PLEASE NOTE: The electrical certificate of compliance is intended to be a very valuable document under the law. Many treat it a painful requirement for a property sale, bond or insurance, however, what most don’t realise is that it is an important safety document and simply ‘having a CoC’ doesn’t make your insurance valid and could put your family or company at risk.
QUICK FACTS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW:
The User OF THE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION IS RESPONSIBLE - NOT the property owner
The law doesn’t say that the property owner is responsible for the safety, safe use and maintenance of the electrical installation. It is the person how is using the property or the person who rents it out. Often you will find a rental agreement transfers this responsibility to the person/company renting the property which often occurs without the certificate of compliance being shown or agreed in advance. We advice that at all times you insist you have seen a valid certificate for the property you are renting and that you only take responsibility for this certificate if the property owner or rental company validate the CoC issued.
YOU MUST HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE FOR YOUR PROPERTY AT ALL TIMES
The law is very clear on this. Again, it states the “user or lessor” must have a valid certificate. Without it your insurance and even your bond could be invalidated if you wish to make a claim. Again, please remember this doesn’t necessarily put the requirement on the property owner and if you are the user or lessor then you could open yourself up to a counter claim from the property owner if you manage the property.
ALL additional ELECTRICAL WORK REQUIRES A COC ammendment TO BE ISSUED
Installing a new plug socket? Adding a solar installation? Updating your lapa wiring?
The law states that “any addition or alteration” to your electrical installation requires a CoC supplement to be issued. The law is also clear that you can not issue a supplement for this work if you do not have a CoC for your whole property.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The law also states the electrician must also check the existing installation complies with “the general safety principles of the standard and is reasonably safe”. This doesn’t mean an old/existing installation needs to comply with the new safety standards but instead it must be tested and inspected to ensure it is safe to use.
does my solar installation and/or generator require a coc?
Yes. More imrtportantly, no company can issue you a CoC unless the whole property has a valid certificate. Doing so can invalidate your insurance and is against the law.
DOWNLOAD THE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION REGULATIONS
The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993 No. R. 242 – 6 March 2009
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION REGULATIONS
OHS Act 1993 – Electrical Installation Regulations >>
A COC IS ACCOMPANIED BY A TEST REPORT AND PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE MULTIPLE PAGES
The Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is just a one page legal document. The remaining information you receive from your electrical contracting company is what is known as a ‘test report’ and can include wiring diagrams and photos. The test report is designed to be a concise record of the work performed, the inspections and tests on your property that ensure it is safe and compliant with the standards.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The new ‘General Test Report’ published by the SABS is just one page. This is because it is expected the electrician supply annexures that accompany the document that are specialised to your installation. It is highly unlikely you should ever recieve just the 1 page document, in most circumstances you should recieve annexure pages as well.