We have extracted only what is most relevant to you and given the best explanations we can regarding the Act and SANS standards.

The Law and Electric Fencing – Health and Safety Act 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)

As mentioned on our Electric fence Tab, the Department of Labour has made certain amendments to the Electrical Machinery Regulations within Act on the 25^th of March 2011. The amendments relate specifically to the electric fencing industry and are therefore relevant to electric fence installers, manufacturers, and you, the end user.

It was published to ensure the safety of the citizens of South Africa with regards to all electrical systems and appliances from:

1.    Inadvertently receiving possibly dangerous shocks from badly situated or poorly erected electric fences.

2.    Prevent interference from radios, TV’s and telephones caused by non-compliant energizers, poor earthing and other unacceptable installation practices.

3.    Protect consumers by specifying minimum fencing material quality standards.

The Act and relevant SANS Standards and Codes of Practice applicable to non-lethal electric fencing.

In the Government Gazette of the Republic of South Africa (Regulation Gazette No. 9509, Vol. 549, published in Pretoria on the 25^th of March 2011, No. 34154), under Section 12 to 16 Electric Fence, the legislation covers the safety standard requirements for the manufacture of electric fence energizers and for the erection and installation of electric fence systems, as well as the relevant laws for installers, users, and lessors of such systems:

These Standards have very stringent requirements that have to be met by the manufacturers of non-lethal electric fence energizers. It is required that all non-lethal energizers now sold, must be tested and certified by an internationally recognized test laboratory confirming that they comply with these standards in order to receive a certificate of compliance for their energizers.

SANS 60333-2-76:2006 Edition 2.1 Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety Part 2-76 Particular requirements for electric fences.

It is basically the same as IEC 60333-2-76:2006 Edition 2.1 which is the internationally accepted safety standards document recognized by most countries around the world.

There are some annexures on the back of SANS 60333-2-76 relating to the installation of electric fence systems. These are the generally accepted international standards. The Department of Labour has felt that it is necessary to add to these codes of practice due to the increasing levels of crime in our country which have resulted in an excessive increase of non-lethal electric fences in urban areas being installed.

SANS 10222-3:2011 Electric security installations Part 3: Electric fences (non-lethal) and SANS 10222-4:2010 Electric security installations Part 4 Electric fence energizers. 

These codes of practice relate to the installation of non-lethal electric fences. SANS 10222-4:2010, which relates more specifically to the installation of the security energizers and monitoring systems, will be incorporated into the SANS 10222-3:2011 document, if it has not already been finalised.

Requirements of manufacturers and installers as well as certifications.

Manufacturers and installers must abide by the new regulations and must be able to produce Certificates of Registration, Competence and Compliance.

As of 1st October 2012 all installers must either be in the process of becoming registered or be registered already.

Applications must be sent to the chief inspector with the prescribed registration fee. If they have sufficient knowledge of the applicable safety standards and the chief inspector is satisfied, he will furnish them with a Certificate of Registration. They will then be entered into the national database.

The registered person needs to complete examinations that the Department of Health have set up. Examinations are both theoretical and practical.

Even installers who have extensive knowledge and numerous years of experience need to complete these exams. Unfortunately, government has only recently put in structures regarding installer training and, therefore, there are at present only a few registered installers.

Installers need to comply with the new laws as well as to comply with inspectors and must be able to produce their Certificate of Registration on request. If a registered person does not comply either way, warnings will be issued. If after due process, they still fail to respond or comply with the requests of the inspectors and the laws, they will have their certificate revoked.

There is a list of penalties for people who contravene the Act, which is basically a prison sentence of up to 12 months and should the offence be continuous, an additional fine of R 200.00 per day spanning over 3 months will be issued.

Electric Fence System Certificate of Compliance (EFC)

In Clause 12(4), it is stated that “every user or lessor of an electric fence system shall have an electric fence certificate”. The Electric Fence System Certificate of Compliance (EFC) is similar to the electrical certificate which is issued by electricians.

Only a registered person, who has passed the Department of Labour's exams, and has a Certificate of Competence, Compliance and Registration, may issue an EFC. An electrician MAY NOT issue an EFCunless he has written and passed the examinations set out by the Department of Labour for Electric Fence Systems.

EFC’s need to be issued to prove that installations, upgrades and or repairs as well as the components used, comply with the law.

This does not apply to fences that were erected prior to 1st October 2012 unless you have had an upgrade or repairs done after this date. The installer who first installed and worked on the fence should have (but some seldom do) complied with the regulations of the old laws.

If you are thinking about, or are in the process of, selling your property, and a fence was installed before this date, a registered installer will have to be contacted to do an evaluation of the fence in order to issue a certificate as this will affect the transfer and sale of the property. If your fence is compliant, you will receive your certificate. If not, you will be quoted on components needed to bring your fence to the level of compliance.

Safety and installation requirements of the SANS standards.

These are the most important points that have been extracted from the SANS codes which installers must observe.

An installer needs to plan an installation or repair correctly in such a manner as not to cause any unnecessary safety hazards to the public or that any surrounding structures will not cause interference. For example, do not install a fence too high that an employee working on overhanging communications or power lines will be injured by the fence or too low that a meter reader will get shocked when doing the readings.

Purchase only components from a manufacturer or supplier that has the necessary certification. And install all the components as stipulated in the Act and SANS Standards.

Conclusion

So in a nutshell, hire only a registered installer, ask him for his certificates. That way, you will know that your fence is compliant and that you will not have issues should you sell the property one day and most importantly, your fence will be there to protect you instead of causing harm to your family.