If the inspection fails, no Electrical Certificate of Compliance is issued. The contractor lists the faults. You decide whether to approve the repairs. After the work is done, the installation is checked again.
Why installations fail
Common faults are:
- no earth leakage, or an earth leakage that does not trip
- damaged or undersized wiring
- overloaded or incorrect circuit breakers
- a distribution board in poor condition
- missing labels, bonding or earthing
- earlier DIY or unregistered work
These are checked against SANS 10142-1. A certificate cannot be issued while they remain.
What you should receive
A proper failed inspection comes with a written list of the faults, not only a verbal “it failed”. The list should say what is wrong and what must be corrected. A quote for the repairs should follow, before any extra work starts.
You approve the quote. You are not obliged to use the same contractor for the repairs. The certificate can only be issued once the installation passes, by a registered electrical contractor.
After the repairs
The installation is inspected again. If it now meets the standard, the certificate is issued. If something still fails, that item is listed and the process repeats.
Do not pay for a certificate on a failed inspection. The certificate is the result of a pass.
What a fail means in practice
A sale can be delayed until the certificate is in place. A new connection can wait. An insurer can ask questions if a later claim involves the electrical installation. The owner or seller is usually the person who must get the installation to a pass before transfer.
How to reduce the chance of a fail
Use a registered contractor for new work. Do not do your own wiring. If you are selling, book the inspection early so repairs do not sit on the transfer date. If solar, an inverter or a new distribution board was added, say so when you book.
Phallies inspects in Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand and Johannesburg. If the inspection finds faults, we quote the repairs first and can do the work so you are not sent elsewhere for the certificate. Bookings: Lindie on 082 854 4540.
