The short answer
Not always. Brand-new electrical equipment generally does not need a full electrical test before first use simply because it is new.
Under AS/NZS 3760:2022, new equipment entering service can be visually inspected and identified with a New to Service tag. The important point is that the equipment still needs to be considered as part of the workplace electrical safety system.
What does "New to Service" mean?
A New to Service tag identifies equipment that is new, has been visually inspected and has entered use without requiring the same electrical testing applied to existing in-service equipment.
We still inspect the item before it goes into service and record it appropriately. This can include checking the plug, lead, casing, electrical markings and general condition.
If an appliance is still boxed or sitting unused on a storeroom shelf, we generally leave it alone. It is not yet in service. We simply discuss with the client when it is likely to be introduced into the workplace.
Does brand new always mean compliant?
No. This is where businesses can get caught out.
We sometimes inspect new equipment that has been custom-built overseas or imported directly for a client and does not display the expected Australian Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM).
We also see low-cost imported appliances supplied with foreign plugs, questionable adaptors or electrical ratings that need closer attention before the equipment is used.
The fact that an item is new, or that it has entered Australia, does not automatically mean it is suitable for use in an Australian workplace.
What we see in the field
Most new equipment we see is perfectly straightforward: it is visually inspected, recorded and marked New to Service when it enters use.
The exceptions are what matter. Missing compliance markings, foreign plugs, unsuitable adaptors, damaged packaging or questionable imported electrical equipment are all reasons to stop and look more closely rather than assuming "new" means "safe".
That is why we treat New to Service as an inspection and identification process — not a reason to ignore the equipment completely.