clipsal australia

How to identify non-compliant products

Indications that the product is non-compliant

  • Absence of the indicators of Clipsal product listed above.
  • Difficult to insert plugs into socket outlets.
  • Difficult to activate switches.
  • Breakages in product upon removal from packaging.
  • Poor installation advice.
  • Damage when installing product.
  • Incorrect spelling - see 'APPROVNAL' in example below.

Clipsal Original Product

Example of non compliant product in the market

2025 without any engraving

  • An electrical contractor naively purchased and installed products believing them to be Clipsal product.
  • It was only after the product failed and the contractor called a sales rep for replacement, that it was found these copies had no engraving or wording as required by Australian Standards.
  • It is mandatory for a switch socket to have a number of markings to indicate manufacturer, cat no, approval number, voltage and amperage.
  • The electrical contractor was charged as the responsible person and as there was no actual 'real' supplier, he was fined, resulting in a loss of license for using unsafe product.

Fake Produdct


Typically, products
that are copied
and badly
manufactured include:

  • Circuit breakers – with inferior components, some with no overloads
  • RCDs and RCBOs – that don’t conform to rigid standards of protection
  • Wiring accessories – poor imitations can overheat and cause fires
  • Cables and wires – substandard or insufficient copper, short lengths
  • Lighting – substandard designs, causing short life span and/or overheating.