There are various regulations regarding the certification of electrical compliance for improvements to immovable property. Here are some explanations of the regulations that apply to the electrical certificate of compliance:
Who can certify electrical compliance?
You cannot certify your own electrical installation safe and compliant, unless you are one of those "accredited persons" the Occupational Health and Safety Act refers to. The regulations say that only accredited persons my issue electrical certificates of compliance.
Electrical testers for single phase, installation electricians and master installation electricians fall under the "accredited persons" referred to in the regulations.
What gets certified?
The electrical certificate of compliance only covers the electrical installation in a property "from the point of supply to the point of consumption". This means that some of the appliances and fittings in a property do not form part of the inspection for issuing an electrical compliance certificate.
Stuff that look like they should be connected to the electrical supply, but which is not connected, does not get inspected. So, if the property includes a light in the garden, which does not have a cable to bring electricity from the main installation, the electrical certificate of compliance can still be issued.
The electrical certificate certifies that the electrical wiring conforms to the applicable code and standards that applied to the original installation, and that the electrical installation is safe for use.
Who is responsible for the safe use of the electrical installation?
The owner and seller of a property is responsible for getting a valid electrical certificate of compliance, but the users of the installation have a responsibility for electrical safety as well.
The user is responsible for the safety, safe use and maintenance of the electrical installation he/she uses.
Are electrical certificates transferrable?
According to the regulations, YES.
Every installation must have a valid certificate of compliance, and every user or lessor of an electrical installation must have a valid electrical certificate of compliance. But luckily the regulations state clearly that an electrical certificate can be transferred between users of the certified installation.
Can an electrical certificate be refused?
Not only can an electrical certificate of compliance be refused, it MUST be refused if, at any time prior to issuing the electrical certificate, any fault or defect is detected in any part of the electrical installation.
The accredited person must also, if he/she is of the opinion that such fault or defect constitutes an immediate danger to people, immediately take steps to disconnect the supply to the circuit in which the fault or defect was detected. To get the circuit reconnected to the electricity supply, the error must be corrected first.
