.

Prohibitions on supply etc. of electrical devices

5.  No person shall supply, offer for supply, agree to supply, expose for supply or possess for supply an electrical device unless the requirements of regulation 6 below are satisfied in relation to it.

Requirements for electrical devices

6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, the requirements of this regulation are that the electrical device complies with the requirements of regulations 8 or 10 below as appropriate.

(2) A standard plug shall contain or be accompanied by a fuse link which conforms to BS 1362.

Appointment of notified bodies other than persons notified under the Low Voltage Directive

7.—(1) The Secretary of State may appoint a person as a notified body in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) An appointment under this regulation shall be in writing and shall be subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may impose for the time being, and such conditions may include conditions which are to apply on or following the termination or expiry of the appointment.

(3) In exercising the power conferred by paragraph (1) above, the Secretary of State may have regard to any matter appearing to him to be relevant, and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, he may have regard to any standards relating to the accreditation of such bodies appearing to him to be appropriate.

(4) Subject to the withdrawal of appointment of such a person, an appointment under this regulation may be for–

(a)the time being

or

(b)such a period as may be specified in the appointment.

Approval of standard plugs

8.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, a standard plug shall be of a type approved by a notified body, and in respect of which such approval has not been cancelled, and in determining applications made to it for such approval the notified body shall not grant such approval unless it is satisfied–

(a)that plugs of that type conform to BS 1363; and

(b)by means of inspection or testing of samples of plugs of that type, that the manufacturer of the plug may reasonably be expected to ensure that normal production and design of the plug will result in plugs of that type conforming to that standard.

(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (3) below, where standard plugs have for the purposes of paragraph (1) above been subjected to a type test as described in BS 1363 and a particular sample has failed to satisfy the test, then, notwithstanding any provision in the standard whereby on a successful re–test of a sample such plugs are deemed to conform to the standard, such plugs shall be treated for the purposes of this regulation as not conforming to the standard.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) above, a type of standard plug may be approved by a notified body where plugs of that type do not conform to BS 1363 if when determining an application for approval the notified body is satisfied–

(a)that–

(i)the plugs are constructed using an alternative method of construction which provides an equivalent level of safety in respect of any risk of death or personal injury to plugs which conform to BS 1363 and is such that plugs of that type may reasonably be expected to be safe in use; and

(ii)except in respect of the matter for which alternative provision is made, plugs of that type conform to BS 1363; and

(iii)by means of inspection or testing of samples of plugs of that type, that the manufacturer of the plug may reasonably be expected to ensure that normal production and design of the plug will result in plugs of that type corresponding with the samples; or

(b)where sub–paragraph (a) of this paragraph does not apply, following inspection or testing of samples of the plug, that such plugs may reasonably be expected to be safe in use and is further satisfied, by inspection or testing of samples, that the manufacturer of the plug may reasonably be expected to ensure that normal production and design of the plug will result in plugs of that type corresponding with the samples.

(4) Subject to regulation 9 below and paragraphs (5) and (6) of this regulation, an approval granted by a notified body may be unconditional or subject to such conditions, which must be complied with if the approval is to apply, as the body considers appropriate in relation to the approval of the type of standard plug in question.

(5) A condition shall be attached to any such approval requiring the applicant, during the currency of the approval, to give to the notified body granting the approval such notice as may be specified in the approval of any changes in the standard plugs of the type approved.

(6) The conditions imposed pursuant to paragraph (4) above may be varied by the notified body which granted the approval, and a variation under this paragraph may include the imposition of new conditions or the withdrawal of conditions.

(7) Any approval given under paragraph (1) above shall remain in force for seven years or such shorter period as may be specified in the approval.

Refusals, cancellations and the imposition of conditions

9.  Before making an unfavourable decision in respect of an applicant, that is to say–

(a)refusing to grant approval pursuant to regulation 8 above;

(b)the imposition of a condition on an approval or the making of a restrictive variation of a condition thereof pursuant to regulation 8 above in circumstances where the applicant has not indicated in writing that the type of standard plug concerned is suitable for use subject to that condition; or

(c)the cancellation of an approval,

a notified body in the United Kingdom shall–

(i)give notice in writing to the applicant or holder of the approval concerned, as the case may be, of the reasons why it proposes to make the unfavourable decision; and

(ii)give the person to whom notice is given in sub–paragraph (i) above the opportunity of making representations within a period of 28 days of the notice being given as to why that body should make a favourable decision, and consider any representations which are made by that person within that period.

Electrical devices other than standard plugs

10.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, any electrical device (other than a standard plug) specified in column 2 of Schedule 2 to these Regulations shall conform to the particular British Standard specified for such devices in column 3 of that Schedule.

(2) Any fuse link contained in or accompanying a round–pin plug conforming to BS 546 shall conform to BS 646.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources