The electric fence Certificate of Compliance: a Pretoria guide
If you own a property with an electric fence, you will meet the electric fence certificate sooner or later, usually when you sell. This guide explains what it is, who may issue it, when it is needed and what is, and is not, true about insurance.
The rules in one paragraph
Electric fencing in South Africa is governed by Regulation 12 of the Electrical Machinery Regulations, 2011, made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993). It has been enforced since 1 October 2012. Any new, repaired, re-installed, restrung, extended or upgraded electric fence must comply with the installation, material and quality requirements of SANS 10222-3, and the user or lessor must hold a valid Electric Fence System Certificate of Compliance (source: ECA(SA)).
What the certificate is called, and what it is not
The official name is the Electric Fence System Certificate of Compliance. The form is issued in accordance with regulation 12(4) and 13(1) of the Electrical Machinery Regulations, 2011, published in Government Gazette No. 34154 of 25 March 2011 (source: Department of Labour form). Estate agents, conveyancers and installers often shorten it to the electric fence COC, the EFC or simply the fence certificate.
It is not the same document as the electrical Certificate of Compliance for the wiring in your house. The two are separate. Eskom's procedure on certificates of compliance treats the electric fence certificate as mandatory for all electric fence installations, including new installations and changes to existing systems (source: Eskom procedure, section 5.3). An electrical COC on its own does not cover the fence.
Who may issue it
Only a registered Electric Fence System Installer (EFSI), registered with the Department of Labour, may issue the certificate (source: ECA(SA)). That rules out a general handyman, an alarm technician without the registration, and an electrician who is not also registered as an EFSI. It also rules out this website: we connect people with installers and do not inspect, test or certify fences.
Ask to see proof of registration before you book. When the certificate is issued, check that it names the installer, gives their registration details and identifies your property. Keep the original with your title deed and house papers.
When you need one
- After any work on the fence. New installations, repairs, re-installations, restringing, extensions and upgrades all need a valid certificate for the fence as it now stands.
- When you sell. Both the electrical Certificate of Compliance and the electric fence certificate must be lodged with the conveyancing attorney before transfer (sources: ECA(SA); Property24).
- When you cannot find it. If you bought a house with a fence and never received the certificate, or the fence has changed since, you may need a new inspection.
- In a complex or estate. Trustees and estate managers may ask for proof that the perimeter or an owner's fence complies.
What happens at the inspection
The installer inspects the fence as it stands and tests it against SANS 10222-3. SANS 10222-3 sets detailed requirements, for example for warning signs and energizer output, and a registered installer works to them. In general terms the installer looks at the energizer and its mounting, the earth system, the strands, insulators, brackets and joints, the warning signs, how gates are handled and how the fence relates to the boundary and to neighbours.
If everything complies, the certificate is issued. If not, you get a list of what must be fixed. Common findings include missing or faded warning signs, broken insulators, strands touching the wall or each other, poor earthing, and energizers that are unsuitable or not mounted properly. After the remedial work, the fence is checked again and the certificate can be issued.
Selling: plan the certificate early
Transfers stall when certificates arrive late. If you are selling, ask for the fence inspection as soon as you sign the offer to purchase, or before you list. If the inspection finds work, you need time to have it done and re-checked before the conveyancer needs the document.
Ask early whether the person doing your electrical COC can also do the fence certificate. Some can, if they hold both registrations; many cannot, and you will need two people. Either way, tell each of them your transfer timeline.
Insurance: the sourced position, and its limits
You will see claims online that your insurer requires an electric fence certificate. We do not say that, because policies differ. What we can source is this: according to a legal and compliance manager at MUA Insurance Acceptances, quoted by Property24, a non-compliant electric fence puts the homeowner at risk of an insurance claim being rejected and of legal liability for injuries, including to trespassers. Liability claims arising from non-compliance are excluded from cover, and where a fence put up by an unregistered installer must be fixed or replaced after damage, the claim can be rejected on the grounds of defective workmanship (source: Property24).
The practical step is simple: check your own policy wording with your insurer or broker, and keep your certificate where you can find it. This is general information, not legal advice.
What the certificate costs
We do not publish certificate fees. Installers set their own, and the total depends on the length of the fence, how many zones there are, how easy it is to reach, and above all whether the fence passes first time. Our guide to what moves an electric fence quote lists the factors. When you compare quotes, ask whether a re-inspection after remedial work is included.
Ready to book? See the electric fence Certificate of Compliance service, or local pages such as the certificate in Waterkloof.
Frequently asked questions
Is the electric fence certificate the same as the electrical COC?
No. They are separate certificates. A house with an electric fence needs both when it is sold.
Who can issue an electric fence certificate?
Only a registered Electric Fence System Installer, registered with the Department of Labour.
Does my old certificate still count after a repair?
A repaired, restrung, extended or upgraded fence must comply with SANS 10222-3, and the user must hold a valid certificate for the fence as it now is. Ask the installer whether a new one is needed.
Does my insurer require a certificate?
Policies differ. A compliance manager quoted by Property24 says non-compliance puts claims and liability cover at risk. Check your own policy wording with your insurer or broker.