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In addition, the Association will also be providing an additional service of registration of electrical contractors with the chief inspector next year in terms of the provisions of the EIR 2009. This service will provide both the general public and the DOL with a web based national database of all contractors who have unresolved complaints registered against them and those contractors who have Notices issued against them as pointed out in last months article. By means of registration with the AIA's, this will further provide a closer networking system between the Inspection Authorities, installers and the general public. Registered legitimate contractors should see this "name and shame" process as a mechanism whereby those with dubious business practices will finally be exposed. The association will also continue with its drive to market valid Certificate of Compliance documentation in line with legislation and to educate the general public in identifying all legislative criteria relating to the issue of Certificates of Compliance. Legitimate registered electrical contractors are urged to participate in these new processes which will have a marked improvement on the current situation in the country whereby their competitiveness will be enhanced in the face of extreme difficulty in competing with pirate operators. For further information, please contact the WCAEIA office. Call in the experts when installing alternatives Saturday Argus February 23, 2008 The power crisis has led to a scramble for alternative power sources but electrical inspectors warn that new connections and installations need to be done by qualified electricians or they could be dangerous. And incorrect wiring of appliances like geysers could in fact lead to a greater use of power. Peter Smuts, the Western Cape Approved Electrical Inspection Authority's general manager, said the installation of alternative equipment such as solar water heating panels and portable generators was increasing in popularity but the new installations had to be compliant. "We are inundated with queries from people wanting to do these installations with limited electrical knowledge. The concern is these queries come from so-called qualified persons." It is one thing to use a generator while camping or on a building site, but if an unqualified person connects it to a fixed installation, it could be dangerous. The Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Electrical Installation Regulations warn that these regulations should be adhered to: • Solar water heaters: when the metal water piping system is re-arranged to connect the solar system, electrical continuity must be ensured. The reconnection of the electrical wiring to the hot water cylinder needs a certificate of compliance issued. • Solar power: the installation must be certified by the manufacturer and installer if the voltage exceeds 50 volts. • There are a host of regulations when connecting a portable generator to a building. The generator and mains supply must not run in parallel. A change-over switch must be installed. The supply cable from the generator must be protected electrically and mechanically. The earthing electrode configuration must be confirmed and the generator unit must comply with SANS/ ISO 8528. "Users are warned that although the alternative electrical supply does not come from Eskom or a municipality, the voltage is just as lethal and if incorrectly installed can be just as dangerous," Smuts said He said homeowners and businesses should also ensure that the wiring was correct and professionally done as it could be using more power. "When people upgrade their geysers and the wiring is not properly done this can draw more power than needed." Public Warned to Install Alternative Power Safely Cape Times 18 January 2008 The Western Cape electricity inspectorate is being flooded with calls from people eager to install solar heaters and other power alternatives, but who don't know how. Click here to view the Article from The Cape Times Newspaper. House wiring standards shocking The Times 14 October 2007 New home owners might be in for a shock - literally. A shortage of qualified electricians is leading to dangerously low safety standards, the body responsible for wiring certification warns. Click here to view the Article from The Times Newspaper. Invalid Electrical Appliance Certificates a Current Trend Cape Argus 5 October 2007 Thousands of invalid electrical certificates of compliance have probably been issued for properties bought and sold since 1994, says the Western Cape Approved Electrical Inspection Authority. Click here to view the Article from Cape Argus Newspaper. Cape Business News 11 Jul 2007 Do's and Dont's of gensets PORTABLE electrical generators offer great benefits when outages affect a electrical installation if they are correctly installed. The Western Cape Electrical Inspection Authority points out though that one should not connect generators directly to the electrical main switch. Connecting a portable electrical generator directly to a electrical installation can be deadly. A generator that is directly connected to your electrical installation can 'backfeed' onto the power lines connected to your electrical installation. Should this method be used, the Supply Authority transformers can then "step-up" or increase the backfeed to thousands of volts-enough to seriously injure a linesman making outage repairs a long way from your electrical installation. You could also cause expensive damage to the supply authorities' equipment and your generator. The only approved method to connect a portable electric generator to your existing electrical installation is to have a licensed electrical contractor install the correct changeover switch. The changeover switch disconnects the power from the supply authority to the generator. Never may the two supplies operate in parallel. To prevent electrical shock, make sure your generator is properly earthed. Ensure that your electrical contractor meets with the minimum requirements regarding the earthing of your portable / fixed generator by providing you with a valid Electrical Certificate of Compliance. This will ensure that your electrical installation is safe, according to the Authority. Also, do not plug a portable electric generator into a standard electrical socket outlet. Plugging a generator into a standard electrical socket outlet can energize 'dead' power lines and injure neighbors or linesman. Connect individual appliances that have their outdoor-rated power cords directly to the receptacle outlet of the generator, or connect these cord-connected appliances to the generator with the appropriate outdoor-rated power cord having a sufficient wire gauge to handle the electrical load. Never use a generator indoors or in an attached building. Just like your automobile, a portable generator uses an internal combustion engine that emits deadly carbon monoxide. Be sure to place the generator where exhaust fumes will not enter the building. Only operate it outdoor in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the building, and protected from direct exposure to adverse weather, preferably under a canopy, open shed or carport. Krag van opwekker gee dalk doodskok Rapport. June 21, 2007 By Julian Jansen Mense wat vaste draagbare kragwekkers gebruik om elektriese installasis tydelik van krag te voorsien as daar kragonderbrekings is, moet seker maak dat hulle aan die vereistes van die Wet op Beroepsgesondheid en eiligheid voldoen Click here to view the Article from Rapport Newspaper. Incorrectly installed electrical generators are dangerous Argus Action. June 06, 2007 By MAUREEN MARUD Beware of making the potentially fatal mistake of plugging a portable electrical generator into a standard power point. A generator directly connected to a home's electrical installation can cause death, injury and substantial damage, warns Peter Smuts, general manager of the Western Cape Approved Electrical Inspection Authority. "Directly connected to the electrical main switch, a generator can 'back feed' on to the power lines," said Smuts. If Eskom's transformers increased the back feed to thousands of volts, a linesman repairing outages a long way from the installation could be seriously injured. "You could also cause expensive damage to the supply authorities' equipment and your generator," said Smuts. Chris Watermeyer, supplier of permanently installed generators, agreed. "Two portable generators that were plugged in to back feed to lights both exploded when Eskom power came back on. In one case, people died. Both generators caused major fires. People are unaware of how dangerous this can be." Permanently installed, bigger generators had automatic mains failure control panels that ensured the power they generated did not conflict with Eskom power. "You are either drawing generator power or Eskom power, but never both at the same time," said Watermeyer. Smuts said the only approved way of connecting a portable electrical generator to an existing electrical installation was to have a registered contractor install the correct changeover switch. "The changeover switch disconnects the power from the supply authority to the generator. "Ask your electrical contractor to give you a valid certificate of compliance after installing and earthing your portable or fixed generator. This will ensure that the installation is safe. "Be sure to place the generator where exhaust fumes will not enter the building. "Only operate it outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the building, preferably under a canopy, open shed or carport," Smuts said. Guidelines for installing a generator are available from the South African Bureau of Standards. For further information, contact the electrical inspection authority on 021 987 3010 or visit the website www.wcaeia.co.za Consumer Safeguards Questioned Out-of-date, fraudulent electrical certificate leads to law suit. Click here to view the Article from Argus Action News |
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