Electric fence Certificate of Compliance in Pretoria
Selling a house, or told your electric fence needs a certificate? The electric fence certificate of compliance is a separate compliance job, not an installation. We connect you with an installer who does certificate inspections in your part of Pretoria.
What the certificate is
The document is called the Electric Fence System Certificate of Compliance. It 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 certificate form). People often call it the electric fence COC or the electric fence certificate.
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), and it has been enforced since 1 October 2012 (source: ECA(SA)).
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)). An electrician who is not registered as an EFSI cannot issue it, and neither can this website. We do not inspect, test or certify fences.
Before you book an inspection, ask the installer for proof of their EFSI registration. When you receive the certificate, check that it names the installer and your property, and keep the original with your house papers.
When you need one
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)). In practice, Pretoria homeowners usually meet the certificate at one of these moments:
- Selling a property: both the electrical Certificate of Compliance and the electric fence certificate must be lodged with the conveyancing attorney before transfer (sources: ECA(SA); Property24).
- After work on the fence: a new fence, a repair, restringing, an extension or an upgrade.
- When you cannot find the certificate for a fence that is already there, for example after buying a house.
- When a body corporate or estate asks owners or contractors for proof that the fence complies.
It is not the same as the electrical COC
The electric fence certificate is separate from the electrical Certificate of Compliance for the wiring in the house. Eskom's own 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). If you are selling, your conveyancer will usually want both, so ask early whether one inspection visit can cover them or whether you need two people.
What happens at the inspection
The installer looks at the fence as it stands and checks 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 visit covers the energizer and how it is mounted, the earthing, the strands, insulators and brackets, the warning signs, gate sections and how the fence sits in relation to the boundary.
If the fence complies, the installer issues the certificate. If it does not, they tell you what must be fixed. That might be missing or faded warning signs, broken insulators, an energizer that is not suitable, or poor earthing. Once the remedial work is done, the fence is checked again and the certificate can be issued. This is why a certificate job sometimes becomes a small repair job first.
Insurance: what is sourced, and what is not
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).
Policies differ, so check your own policy wording with your insurer or broker. This is general information, not legal advice.
Certificate inspections by suburb
We have local pages for certificate work in Moreleta Park, Waterkloof, Montana, Eldoraigne and Irene. Our full guide to the electric fence certificate in Pretoria goes into more detail, including what to do when a sale date is close.
What moves the quote
We do not publish prices. The installer quotes you directly once they understand the job. These are the factors that usually make the difference:
- The length of the fence and the number of zones the installer must inspect and test.
- How easy the energizer, earth spikes and the full length of the fence are to reach.
- Whether the fence already complies, or the inspection finds remedial work first.
- What remedial work is needed: warning signs, insulators, brackets, wire, earthing or the energizer.
- Whether you need the electrical Certificate of Compliance for the house at the same time.
- How close your transfer date is, if you are selling.
Our guide to what moves an electric fence quote in Pretoria explains how to compare quotes fairly.
Electric fence Certificate of Compliance by suburb
Frequently asked questions
Can any electrician issue an electric fence certificate?
No. Only a registered Electric Fence System Installer, registered with the Department of Labour, may issue the Electric Fence System Certificate of Compliance.
Do I need an electric fence certificate to sell my house?
If the property has an electric fence, both the electrical Certificate of Compliance and the electric fence certificate must be lodged with the conveyancing attorney before transfer. Your conveyancer will confirm what they need for your sale.
What if my fence fails the inspection?
The installer tells you what must be fixed. Once that work is done, the fence is checked again and the certificate can be issued.
Does a repair or upgrade need a new certificate?
Yes. A repaired, re-installed, restrung, extended or upgraded electric fence must comply with SANS 10222-3, and the user must hold a valid certificate for it.
Will this website issue my certificate?
No. This website connects you with installers. It does not inspect, test or certify fences and does not issue certificates.
Other electric fence services
Request electric fence quotes
Fields marked * are required. We use these details only to pass your enquiry to an electric fence installer who covers your area. See our privacy policy.