The mandatory standard was last updated on 19 December 2017 and applies to hydraulic trolley jacks designed to raise a part of a vehicle via the vehicle's chassis.
About trolley jacks
A trolley jack comes with:
- wheels for maneuvering the trolley jack
- a handle for positioning the trolley jack under the vehicle and for pumping the hydraulic cylinders
- hydraulic cylinders for lifting the vehicle.
The mandatory standard prescribes requirements for the design, construction, performance and labelling of trolley jacks.
There is a separate mandatory standard for vehicle jacks. Vehicle jacks are used to change wheels (over to the spare) on a vehicle.
Mandatory standard
The Consumer Goods (Trolley Jacks) Safety Standard 2017 sets out the mandatory requirements for the supply of trolley jacks.
The mandatory standard is based on the voluntary Australian Standard AS 2615:2016 Hydraulic trolley jacks (with variations), available from SAI Global. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission can make a copy of the standard available for viewing at one of its offices subject to licensing conditions.
Key requirements
These requirements aim to provide an overview of the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance. Suppliers should refer to the Consumer Goods (Trolley Jacks) Safety Standard 2017 and the Australian Standard AS 2615:2016 for the full requirements.
Design and construction
Materials
All materials used in the construction of the trolley jack must have properties to withstand a range of forces when tested in accordance with the Australian Standard AS 2615:2016.
Protective coating
Except for matting surfaces or sliding parts, the trolley jack must have a suitable corrosion protective coating.
Head cap
The head cap is the part of the trolley jack that makes contact with the vehicle. The head cap must be free to rotate about a vertical axis and be able to retain a horizontal bar of 100 mm diameter.
Overload protection
The trolley jack must include a means of overload protection so that it cannot lift a load of 15 per cent more than its nominated capacity.
Prevention of over travel
Over travel is when the trolley jack is raised higher than the height it is designed for. The trolley jack must include a 'positive stop' to prevent over travel of the head cap. Alternatively, the trolley jack must be designed so that over travel cannot happen.
Minimum capacity
The nominated capacity of the trolley jack must not be less than 750 kg.
Performance
Durability
The trolley jack must not fail or become unserviceable when subjected to a durability trial.
Loss of height under load
The trolley jack must not lose more than five per cent of its height when subjected to a specified load. Also, after 30 minutes, the loss of height must not exceed five millimetres.
Lowering
The trolley jack must provide a controlled lowering mechanism that can be activated by the operator. The operator must be able to use the trolley jack to control the descent of the load without hazard to the operator or damage to the trolley jack.
Overload capacity
The trolley jack must be able to hold a load in excess of its nominated capacity without collapsing, becoming unstable or losing more than five per cent of its height.
Eccentric load test
When subjected to an eccentrically applied load (that is, a load applied off-centre or to the side of the head cap), a trolley jack must not collapse, become unstable, or lose more than five per cent of its height.
Testing
Suppliers need to organise the testing prescribed in the mandatory standard through specialist laboratories.
Safety markings
Trolley jacks must also be supplied with a range of information, including instructions for safe use, package marking and assembly instructions.
A new warning notice must also be permanently marked on trolley jacks. The warning notice must contain statements and pictograms that convey the following four key warnings:
- Death or injury from incorrect use.
- Use two support stands.
- Flat hard level ground.
- Free to roll during lifting and lowering.
Further requirements for the warning notice, pictograms and other information to be supplied with trolley jacks is contained in the Australian Standard AS 2615:2016.
More information is available in the Explanatory Statement available on the Federal Register of Legislation website.
