Electrical Certificate Of Compliance

The purpose of a certificate of compliance is to ensure the safety of humans, animals and equipment.

Once a certificate of compliance has been issued the electrical installation is deemed to be intrinsically safe, provided that the operator, operates with diligence and caution.

All electrical installations require a certificate of compliance (ECOC) which is valid for two years. It is not necessary to renew the certificate of compliance after two years unless electrical work has been carried out on the installation.

In accordance with SANS 10142, an electrical certificate of compliance is required to be issued for every new installation. An electrical certificate of compliance shall also be issued in the event that any alterations or additions are made to an existing electrical installation, including any extra rooms added to the existing buildings, extra socket points or lights. Outside security lighting is also subject to the above regulations.

When any new installation or modification to an existing installation is carried out it is the responsibility of the electrical contractor to issue an electrical certificate of compliance as per the regulations.

When a property is sold or ownership is transferred an electrical certificate of compliance must be issued before the transfer can take place.

The only person who can issue a certificate of compliance is registered under whose general control the testing of the installation was carried out.

The certificate of compliance is only valid so long as it is accompanied by the required test report.

In the event that whilst caring out the inspection or electrical tests a defect or non-conformity is detected, the electrical certificate of compliance shall not be issued until the defects are repaired and the non-conformity has been rectified.

Before carrying out any of the required tests the following visual inspection shall be carried out

1. Type Of Supply

1. In the meter box check the type of installation (eg TNS OR TNCS)
2. Is the meter box clean
3. Is the earth stud accessible
4. Check breaker amp rating and kiloamp rating (Min. Fault current level
5. Check for burnt or loose connections
6. Is the meter on or off-site

2. Distribution, Sub-Distribution And Swimming Pool Distribution Boards

1. Check that the breakers are labelled
2. Check for statutory labels
3. Check for the following:-
   1. an isolator
   2. an earth leakage
   3. a geyser isolator.

3. Geyser Checks

1. Does the geyser have an isolator?
2. Is the geyser earthed with a physical continuous earth wire back to the distribution board?
3. Is the water piping bonded and the earth is continuous back to the distribution board?
4. Is the terminal box accessible?
5. No broken flexible conduit
6. All cables to be terminated with glands

4. Roof Space Checks

1. Check for open terminal boxes
2. No open connections
3. If metal conduit they are bonded
4. No damaged conduit
5. Terminations into light fittings have no bare or loose wires where it enters the ceiling boards
6. All suffix must be terminated safely, including mechanical terminations (ie wires cannot be pulled out of the terminal box)
7. Where PVC terminal boxes have been used with metal conduit to ensure that the earthing is continuous

5. Socket Outlet Checks

1. Do they work
2. There are no broken covers
3. No missing covers
4. No signs of burning or overheating on the socket-outlet
5. All additional socket outlets fed from another socket outlet are installed correctly.

6. Lights And Light Fittings Including Ceiling Fans

1. All light fittings must be working and be able to be switched on and off
2. All light fittings must have covers
3. All light switches must have covers
4. No bare or exposed terminals
5. All ceiling fans must be earthed continuously back to the distribution board.
6. All Edison screw fittings are to be tested to ensure that the centre point of the Edison screw is the live terminal.

7. Mixed Circuits

1. Check for mixed circuits ie lighting circuits and plug circuits fed from the same breaker.
2. All mixed circuits are to be wired according to the code.

8. Modifications And Additions

1. Check that all additions, alterations and where wiring has been carried out complies with the regulations.
2. Check garages and workshops for additions and or alterations.
3. Check all garden and or decorative lights are correctly wired and safe.
4. All external light fittings are to be weatherproof.

Questions to be Answered

Before a certificate of compliance can be issued the following questions need to be answered in the affirmative.

1. Accessible components are correctly selected.
2. All protective devices are correctly rated
3. All protective devices are capable of withstanding the prospective fault level
4. Current carrying conductors are of the correct current rating and capacity for the protective devices and the connected load.
5. Components are installed correctly.
6. Disconnecting devices are correctly located and switchgear switches all phase conductors
7. Different circuits are electrically separated.
8. Connection of conductors, earthing and bonding are mechanically sound
9. The connection of conductors, earthing and bonding are electrically continuous.
10. All circuits, fuses and switches on distribution boards are correctly and permanently labelled.

Tests to be Carried out

The following tests are to be carried out and the results are recorded on the test report for electrical installations.

1. Continuity of bonding.
2. Resistance of earth continuity conductors.
3. Resistance of ring circuits.
4. Earth fault loop impedance PSC test.
5. The elevated voltage is on neutral.
6. Earth Electrode resistance
7. Insulation resistance is only required on new installations.
8. Voltage no-load main DB.
9. The voltage on load.
10. The voltage at the available load.
11. Operation of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker(ELCB).
12. Operation of the ELCB test button.
13. Polarity at points of consumption.
14. Phase rotation at the point of consumption
15. All switching devices, make and break circuits

Cost of certificate of compliance (COC):- R850.00