Specifies general safety requirements for hand-held motor-operated electric tools. It is a base Standard which, when combined with a particular Standard in the AS/NZS 60745 series, becomes a complete Standard for the particular hand-held motor-operated tool. This Standard is technically equivalent to and has been reproduced from IEC 60745-1:2001.

1.1 This International Standard deals with the safety of hand-held motor-operated or magnetically driven electric tools, the rated voltage of the tools being not more than 250 V for single-phase a.c. or d.c. tools, and 440 V for three-phase a.c. tools. So far as is practicable, this standard deals with the common hazards presented by hand-held tools, which are encountered by all persons in the common use of the tools. Tools with an electric heating element are within the scope of this standard. They should also comply with relevant parts of IEC 60335. Hand-held electric tools, hereinafter referred to as tools, which can be mounted on a support for use as fixed tools without any alteration of the tool itself, are within the scope of this standard. Unless the requirement for such support is given in a relevant part 2, this standard alone will not be sufficient to ensure that the combination of tool and support is adequate. Requirements for motors not isolated from the supply, and having basic insulation not designed for the rated voltage of the tools, are given in Annex B. This standard does not apply to: – hand-held tools intended to be used in the presence of explosive atmosphere (dust, vapour or gas);– hand-held tools used for preparing and processing food;– hand-held tools for medical purposes (IEC 60601);– heating tools which are covered by IEC 60335-2-45. For hand-held tools intended to be used in vehicles or on board ships or aircraft, additional requirements may be necessary. NOTE Attention is drawn to the fact that in many countries, additional requirements are specified by the national health authorities, the national authorities responsible for the protection of labour, the national water supply authorities, etc.

Draft Amendment 1 see DR 03926, Draft Amendment 2 see DR 03946 First published in Australia as AS C160-1959.Revised and redesignated AS 3160-1974.Second edition 1981.Third edition 1987.Fourth edition 1989.First published in New Zealand as NZS/AS 3160:1989.AS 3160-1989 and NZS/AS 3160:1989 jointly revised and designated as Joint Standard AS/NZS 3160:1993.Sixth edition 1996.Revised and redesignated in part as AS/NZS 7450.1:1999.AS/NZS 7450.1:1999 jointly revised and redesignated as AS/NZS 60745.1:2003. First published in Australia as AS C160-1959. Revised and redesignated AS 3160-1974. Second edition 1981. Third edition 1987. Fourth edition 1989. First published in New Zealand as NZS/AS 3160:1989. AS 3160-1989 and NZS/AS 3160:1989 jointly revised and designated as Joint Standard AS/NZS 3160:1993. Sixth edition 1996. Revised and redesignated in part as AS/NZS 7450.1:1999. AS/NZS 7450.1:1999 jointly revised and redesignated as AS/NZS 60745.1:2003.