National Standards Authority Of Ireland (Section 28) (Electrical Plugs, Plug Similar Devices and Sockets For Domestic Use) Regulations, 1997.
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

num: 1
paragraphs: (1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Standards Authority of Ireland (Section 28) (Electrical Plugs, Plug Similar Devices and Sockets for Domestic Use) Regulations, 1997.
(2) These Regulations shall come into operation on the 18th day of December, 1997.
num: 2
paragraphs: These Regulations do not apply to 13 ampere plugs complying in all respects with I.S. 401:97 or to those electrical devices mentioned in the First Schedule to these Regulations.
num: 3
paragraphs: (1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:
“the Authority” means the National Standards Authority of Ireland.
“I.S. 411:1997” means Irish Standard 411:1997 being the Irish standard specification for safety requirements for 13A switched and unswitched socket outlets as declared by the Authority;
“I.S. 401:1997” means Irish Standard 401:1997 being the Irish standard specification for 13A rewirable and non-rewirable plugs as declared by the Authority;
“I.S. 421:1997” means Irish Standard 421:1997 being the Irish standard specification for safety requirements for 13 Amp Adaptors as declared by the Authority;
“BS 5733:1979” means British Standard 5733:1979 being the British standard specification for electrical accessories, as amended by AMD 9157 of May 1996.
“adaptor” means a portable accessory intended for domestic use having plug pins, intended to engage with the contacts of a socket-outlet, and having socket-outlet contacts to accommodate one or more plugs;
“plug” means a portable fused accessory intended for domestic use having projecting pins designed to engage with the contacts of a corresponding socket-outlet and incorporating means for the mechanical retention of an electrical cord and for transmitting an electrical current passing through the cord;
“plug-similar device” means a device intended for domestic use incorporating plug pins and intended to be plugged directly into a socket-outlet and includes:
(a) an adaptor,
(b) a small power supply incorporating plug pins and intended to be plugged directly into a socket-outlet,
(c) a plug-in time switch incorporating a socket-outlet,
(d) a plug-in residual current circuit breaker,
(e) a lamp-plug combination,
(f) a 13 ampere plug which complies with I.S. 401:1997 in all respects except where insertion into a socket-outlet complying with I.S. 411:1997 is prevented by its pin shape, pin rotation or pin location,
(g) any similar device;
“power supply” means a unit which takes energy from the mains electricity supply and supplies it in a form suitable for operating electronic circuits;
“socket-outlet” means an accessory having a set of three socket-contacts designed to engage with the pins of a corresponding plug and having terminals for the connection of appropriate electrical cables or electrical cords or which applies in all respects with I.S. 411:1997, except where its receptor shape, pin rotation or pin location prevents the insertion of a plug complying with I.S. 401:1997.
(2) Where there is a requirement in any provisions of these Regulations that an electrical device shall conform to an Irish or British standard, such requirement shall be satisfied if the electrical device conforms to any equivalent standard or specification recognized for use in a Member State of the European Communities, provided that conformity to such a standard or specification provides a level of safety equivalent to that which would be provided by conformity to the relevant Irish or British standard, and any reference to such a requirement shall be construed accordingly.
(3) In these Regulations a reference to an Irish standard mark shall be construed as a reference to that standard mark as amended or revised by the Authority under section 20 of the National Standards Authority of Ireland Act, 1996 .
num: 4
paragraphs: A person shall not manufacture, assemble, store, supply, offer to supply or exhibit any—
(a) socket-outlet including a socket-outlet complying with the provisions of the Industrial Research and Standards Act (Section 44) (Electrical Mains Socket-Outlets) Order, 1973 ( S.I. No. 322 of 1973 ), or
(b) plug which is intended for insertion into a socket-outlet of a type specified in paragraph (a) of this Regulation, or
(c) adaptor, plug-similar device or any device incorporating a socket-outlet, unless—
(i) such socket-outlet complies with the provisions of I.S. 411:1997 safety requirements for 13 A switched and unswitched socket-outlets, or
(ii) such plug complies with the provisions of I.S./EN 50075, or
(iii) such adaptor complies with the provisions of I.S. 421:1977 safety requirement for Adaptors for 13A Plugs and sockets,
or