Make sure your electric fence complies, says expert

In a society where property owners are obsessed with security, for many electric fencing is an essential part of their security armour, whether for private property or institutions.

Currently there seems to be great uncertainty and ignorance among the owners of houses, institutions such as hospitals and clinics, factories, townhouse complexes and other types of secured properties about the most recent legislation regarding electric fencing.

The Record spoke to registered electric fence installer Peet Mulder to gain some clarity.

According to Mulder when homeowners decide to sell their home and there is an electric fence on the property, a certificate of compliance must be issued. This is similar to the home’s electrical compliance certificate but separate, pertaining only to electric fencing. This certificate will be valid for two years and is transferable.

In the case of homeowners it is important to note that the onus rests on the buyer of the house and not the seller to obtain the certificate. The same goes for complexes and other institutions where the onus rests on the management to ensure that their electric fencing complies with the new regulations.

Furthermore it is very important to note that only installers registered with the South African Electrical Fencing Installers Association (Saefia) and the Department of Labour will be allowed to do inspections and issue certificates once the fence complies with all the legislation.

Also, only these registered installers are allowed to install fences and afterwards issue certificates. The owner will be held liable for injury and death resulting from a fence that was installed by a non-registered installer. Currently there are only 300 registered installers across the country.

For full article and a condensed list of requirements read next week’s edition of the Record.

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Roodepoort — In a society where property owners are obsessed with security, for many electric fencing is an essential part of their security armour, whether for private property or institutions.

Currently there seems to be great uncertainty and ignorance among owners of houses, institutions such as hospitals and clinics, factories, townhouse complexes and other types of secured properties about the most recent legislation regarding electric fencing.

The Record spoke to registered electric fence installer, Peet Mulder to gain some clarity.

According to Mulder when homeowners decide to sell their home and there is an electric fence on the property, a certificate of compliance must be issued. This is similar to the home’s electrical compliance certificate but separate, pertaining only to electric fencing. This certificate will be valid for two years and is transferable.

In the case of homeowners it is important to note that the onus rests on the buyer of the house and not the seller to obtain the certificate. The same goes for complexes and other institutions where the onus rests on the management to ensure that their electric fencing complies with the new regulations.

Furthermore it is very important to note that only installers registered with the South African Electrical Fencing Installers Association (Saefia) and the Department of Labour will be allowed to do inspections and issue certificates once the fence complies with all the legislation.

Also, only these registered installers are allowed to install fences and afterwards issue certificates. The owner will be held liable for injury and death resulting from a fence that was installed by a non-registered installer. Currently there are only 300 registered installers across the country.

It has been found that 80 per cent of all installations do not comply with regulations and over and above the legal implications, it also could have implications as far as the owner’s insurance is concerned.

Should a property owner not have a legitimate electric fence certificate (EFC) and a incident should occur, the insurance company may refuse to cover it.

According to Mulder there are far too many regulations and requirements to print here and a registered installer should be approached to have your fence inspected. Here are some of the requirements and responsibilities that come into play.

• Property owners must have proper warning signs put up to caution visitors. These signs must be visible from the pavement and the driveway.

• The electric fence must not hang over into the neighbouring property.

• The owner must have a certificate of compliance issued by a registered electric fence installer.

• The owner will need to provide an EFC if he/she chooses to sell the property.

• The minimum wall height of a private property to be secured with an electric fence is 1,8m

• Upright brackets may be used without any height restrictions.

• Brackets can be angled at no more than 45 degrees out and must be installed on the inside of the boundary wall.

• Brackets are not allowed to be angled into neighbours’ property without their knowledge and consent.

• Barbed wire or razor fences may not be electrified.

• Fences along a pathway or public road must be identified with yellow warning signs every ten metres.

• The gate should open and close without shocking the person operating it.

• No more than 9 000V may run through the fencing.

• Your generator must be certifiable.

• Lightning conductors must be installed.

• There must be enough earth electrodes at the generator and the fence.

• The wiring must be done correctly.

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