An electrical certificate of compliance (CoC) is the certificate that the Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009 require every user or lessor of an electrical installation to hold. It must be in the prescribed form (Annexure 1), come with a test report, and be issued by a registered person.
If you are selling a property, the Department of Employment and Labour says a valid CoC must be obtained and provided before the sale or transfer. The sections below cover who may issue the certificate, what it must include, when you need a new one and where to check.
Business Requirements at a Glance
- Who must have one: every user or lessor of an electrical installation, who must produce it on request to an inspector, a supplier or an approved inspection authority
- Who may issue it: only a registered person, and only after inspecting and testing the installation
- What you get: the Annexure 1 certificate plus a test report in the format approved by the chief inspector
- Additions and alterations: a certificate is needed for at least the addition or alteration
- Change of ownership: the regulations bar a change of ownership if the CoC is older than two years
- Older installations: an installation that existed before 23 October 1992, with no change of ownership after 1 March 1994, does not need a certificate unless it is added to or altered
Registration and Legal Requirements
The CoC rules sit in the Electrical Installation Regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. A registered person is registered with the chief inspector in one of these categories:
- Electrical tester for single phase: single-phase supply installations, excluding specialised installations
- Installation electrician: installations other than specialised installations
- Master installation electrician: any electrical installation
Being a qualified electrician is not enough on its own. A person who is not registered may not issue a certificate, and a registered contractor may not issue one on behalf of an unregistered individual. The Department says doing so is a criminal offence and can lead to the contractor losing their registration.
A registered person may issue the certificate and test report only after satisfying themselves, by inspection and test, that the installation complies. Anyone who does installation work must also make sure that a valid certificate is issued for it, and a certificate may not be amended.
Documents and Ownership Information Required
A valid CoC package has two parts:
- The certificate of compliance in the Annexure 1 form
- The test report in the format approved by the chief inspector
Ask the registered person for both, and keep them with your property documents so you can produce them to an inspector, a supplier or an approved inspection authority when asked.
Who needs the paperwork depends on the transaction. The regulations put the duty on the user or lessor of the installation. On a sale, the Department says the seller must provide a valid CoC before transfer, and that a seller whose installation is later found non-compliant is held accountable for rectifying defects and obtaining a new CoC at their own expense. Ask your conveyancer what the transfer process needs.
Tax, Licence and Compliance Requirements
A CoC is a safety compliance document under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The regulations do not set a price for an inspection, so ask registered persons what they charge before you book.
Compliance points to watch:
- A certificate is not a general permit that lasts a fixed period. The two-year rule applies to changes of ownership: the user or lessor may not allow a change of ownership if the certificate is older than two years (regulation 7(5) of the Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009).
- If an installation that already has a certificate is added to or altered, you must obtain a certificate for at least the addition or alteration.
- The installation has to comply with the health and safety standard incorporated into the regulations. Ask your registered person which standard they tested against.
If you want to become a registered person yourself, you apply to the chief inspector on Annexure 5 and pay the prescribed registration fee. You need sufficient knowledge of the rules and practical experience in the category. The fee amount is set by the regulations and the Department, so ask the Department for the current figure.
Process, Deadlines and Ongoing Obligations
- Find a registered person and ask for their registration category. Check that it covers your installation, and verify the registration with the Department of Employment and Labour.
- Have the installation inspected and tested. Any defects must be fixed before the certificate and test report can be issued.
- Collect the Annexure 1 certificate and the test report and keep them safe.
- On a sale, provide the valid certificate before transfer, as the Department requires, and ask your conveyancer how it should be handed over. Do this early, since repairs take time.
- After any addition or alteration, get a new certificate covering at least the new work.
If your certificate is older than two years and ownership is about to change, plan for a fresh inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the requirement for an electrical CoC certificate in South Africa?
The user or lessor of an electrical installation must hold a valid Annexure 1 certificate with a test report. Only a registered person (single-phase tester, installation electrician or master installation electrician) may issue it, and only after inspecting and testing the installation. The certificate must be produced on request to an inspector, a supplier or an approved inspection authority.
Who may issue an electrical CoC?
Only a registered person, in a category that covers your installation. A registered contractor may not issue one on behalf of an unregistered person.
How long is it valid?
The regulations do not give a general expiry date, but they bar a change of ownership if the CoC is older than two years. A new or additional certificate is needed after an addition or alteration. Confirm anything unusual with the Department of Employment and Labour.
Who pays on a property sale?
The Department says the seller must obtain and provide a valid CoC before transfer, and a seller whose installation is later found non-compliant must rectify defects and get a new CoC at their own expense. See the Department’s notice on electrical installation laws and certificates.
Do I need a CoC for an older installation?
Not if the installation existed before 23 October 1992 and ownership has not changed since 1 March 1994. If you add to or alter it, you need a certificate.
Check the Electrical Installation Regulations and the Department of Employment and Labour at labour.gov.za for the current position. See business and compliance requirements and company registration requirements.