What Is An Electrical Certificate Of Compliance?
An electrical certificate of compliance is a legal document issued by a qualified and registered person that verifies an electrical installation is compliant with the latest SANS 10142-1:2020 standard as stated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993).
In simple terms, the certificate is a legal requirement for any dwelling or occupied physical property that has an electrical installation. If a property is being sold or bought, the certificate is also required before a property transfer can occur.
What Is A Qualified And Registered Person?
A registered person is someone who is either a master electrician, an installation electrician, or an electrical tester for single phase. A qualified person means that the registered person is qualified to issue a compliance certificate for the type of electrical installation they are qualified for.
For example, only a master electrician can issue an electrical certificate of compliance for any electrical installation, including specialised electrical installations they can show competency in. And, an installation electrician can only issue the certificate for single and three-phase electrical installations such as a home, flat, or townhouse, but not specialised electrical installations.
There Are 3 Different Types Of Qualifications For Electricians
1. Master Installation Electrician (MIE)
Master Electricians are the only qualified and registered person(s) who can verify and certify the construction, testing, and inspection of any electrical installation.
2. Installation Electrician (IE)
Installation electricians can only verify and certify the construction, testing, and inspection of single-phase and three-phase electrical installations, but not specialised electrical installations.
3. Electrical Tester for Single Phase (ETSP).
They can only verify and certify the construction, testing, and inspection of single-phase electrical installations, but not specialised electrical installations.
The Master Installation Electrician (MIE) is the highest qualified electrician and will be required for any specialised electrical installations. However, they must prove competency in the specialised electrical installation before they can proceed.
How Do I Know Which Qualification The Registered Person Has?
The South African Department of Employment and Labour issues electricians with two documents, namely, a Registered Contractor License and a Registered Person Licence.
The Registered Contractor License is simply a letter that confirms the registered person is an electrical contractor along with their names and registration number. Additionally, the letter also states which category of electrical installations they can inspect and verify.
If they belong to the Electrical Conformance Board of South Africa (ECB), they can present their ECB ID Card which counts as a single point of validation for the above two documents from the Department of Employment and Labour.
Can The Registered Person’s Qualification Be Checked Online?
If the electrician belongs to the ECB, you can verify their qualifications by visiting the Find a Qualification Electrician in SA by the ECB Portal for free, if they’ve asked the ECB to list them on the portal. If they don’t belong to the ECB, the South African Department of Employment and Labour will need to be contacted directly to confirm their status; there’s currently no online verification method available from them.
Annual Renewals
It’s important to know that it’s compulsory for the Registered Contractor’s License to be renewed annually, but the Registered Person’s License has a lifetime validation which can be revoked by the South African Department of Employment of Labour.
Optionally, if they belong to the ECB, their membership also should also be renewed annually.
Who Needs An Electrical Certificate Of Compliance?
By law, every user or lessor of an electrical installation is required to have a valid certificate of compliance for said electrical installation. For example, if a tenant is renting a property, it is their responsibility to ensure there is a valid electrical certificate of compliance for the property’s electrical installation.
If you are selling your property you will also need to get the certificate if you don’t already have one, or if the certificate is older than two years, or if there’s been additions or alterations made to the electrical installation since the issued date of the original certificate.
How Long Is The Certificate Valid For?
An electrical certificate of compliance does not have a default expiration date and is valid for the lifetime of the electrical installation, unless any additions or alterations have been made to the electrical installation, or for the purpose of transfer, the certificate cannot be older than 2 years.
If any additions or alterations have been made, a supplementary certificate will be issued to the initial electrical certificate of compliance.
What Is Covered And Not Covered By The Certificate?
An electrical certificate of compliance covers the electrical installation from the distribution board to the outlets. This means that appliances such as geysers and stoves are not covered, but everything in between the distribution board to the outlet, such as wiring, earthing, bonding, and isolators etc. is covered. For example, the certificate does not cover your stove plates or elements, but it does cover your stove isolator switch.
How Do I Get The Certificate?
For transfer purposes, it is the responsibility of the seller to get the electrical certificate of compliance when selling their property. Transfer Attorneys and Real Estate Agents can usually recommend their preferred registered person (electrician) to help you get the electrical certificate of compliance.
Depending on the type of property (residential or commercial), the phase of the electrical installation (single or three-phase), and the type of electrical installation (simple or advanced), a suitably qualified and registered electrician first needs to be contacted to ensure they can do the inspection.
The qualified and registered electrician will conduct an electrical certificate of compliance inspection, and if no faults are found, they will issue the certificate once the inspection fee has been paid. If faults are found, the electrician will provide a quote, and only once the repairs are completed will they issue the certificate.
It’s important to note that even if the electrical installation (property) fails the test (faults are found), the inspection fee still needs to be paid. And, if it’s decided that a different qualified and registered electrician will conduct the repair work, the inspection fee is still applicable.
Once your certificate has been issued to you, you are able to register it online with the Electrical Conformance Board of SA (ECB). If you are transferring your property, Transfer Attorneys will usually request that the original certificate be supplied to them.
What Does The Certificate Look Like?
An original electrical certificate of compliance document is a yellow, double-sided page that contains the following information:
- Certificate Type (initial certificate or supplementary certificate)
- Pre-printed registration number of the certificate
- Identification information of the electrical installation (mostly physical address)
- Declaration by the registered person
- Declaration by the electrical contractor
- In-depth details of the electrical installation (on the back page)
How Much Does it Cost?
Generally, the certificate itself doesn’t have a cost, but rather the inspection, which can range from R1000 to R3000. The cost comes down to the type, size, and phase of the electrical installation (property) and excludes any repair work due to faults or non-compliance that might arise during the inspection.
Is An Electric Fence Included in the Electrical Certificate of Compliance?
No, an electric fence is not included by the electrical certificate of compliance; it needs an electric fence certificate (EFC), and can only be legally issued by a registered Electric Fence System Installer (EFSI). However, if you are selling a sectional title property you won’t need an electrical fence certificate because it is the responsibility of the body corporate.
Can An Electrician Issue An EFC?
Only if an electrician is a registered Electric Fence System Installer (EFSI) can they issue an electric fence certificate (EFC). The registered person (electrician) needs to be registered with the South African Department of Employment and Labour as an Electric Fence System Installer.
How Long Is The EFC Valid For?
Similar to an electrical certificate of compliance, the EFC doesn’t have a default expiration date and is valid for as long as no major additions or alterations have been made. Only if the energiser is replaced would a new EFC be needed.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of the EFC depends on the size of the property and length of electric fencing installed, and can start from R1000 for properties up to 500sqm. The cost includes the inspection and tests, and does not include any repair or installation work for the fencing or the replacement of the energiser.
What Does The Certificate Look Like?
An original electric fence system certificate of compliance document is a green, double-sided page that contains the following information:
- Certificate Type (initial certificate or supplementary certificate)
- Pre-printed registration number of the certificate
- Identification of the relevant electrical installation (mostly physical address)
- Declaration by registered electrical fence installer
- Declaration by user or lessor
- Electric Fence installation checklist (back of page)
- Client Detail (back of page)
Helpful Resources
The South African Department of Employment and Labour
Electrical Contractors Association SA (ECA)