Crown Publications - Avoiding the pitfalls by Terry Mackenzie Hoy

In South Africa, it is a statutory requirement that every user or lessor of an electrical installation shall have a valid Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for every such installation.

Section 5.1 of the CoC provides for the designer of the electrical installation to verify that the design complies with the requirements of this part of SANS 10142 (SABS 0142).
Section 5.2 of the CoC provides for the specifier/procurer to verify that the equipment specified/procured is in compliance with the requirements of this part of SANS 10142 (SABS 0142).
Section 5.3 of the CoC provides for the installer of the electrical installation to verify that the installation was constructed in accordance with the requirements of this part of SANS 10142 (SABS 0142).

Note 1: If the CoC covers an installation in South Africa that existed before October 1992 and extensions made since October 1992, sections 5.1 to 5.3 will cover the new extensions only and, in section 5.4, both blocks that refer to installations, which existed before and after 1992 should be marked.

5.4 Inspection and tests (extract from COC)

I/We, being the person(s) responsible for the INSPECTION AND TESTING of the electrical installation, particulars of which are described in section 3 of this form, CERTIFY that the inspection and testing were done in accordance with SANS 10142-1 (SABS 0142-1), that the results given are correct and indicate (for installation work performed since October 1992), compliance with the relevant legislation, or (for an installation that existed before October 1992), that the installation is reasonably safe.

The extent of liability of the signatory is limited to the installation described in section 3 of this form.

So, no problem, right? No, big problem.

The point is that the electrical contractor has to, when working on an existing installation, assure that the part he has worked on is in compliance with SANS 10142-1 and, for other parts of the installation if installed after 1992, that they are also in compliance or, if installed before 1992, that they are reasonably safe.

So what do you do if a householder asks you, the contractor, to put a socket outlet in the living room and you find that the whole house is an electrical disaster?

Do you just put the socket in and leave the rest? Well, no you can't. Technically you have to give the whole place the once over.

This is not as bad as it seems - we are 20 years from 1992 so there are not that many electrical disasters anymore. But, there are some. Now, if the electrical contractor works on even a small part of an installation but fails issue a CoC for the whole, this can land the electrical contractor in big trouble.

Firstly, from the Department of Labour, then from the Electrical Contractors Association and finally from the courts of law if the householder takes the electrical contractor to court.

Once the latter happens, the electrical contractor doesn't have a chance. All the courts know is that (a) an electrical CoC is required for every installation; and (b) the electrical contractor did not issue one after working on the premises.

Klaar.

But there is a way out.

Obviously, when the electrical contractor goes to install an outside light on a 30-storey building, it would be madness then if a CoC has to be issued for the whole building.

So the contractor should do the work and then send a letter to the owner/client to say: "Here is the CoC for the work completed by us. We understand that you have CoCs for the rest of the electrical installation and thus no inspection of the building/premises is required by us in this regard."

The main point is to issue the CoC for the work done and not withhold it for any reason. If the CoC is withheld, then there is no defence against possible legal action or complaints to Department of Labour or the Electrical Contractors Association.

Issue the CoC ... It's the law.

machoy@iafrica.com