sparks
ELECTRICAL NEWS
august
2013
August 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
• Energy efficiency
• Motor control and motor protection
• Lighting
12-13
16-21
22-27
FEATURES
• Contractors’ Corner
• Buyers’ Guide
• People on the move
REGULARS
2–11
14–15
28
THE Electrical Contractors’Associa-
tion of South Africa has reacted
to the“conflicting and confusing
messages”being circulated to
electrical contractors regarding
the‘voluntary listing system’re-
cently introduced by the Electrical
Contractors’Board of South Africa
(ECB SA).
Dirk Engelbrecht, president
of the ECA(SA) says this“volun-
tary listing process is confusing
contractors”and, to clear any
misunderstanding, has sent out an
email to ECA(SA) members advis-
ing them that this process is“not
compulsory”.
“Contractors need not respond
to calls from the ECB SA to register
their businesses on the ECB data-
base,”warns Engelbrecht.
He advises contractors who
choose to register with the ECB“to
contact the ECB directly and pay
the requiredmonies”.
“The‘ECB listed contractor’
document issued to contractors
who voluntarily applied for such
listing is not the official registration
ECB SA defends ‘voluntary listing system’
DR Ronald Lange, ART Solar’s
chief operating offer, is an
internationally recognised
photovoltaic (PV) specialist
who will spend a year with the
company to establish impec-
cable manufacturing standards
and the transfer of knowledge
and skills. He will ensure the
company continues tomake
a valuable contribution to
renewable energy in Africa, as
he has in Asia, North America
and Europe.
“An important focus for Dr
Lange is to raise awareness
locally about the possibili-
ties and the limitations faced
Specialist to set ‘impeccable
PV standards’ in SA
certificate for electrical contractors
– only DoL can issue a Certificate
of Registration in terms of the Act,”
stresses Engelbrecht.
Sparks Electrical News contact-
edTony McDonald, the chairman
of the ECB SA, who has confirmed
that the ECB(SA) has, indeed,
introduced a‘voluntary listing
system’but he has defended the
action, saying,“This is to ensure
that standards are maintained.”
He says that, for 20 years – until
31 August, 2012 – the ECB SA was
the non-governmental associa-
tion responsible for registering
electrical contractors; and the
ECB SA has maintained an elec-
tronic data base of all registered
contractors. However, since DoL
took over the registration of con-
tractors on 1 September, 2012,
the system has been fraught with
problems.
“This decision took the industry
back 20 years and created
tremendous confusion in the
industry,”says McDonald, adding
that“DoL does not have an up-
to-date electronic data base of
registered electrical contractors.”
He says that the ECB SA’s
board representatives – who are
representative of all stakeholders
such as consumer unions, profes-
sional bodies, property owners,
government bodies, municipali-
ties – have asked us the ECB SA
“to ensure that standards are
maintained”.
“One way to achieve this is for
the ECB SA to establish a‘volun-
tary listing’of correctly registered
persons and contractors. By‘cor-
rectly listed’we mean registered
in terms of the Electrical Installa-
tion Regulations with the Depart-
ment of Health and Safety.
“We also offer a facilitating ser-
vice to any contractor requesting
it. We help contractors with their
registration process by assisting
themwith advice of where to go
at DoL, who to see at DoL and we
also supply contractors with the
necessary documentation.
“Once they are registered with
DoL, they may then join the ECB
voluntarily – for an annual fee of
R350 – and we will list themon
our database.”
McDonald adds that the ECS SA
database is available tomembers
of the public who are looking for
registered electrical contractors
and, to name a few: the Institute
of SA Property Owners (SAPOA),
the SA National Consumer Union
(SANCU), the South African Bureau
of Standards (SABS), the National
Regulator of Compulsory Stand-
ards (NRCS), and the Department
of Labour (DoL). Only contractors
who are registered with the DoL
are included in that voluntary
listing,”he stresses.
Dirk Engelbrecht, president of the ECA(SA).
Setting PV standards in South Africa: Dr Ronald Lange.
in the development of PV in
other parts of the world and
to ensure costly mistakes are
not repeated in South Africa.
With his expertise, ART Solar
is able to develop PVmodules
that are adapted for local
conditions, rather than simply
expecting European systems
to apply effectively in South Af-
rica,”says ART Solar’s chairman,
Eshu Seevnarayan.
Dr Lange is a regular
contributor to scientific and
technical magazines and has
presented numerous lectures
at conferences.
Enquiries: (031) 705-7162
