Electrical Certificate of Compliance in Cape Town
An Electrical Certificate of Compliance is required in order to provide evidence that the property being sold has a safe electrical installation; change of ownership cannot occur unless there is a valid Electrical Certificate of Compliance, according to Regulation 7(5) of the Electrical Installation Regulations (OHS ACT of 1993).
A certificate of compliance is not transferable if it is older than two years. We recommend that owners have the electrical inspection and certification done prior to selling.
They are then not confronted by expenses after signing an Offer to Purchase (OTP). In addition, in many cases, the electrical certification may require removal of certain items (eg. illegal wiring or non-compliant light fittings). Removal of any part of the installation, after signing the OTP, may complicate things.
How to prepare for an Electrical Certificate of Compliance
The certificate of compliance certifies that the property has a safe electrical installation.
- The basic premise is that the electrical installation of a property must be inspected and tested by a Qualified Electrician to determine whether it is safe and complies with the current regulations.
- In order for the inspection to occur in a timely manner, please ensure that there is enough electricity in the pre-paid meter (if they have one).
- Please provide easy access to all distribution boards within the property and ensure that their covers can be removed easily. Emptying kitchen cupboards to access the electrical board is time consuming for the inspector.
- The inspection will take approximately 45 mins to 2 hours depending on the size of the property. Very large properties can take longer than 2 hours.
- Please note that the power will trip for a short while when a few tests are run on the distribution board.
- If possible, please check for any plugs etc hidden in cupboards or behind curtains or less obvious places and inform the person doing the inspection of these hidden places and items.
- Please note that that access is often required into the roof.
- Insist on a certificate of work done by your electrician if you have had any recent work down on the property’s electric installation, even if it is as small as having a light changed.
- Make sure each light fitting has at least one working light bulb. This should save you time and money.
Other Certificates of Compliance
Beetle
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Water
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Fence
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Gas
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Inspected?
- All Distribution boards and sub-distribution boards
- Circuit Breakers
- Earth Leakage; Earth Continuity
- Voltage and Circuits Wiring
- Illegal Connections / Additions
- Lights; Insulation
- Plugs
- Polarities; Resistance
- Loop Impedance
What is Excluded?
Simply put, it means that the working of all the above appliances is not covered by the certificate. What is important is that all the appliances (whether they work or not), must be connected in an approved manner.
Will all untidy or unsightly wires/cables/boxes be cleaned up?
Network cables, fibre cables, Telkom lines, unused safe blanked boxes etc, will be left as found.
What are some common faults found?
- The circuit breaker is over or under rated in relation to the cable size.
- A light is not earthed
- DB board not labelled
Why do I have to have all these faults fixed and I have never had any electrical problems and I have lived in the same house for many years without incident?
For example: a plug socket outlet may function, but it may not be earthed.