Electric fence COC inspections in the Midvaal and Joburg South
Selling your house? We inspect and test your electric fence and issue the certificate if it passes. If it doesn’t, you get a written list of what to fix and what it costs.
Registered electric fence installer · Since 1995
The agent wants the fence certificate, and transfer day is coming
- The conveyancer has asked for an electric fence certificate.
- You’re not sure the old certificate still counts, or you can’t find it.
- Someone else put the fence up, years ago.
- You don’t know if it would pass.
We inspect, test and certify, usually within working days
- We check the fence against SANS 10222-3: height, brackets, signs, earthing, the energiser and every zone’s voltage.
- If it doesn’t, you get a written list of every problem and a price to fix it. Nothing is done until you approve it.
Transfer date set?
Three steps from booking to certificate
- Book. Send us your suburb, the transfer date, who installed the fence (fine if you don’t know) and two or three photos of the energiser and the fence.
- We inspect and test. We check every point the standard asks for and record each zone’s voltage.
- Certificate, or a list and a price. If it passes, you get the certificate.
One inspection fee, with the certificate included if it passes
- Repairs, if needed: quoted in writing first. We never go over a quote without your OK.
Book now and you’ll have an answer well before transfer day.
The fence certificate is separate from the electrical COC, and you need both
Its full name is the Electric Fence System Certificate of Compliance. It comes from regulation 12 of the Electrical Machinery Regulations, 2011, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It says the fence was inspected, tested and meets SANS 10222-3.
The electrical COC covers your house wiring. The fence certificate covers the fence.
You need one for any fence put up, changed or sold after 1 October 2012
- any electric fence installed after 1 October 2012
- any fence added to or altered, including a new energiser
- when a property with an electric fence changes hands
A fence that went up before 1 October 2012 and hasn’t changed doesn’t need one, until the property is sold.
The certificate doesn’t expire, but a change to the fence means a new one
The regulations put no expiry date on it, and it transfers to the new owner. “Valid for two years” belongs to the electrical wiring COC, not the fence certificate.
You may still need a new one when:
- the fence was added to or changed since, including a new energiser
- the certificate is lost, or there never was one
- the buyer, bank or conveyancer wants a recent inspection on an older fence
Not sure? Send us a photo of the old certificate and the energiser. We’ll tell you honestly.
What the inspection checks, in plain words
The standard is SANS 10222-3 (current edition 2023).
- Height: facing a public road or pavement, the lowest live wire is at least 1.5 m up, or behind a barrier at least 1.5 m high.
- Brackets: angled brackets lean out 45° at most, on your side. Not over a neighbour’s property without their consent.
- Signs: yellow signs no more than 10 m apart along public roads and paths, and at every gate and access point. The 2023 edition adds corners.
- Earthing: earth leads in conduit and visible, not buried.
- Energiser: a SANS 60335-2-76 test certificate, a healthy output and lightning protection.
- Razor and barbed wire: never electrified, never touching the live wires.
- Gates: an electrified gate opens and closes without shocking the person using it.
- Voltage: every zone tested and recorded.
Most fences fail on small things, and we tell you exactly which
- too few warning signs, or none at the corners
- earth leads buried, broken or missing
- angled brackets leaning over the neighbour’s side
- razor wire touching the live strands
- no certificate or label on the energiser
- the lowest live wire too low on a short street-facing wall
If the fence fails, the law says we can’t issue the certificate until it’s fixed. If anything is dangerous, we tell you in writing straight away.
Want to know before you list the house?
Estates need one certificate for the whole perimeter, not one per unit
A fence on common property is the body corporate’s or HOA’s responsibility. One certificate covers the scheme. A new one is needed after the fence is altered, not each time a unit sells. We inspect the whole perimeter and give the trustees a written report.
Estate agents and conveyancers: send us the transfer date and we’ll handle the rest
Send the suburb, the seller’s name and number, and the transfer date. We book the inspection with the seller and keep you posted.
Questions
Questions people ask us
How long is an electric fence COC valid?
The regulations give it no expiry date, and it transfers to the new owner if nothing has changed. A new one is needed after the fence is altered or added to, including a new energiser. Some buyers and conveyancers still ask for a recent inspection on an older fence.
Who can issue an electric fence certificate?
Only an electric fence installer registered with the Department of Employment and Labour. An electrician can’t issue it unless they’re registered as an electric fence installer too.
Do I need an electric fence COC to sell my house?
Yes, if your property has an electric fence. You’ll need one when you sell, and conveyancers ask for it along with the electrical COC. Who pays is usually set out in the offer to purchase, and it’s normally the seller.
Is the electric fence certificate the same as the electrical COC?
No. They’re two separate certificates. The electrical COC covers your house wiring and comes from an electrician. The electric fence certificate covers the fence and comes from a registered electric fence installer.
What happens if my electric fence fails the COC?
We can’t issue the certificate until the problems are fixed. You get a written list and a quote, and nothing is done until you approve it. Once it’s fixed, we re-test and issue the certificate.
Get in touch
Selling? Book your fence inspection with a registered installer today.
Inspected, tested and certified, or a clear list and a price. Since 1995, from Walkerville.
- 083 659 0957, calls and WhatsApp
- 114 Main St, Walkerville, 1876
- matthew@saxmoore.co.za