Vehicle jacks

Under the mandatory standard, a vehicle jack is a device designed to raise a vehicle. Vehicle jacks covered by the mandatory standard include:

• hydraulic jacks
• lever jacks
• pantograph (scissor) jacks
• screw jacks
• caravan/trailer jacks
• high lift jacks.

There is a separate mandatory standard for trolley jacks.

On this page:

Hazards

Death or serious injury

Using unsafe vehicle jacks, or using vehicle jacks inappropriately, can lead to serious injuries and in some cases, death.

Mandatory standard

This mandatory standard is based on the Australian/New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS 2693 Vehicle jacks, with variations.

AS/NZS 2693 is a voluntary standard except for those sections specifically called up by the mandatory standard. For complete information about all mandatory requirements for vehicle jacks, we strongly advise that you read Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2010.

This mandatory standard was declared on 12 February 2010. Requirements of the mandatory standard came into effect on 1 July 2011.

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Does this apply to your business?

Under the ACL supply includes:

• in relation to goods - (including re-supply) by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase and
• in relation to services - provide, grant of confer. 

This mandatory standard applies to anyone in the business of supplying vehicle support stands, including:

• manufacturers
• importers
• distributors
• retailers
• hirers.

To allow for staggered implementation, there are some cases where a mandatory standard or ban prescribes different compliance dates for the manufacturing, importing and supply of a product. Manufacturers, importers and distributors should check for this detail in the mandatory standard before embarking on production, importation or distribution of these goods.

Complying with the mandatory standard

To full understand how to comply, suppliers must read:

• Consumer Protection Notice No. 1 of 2010
• Australian/New Zealand Standard, AS/NZS 2693 Vehicle jacks that you can for purchase from SAI Global.

This information is essential to ensure that you and your business comply with the mandatory standard. Suppliers may also find the Regulation impact statement —Vehicle jacks and portable ramps for motor vehicles helpful in understanding aspects of the mandatory standard.

Penalties and consequences

Supplying vehicle jacks can make you liable for heavy fines and product recalls. For more details, view Penalties and consequences.

Some key requirements

The requirements below are key requirements only. They may help to give suppliers a general idea of the detail they must look up in the Consumer Protection Notice and mandatory standard.  This information may also assist consumers when they are choosing vehicle jacks.

While we provide some advice on this page to help you understand some aspects of the mandatory standard, suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.

Design and construction

Materials

Vehicle jacks must have enough strength to withstand the forces and pressures associated with their full range of uses.

Protective coatings

Except for connecting surfaces or sliding parts, the jack must have suitable corrosion protective coating.

Baseplate dimensions

The area of contact surface of the base of a vehicle jack must meet dimensional requirements.

Head cap

The head cap or lifting surface of a vehicle jack must meet dimensional and stability requirements, and must be able to engage securely with the vehicle’s chassis.

Stability

The jack must remain stable and correctly located with respect to the vehicle at all times during its use.

Prevention of over travel

The jack must be provided with either:

• a positive stop to prevent the lifting arm of the jack being raised beyond the height it is designed to achieve; or
• the design of the jack must be such that 'over travel' is effectively prevented.

Minimum height

• A vehicle jack supplied with a vehicle must be capable of lifting the model of vehicle it is designed to lift.
• Where the weight of a caravan falls within the jack’s specified capacity, a caravan/trailer jack must:
• be capable of lifting any vehicle, caravan or trailer that has appropriate engagement points fitted
• lift the vehicle from a position where any one wheel with a completely deflated tyre is resting on the ground, to a position where a replacement wheel with a new fully inflated tyre can be fitted.

Performance

Durability

When subjected to a durability test, the jack must not fail or become unserviceable.

Lowering

The operator must be able to use the jack to control the descent of the load without hazard to the operator or damage to the jack.

Loss of height with time

When subjected to a load for a specified time, the loss of height of the head cap of the jack must not exceed 5 mm.

Overload capacity

The jack must hold an excess load for a specified time without collapsing or losing more than 5 per cent of the height of the load.

Minimum capacity

The following jacks must have a minimum nominated capacity, according to the mandatory standard:

• general purpose jacks—no less than 750 kg
• specific vehicle jacks
• high lift jacks
• caravan/trailer jacks.

Safety Markings

Specific vehicle jacks

Specific vehicle jacks must be permanently and legibly marked with the following information:

• The name or trademark of the vehicle manufacturer.
• The model or model designations of vehicles for the jacks intended use.
• Clear and adequate instructions for operating the jack. Please note that the instructions may be provided in pictogram form.
• Advice to consult the vehicle's owner’s manual for further instructions. Please note that this advice may be provided in pictogram form.
• For hydraulic jacks, a statement specifying:
• the correct hydraulic fluid for use with the jack
• a requirement to keep the jack at the recommended level
• warning advice against getting under a vehicle that is supported by a jack
  and/or
• warning advice, in pictogram form, against getting under a vehicle that is supported by a jack, where the pictogram shows either:
• a figure under a jack crossed out —see Example 1
• a side view of a person lying on the ground and partially or wholly underneath a side view of a vehicle supported by a jack.—see Example 2.

 

• Example 1 Pictogram

•  Example 2 Pictogram

Jacks other than specific vehicle jacks

Jacks other than specific vehicle jacks must be permanently and legibly marked with the following information:

• The name and address in Australia or New Zealand of the manufacturer, importer or other supplier of the jack.
• The nominated capacity in kilograms stated as ' Working Load Limit…kg ’.
• Clear and adequate instructions regarding the operation of the jack.
• The manufacturing batch identification.

All other vehicle jacks

Additional marking requirements are required for the following jacks:

• high lift jacks
• jacks other than high lift jacks
• hydraulic jacks
• caravan jacks
• trailer jacks.

Packaging marking

For general purpose jacks, high lift jacks and caravan/trailer jacks, the following information must be clearly marked on the packaging of the jack, or if there is no packaging, on a leaflet attached to the jack:

• ‘height lowered’ which is the minimum height of the head cap in millimetres.
• ‘height raised’ which is the maximum height of the head cap in millimetres.
• nominated capacity in kilograms stated as ‘Working Load Limit…kg.’
• supply of maintenance instructions including:
• any necessary procedures for maintenance
• lubrication requirements
• details for servicing the hydraulic system, if any.

Instructions for safe use (general and specific purpose jacks)

Instructions for safe use for general and specific purpose jacks include the following:

• The jack should be used on level firm ground wherever possible.
• The wheels of the vehicle to be chocked.
• No person should place any portion of his or her body under a vehicle supported by a jack.
• No person should remain in a vehicle that is being jacked.

Instructions for safe use (high lift jacks)

Instructions for safe use for high lift jacks include the following:

• No person should place any portion of his or her body under a vehicle that is supported by a jack.
• The following warning, or words to the same effect, for high lift jacks only:
• ‘This jack must have a minimum load of 'X' kg on it to lower step-by-step, otherwise the lifting mechanism will slide down to the base plate dropping the vehicle.' Please note that manufacturer should nominate the load stated.

Instructions for safe use for caravan/trailer jacks

Instructions for safe use of high lift jacks include the following:

• The jack should be used on level firm ground wherever possible.
• It is recommended that the wheels of the caravan/trailer be chocked.
• No person should remain in a caravan/trailer supported by a jack.
• No person should place any portion of his or her body under a caravan/trailer supported by a jack.
• The caravan/trailer should be attached to the towing vehicle.