A STANDARD that is said to be the "safest in the world - SANS 164-2 - has been adopted as the preferred standard for electrical plugs and socket outlets in South Africa. Small and hexagonal with three pins, the new plug and socket configuration is set to replace the old SANS 164-1 socket outlets.
Gianfranco Campetti, chairman of the SABS SC23B mirror committee says the SANS 164-2 three-pin socket outlet is safer because it has a ‘skirt' that prevents the exposure of live plug pins. With its three levels of safety, the new SANS 164-2 plug and socket outlet system will be the safest in the world, with only Switzerland's plug and socket outlet system being close to that level of safety. The new socket outlets have smaller holes and it is now impossible for a child to insert their fingers into the socket.
