This shows what was passed by the electrician; and the AIA approved the same board, only it was painted white.

WE'RE back again at the same premises, same Inspection Authority, same inspector as last month. I know that the regulations have been watered down over the years and the standard of workmanship and inspections have eroded somewhat, but consider this:
Swimming pool distribution board
So designated by the installation electrician, who just so happens to be a technical advisor for a well known association.
The board is mounted in one of those pool enclosures. It is old and when first passed by the electrician, was so corroded that the original paint had disassociated itself from the metal work.
When asked how he could pass such an item, he said it was "okay when it was installed".

Well SANS has quite a bit to say about this:
6.6.1.14 - The distribution board shall be suitable for the environmental conditions in which they operate.
6.6.15 - Distribution boards shall be protected against corrosion.
But here's a slightly hidden one:
6.6.1.7 - A distribution board shall not be mounted
- in a bathroom.....
- above a fixed....
- within a radius of 1m from a tap or valve (in the same room) unless the enclosure provides a degree of protection of at least IP44.
The selector switch of the pool filter is a valve.
What was mind boggling, was the way the installation electrician decided to overcome this matter. He just got white gloss paint and painted the board white.
Is this a case of whitewashing by the electrician and the inspectorate?
Looked strange, seemed suspicious, smelt like a rat.
Sure enough, even the white paint has disassociated itself from the corroded metal.
No surface preparation was done, no anti-corrosion measures were taken, no consideration whatsoever.
So, if the distribution board was corroding, what of the equipment in the board? Main switch, circuit breakers and timer?
(The following regulations apply to the distribution board as well.)

5.1.4. Positioning of equipment
Electrical equipment which, under normal conditions will be
- exposed to flammable or explosive gas, vapour, dust of liquid, or to external influences such as direct sunlight, corrosive vapour or oil, or
- in a hazardous location,
shall be so selected or enclosed that it is protected against harmful effects or it shall comply with the requirements of an applicable standard (or both).
5.2.8 Positioning and accessibility of electrical equipment
Electrical equipment shall be so positioned that
- it does not....
- it is readily....
- there is...
- it is not...
- dust or moisture is not likely to accumulate on live or other parts and cause a flashover, and
- where the ....
5.5. Environmental conditions
5.5.1 - Electrical equipment shall be able to withstand the environmental conditions
of the location in which it is installed.
However, electrical...
So, if the board was corroding it could not be suitable, and if there is corrosion of the board, surely the equipment mounted in the board is subject to the same corrosive effects?
That's not all.

6.16.1.3 - The power supply to every fixed appliance, except luminaires, shall be supplied through
- a disconnecting device....
- a socket-outlet
that is directly accessible.....
If it is a distribution board, then you have to install an isolation point for the equipment, ie the pool motor, chlorinator etc. There isn't one.
Is there an isolation point before the distribution board, making the board the control panel? No.
So how do accept an installation with such blatant omissions?
Makes you think, doesn't it?
E-mail: theemptyspace@global.co.za