What’s the deal with electric fence compliance certificates?
Home owners could have their insurance claims rejected or face criminal prosecution should they not have a compliance certificate for their electric fence, or if they used an uncertified electric fence installer, according to recent media reports.
However, feedback from OutSurance suggests that the consequences of using an uncertified installer may not be so dire – for the home owner at least.
New Electric Machinery Regulations
In an article on their company website, MD of Leapfrog Property Group, Bruce Swain, wrote that the certificate of compliance becomes important when selling a property.
“Property sellers now need to obtain Electric Fence System Compliance Certificates just like they need Electric and
Who can issue certificates of compliance?
The new Electric Machinery Regulations from the Department of Labour stipulate that “only a registered person may issue an electric fence system certificate”.
To register, installers must provide proof that they have successfully completed a “skills programme on Electric Fence System Installers from the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA)”.
According to Tongher, interim measures are being put in place and will involve co-operation of those companies that regularly run training courses in basic electric fence installation.
In addition to personal particulars, ID photos, and a signature sample, the Department of Labour also requires that installers pay a R120 application fee
Insurance claim rejection dangers?
Questioned about the reports that home owners might have an insurance claim declined if their fence were not properly certified or put up by an accredited installer, OutSurance said they would not dismiss claims based just on that.
“We will never repudiate a client’s claim because the installer did not adhere to some technical requirement,” a spokesperson for OutSurance told MyBroadband.
“As long as our client used a reputable installer and acted as any reasonable person would, then we would pay his claim and take recourse against the installer where relevant.”
