Below is an article published in The Star
newspaper on 15/5/2013. The article
discusses very briefly the responsibility of property owners and tenants of
properties which have electric fences in terms of the new electrical machinery
regulations act. While this article
refers to urban fencing, it is important to note that these regulations also
apply to electric fences in rural areas including security, game and
agricultural fences. Owners or tenants
of properties who do not comply with these regulations may be liable to a fine
or imprisonment or both. TNH Fencing are
registered with the Department of Labour to install electric fences and issue
compliance certificates, so please contact us if you need assistance in this
regard.
New electric fence regulation to be implemented
May 15 2013 at 02:29pm
By CHARLOTTE CHIPANGURA
By CHARLOTTE CHIPANGURA
INLSA
A new regulation stipulates
that electric fences should be certified before a property can be sold.
Picture: Boxer Ngwenya
Johannesburg - Property
owners are going to have to be more careful about who they contract to install
electric fences so as to comply with a new regulation.
This regulation stipulates
that all electric fences be certified and come with an electric fence system
certificate of compliance, as reflected in Regulation 12 of the Electric
Machinery Regulations of 2011.
This applies only to
systems that came into existence after October 1 last year.
However, it also will apply
in cases where the system is altered or added to, or where the premises changes
ownership after October 1 this year.
Any property transfer after
that date, therefore, carries with it the obligation to provide a certificate
if there is an electric fence in place.
All properties – including
residential, commercial and sectional titles within complexes – must comply.
A number of people have
complained about the regulation on social networks, with many saying the it was
meant to protect burglars.
“Next they will tell me to
remove my burglar proofing because a burglar might get stuck in it and hurt
himself… This is total insanity. I’ll remove my fence when they remove the
criminals,” said one.
SA Electric Fences
Association founder member Etien van der Merwe said the regulation actually
protected innocent people within the property. He added that electrical output
from fences had always been regulated.
“Energisers are controlled:
the electrical machinery regulations stipulate a certain output. Adjusting
fences to be more lethal is actually illegal.”
The regulation would ensure
installers were held accountable and minimise fly-by-night installers.
Failure to have a
compliance certificate could cost one a great deal, said John Graham, the chief
executive of House-check Home Inspection Services.
“If you don’t have the
certificate, you can’t sell your house, and if somebody gets hurt by a
non-compliant fence, you could get sued.”
He said electrical fence
installers had to write an examination and be registered with the Department of
Labour by October 1 this year.
What makes an electric
fence compliant?
* It must be installed by a
registered electric fence installer, not a non-specialist company.
* Owner must have a
certificate of compliance.
* Output should not be
adjusted to make it more lethal.
* Warning signs of a fence
visible from driveway and pavement.
* Fence should not overhang
a neighbour’s yard or a pavement.
Penalties for
non-compliance
* You cannot sell a
property without the certificate.
* If someone gets hurt by
an electric fence on your property, you could be sued.
* You may have to upgrade
to compliance or be forced to remove the fence.
charlotte.chipangura@inl.co.za
The Star
