TECHNICAL TALK
Adaptors can be a danger to the South African consumer
By SABS
The increased use of devices and appliances has resulted in the increased use of adaptors as well as adaptors-on-adaptors in South Africa . This creates a risk of fires , short circuiting and damage or malfunction of appliances .
South African National Standard ( SANS ) 164-0 covers
the specific requirements for plugs , sockets and adaptors and will lead to a new range of plugs and sockets in South Africa . The South African Bureau of Standards ( SABS ) demonstrated the new range of plugs and sockets in a virtual media briefing .
“ With the array of appliances and devices that have become commonplace in today ’ s world , it is critical to ensure that the plugs and sockets are also changing to accommodate the more compact designs of plugs . New homes and offices should be fitted with the sockets according to the latest revision of SANS 164-0 and the different parts . We need to be aware of the improved switching arrangements of switched socket-outlets , the inclusion of the SANS 164-2 , compact design for 16A plugs and most importantly the warnings that advises consumers not to use multiple adaptors , plugged into one another ,” says Jodi Scholtz , Lead Administrator of SABS .
“ SANS 164-0 covers the general requirements for plugs and socket-outlets and is considered the base document for all the plugs and socket-outlets systems in South Africa . Every new building should have these new SANS 164-2 type of sockets and all appliances should be fitted with the new plugs . South Africa has been lagging with the implementation of these global changes and the continued use of adaptors onto adaptors will just lead to more dangerous electricity usage and malfunctioning of appliances ,” warns Gianfranco Campetti , Chairperson of the Technical Committee responsible for the development of SANS 164 series of standards .
Campetti explains that since the 1900 ’ s British standards have guided South African installations and appliances . In the 1960 ’ s British standards for plugs and socket-outlets introduced a “ flat pin ” design , not adopted by South Africa , which continued to use the large round pin ( SANS 164-1 ) design , still in use today . Since then , there have been 21 different types of plugs introduced , of various configurations and ratings . Most buildings still contain the traditional large 3-pin sockets , and this has led to an increased use of adaptors . The revisions to the standard , published in July 2020 incorporates changes in technology covered in SANS 60884-1 : Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes . SANS 60884-1 is an adoption of the International Electrotechnical Commission ( IEC ) 60884-1 standard which also covers the general requirements for plugs and socket-outlets .
NEW SOCKET INSTALLATIONS :
In the last few years , various iterations of the new design have been available on the market , which accommodate the following type of plugs :
ALL IMAGES : SABS www . saaffordablehousing . co . za JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 27