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Regulations mandate that only competent persons , as defined by the Act , carry out such work . Specific provisions under the Construction Regulations emphasize the need for qualified personnel and stringent safety measures on construction sites .
2 . Working on the Electrical Aspects of Fixed Hot Storage Water Heaters SANS 10254 is a compulsory South African National Standard covering the safe installation , maintenance , replacement and repair of fixed electric storage water heating systems requires that the electrical wiring system shall comply with SANS 10142- 1 ( Part 1 : Low-voltage installations )
SANS 10254 – Ref 4.4 Electrical installation The electrical wiring system shall comply with SANS 10142-1 and the water heater shall be connected to the electrical supply in an approved manner .
Plumbers , unless registered as qualified electricians , must not perform electrical installation work .
Instructing a plumber or any other person / s to do electrical work for which they are not competent is strongly discouraged and may place the plumber in a situation where he breaks the law , not only is it illegal but may result in unsafe installations that may lead to end users being exposed to serious risks such as fires , shocks , injury and death . Failing to comply may result in severe penalties , fines and imprisonment .
4 . Relocating Geysers and Electrical Compliance Certificates Relocating a fixed storage water heater ( Geyser ) requires a qualified electrician to calculate necessary specifications , testing and issue a new Certificate of Compliance ( CoC ) for the electrical aspect of such installation . This ensures all work adheres to safety and compliance to the standards , maintaining accountability for any modifications made .
Considering the Governance and Legal Framework for Electrical Installations as mentioned in point 1 , only competent and qualified electricians , operating under the supervision of registered electrical contractors , may work on electrical aspects of fixed hot storage water heaters . This ensures that all work is performed safely and in compliance with regulations .
3 . Role of Qualified Plumber in Electrical Work The plumbing curriculum and trade test doesn ’ t include training and testing for electrical competencies and the same is true for the electrical trade test which excludes plumbing competencies aspects .
5 . Temporary Electrical Work by Plumbers Plumbers cannot legally disconnect , remove or reconnect electrical work at a hot storage water heater ( Geyser ), even temporarily . Such actions must be performed by a registered electrician to ensure compliance and safety . Plumbers must remain vigilant and avoid compromising safety regulations to protect themselves and the end users .
6 . PV / DC Control Systems including timers and other control units . The installation of Photovoltaic ( PV ) and Direct Current ( DC ) control systems , including those connected to geysers , falls
Left to right : Mathys de Jager , Steve van Zyl , Kurt Lubbers , Anthony Schewitz and Steve Brown .
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline November 2024 Volume 30 I Number 9