When buying or selling a property, an Electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) can sound more reassuring than it is. Some people assume it confirms that every light, plug, appliance and electrical feature in the property works.
That is not what the certificate is for. A CoC is about the safety and compliance of the property’s fixed electrical installation. It is not a full functionality check of everything that uses electricity.
What is a CoC?
In South Africa, a registered person issues a CoC after inspecting and testing the electrical installation. The certificate relates to whether the installation meets the applicable safety requirements. It must be accompanied by a test report. (www.labour.gov.za) The fixed installation generally includes the distribution board, wiring, switches, plug outlets and fixed lights. The certificate records the installation’s condition when it was inspected. It cannot guarantee that nothing will change afterwards: damage, deterioration or later electrical work may affect its safety. (www.saflii.org)
What a CoC does not confirm
A CoC is not a promise that:
- every light, plug or electrical feature has been checked as part of a full property condition survey;
- every appliance works, including ovens, extractor fans, garage motors or pool equipment;
- every electrical item will keep working after the inspection;
- electrical work carried out after the inspection is covered by the certificate.
Portable or plug-in appliances are generally separate from the fixed installation. If a buyer wants to know whether an oven, gate motor or other included item works, that should be checked separately and recorded clearly in the sale agreement. The Department of Employment and Labour describes the CoC as applying to the electrical installation, rather than as a general guarantee that every electrical item in the property works. (www.gov.za)
Safe does not always mean fully functional
An electrical item can fail to operate without that alone proving that the installation is unsafe. Equally, something may appear to work but still have a safety defect that is not obvious to a buyer.
A CoC and a functionality check answer different questions:
- CoC: Has the fixed electrical installation been inspected and certified as compliant and safe at the time of inspection?
- Functionality check: Do the lights, appliances and other listed items operate as expected?
A CoC should not be treated as a substitute for either a property inspection or a written list of items the seller confirms are working.
Who can issue a CoC?
A CoC must be issued by a registered person. The Electrical Installation Regulations recognise three registration categories:
- Electrical Tester for Single Phase (ETSP): may certify qualifying single-phase installations within their approved scope.
- Installation Electrician (IE): may certify installations within their approved scope, excluding specialised installations.
- Master Installation Electrician (MIE): may certify any electrical installation, including specialised installations.
The registered person must have the knowledge and practical experience required for their category, and must inspect and test the installation before issuing the certificate. A company’s registration as an electrical contractor is a separate requirement; the individual named on the CoC must also hold the appropriate registered-person status. (www.labour.gov.za) A trade qualification or experience as an electrician, by itself, does not establish that someone is authorised to issue a CoC.
How can a consumer check the electrician’s registration?
Ask the electrician for their Department of Employment and Labour registration certificate and registration number. Check that:
- Their registration category is suitable for the installation being certified.
- The person signing the CoC is the same registered person whose details appear on it.
- The CoC includes the required test report.
The regulations say a registered person must produce their registration certificate when asked by someone to whom they intend to issue a CoC. If you are unsure whether the registration is genuine or current, contact the Department of Employment and Labour to verify it. (www.labour.gov.za)
Solar panels, inverters and batteries
A fixed solar or backup-power system connected to the property’s wiring—including its inverter, batteries and solar panels—forms part of the electrical installation. The system needs to be inspected, tested and covered by a CoC. If it was added after the property’s existing CoC was issued, ask for documentation that covers the later work; the original certificate does not automatically certify additions made afterwards. (www.labour.gov.za) A grid-connected system may also need to be registered with the local municipality or electricity supplier. That registration is a separate process and does not replace the CoC. (www.eskom.co.za)
Who can certify a solar installation?
The person signing off a solar PV installation must be an Installation Electrician or Master Installation Electrician registered with the Department of Employment and Labour. The Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa says an ETSP does not have authority to issue the CoC for the solar PV installation. An ETSP may be able to certify the relevant single-phase AC portion within their scope, but the PV installation needs an IE or MIE to sign it off. (ecasa.co.za)
The same electrician can issue the property’s electrical CoC and certify the solar addition if they are appropriately registered as an IE or MIE and competent to inspect and test the system. If the electrician who issued the home’s existing CoC is only registered as an ETSP, an IE or MIE will be needed to certify the PV installation. The registration category determines who is legally authorised to certify the installation. Because solar systems have specific design, equipment and testing requirements, owners should also choose an electrician with relevant solar PV experience. Solar-specific training, such as PV GreenCard, may help demonstrate that experience, but it does not replace the required IE or MIE registration.
In Summary
An electrical Certificate of Compliance is an important safety document, but it is not a guarantee that every appliance or electrical component in a property works. It confirms that the fixed electrical installation has been inspected and complies with the relevant safety requirements at the time of testing. Buyers and sellers should also verify the electrician’s registration, ensure that any solar, inverter and battery systems are properly certified, and record the working condition of included appliances separately.
LWP Properties | Beyond the Sale
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