Maximum overcurrent protection on a plug circuit

[Sparks]

1./ "Earthing or providing an earth where there is one does not require certification. "
The earth wire is your most important part of your electrical circuit and installing one constitutes an alteration to that circuit and as such requires a COC issued.

[/B]

I must still disagree here, installing an earth wire from the DB because of a breakdown in continuity has not changed the installation. It has merely brought the existing circuitry up to standard with requirements. Neither the amount of circuits nor the amount of points have changed. The circuit has only been made safe. If there is an earth from the DB available and it is too short to connect you must extend it with a pigtail, without having to certify it.

Regarding the obligation to certify, well your point 3 states certification must be refused where a fault is detected and point 4 states that your work be certified.

When you are called out to change a socket outlet, you do not inspect the whole house to see if there are faults, you are shown to the faulty socket outlet and you work on that point. If you discover something like the earth is a problem you inform the client of what it could mean for the rest of the installation, but it remains his choice as to when and by whom it be attended. This is where you get the opportunity to sell your business and could end up with a nice commission if handled properly. Should the client be under financial constraints there is no reason why any corrective work cannot be done in stages as a gradual upgrade. You would still however be expected to repair the faulty socket outlet as requested.

[Dave A]

Perhaps this comes down to the definition of a "change to the electrical installation"?

Is there a definition on this in the code?
(I don't have a copy handy here at home right now).

[Slow Blow]

A "change to the installation" means that there extra points added i.e. as in an extension to the premises or extra lights or sockets added to the existing installation (new kitchen maybe), then the CoC can state the extra work has been tested and found to be compliant.

When I have installed a pay as you go meter in an existing house I have only given a CoC to cover the work carried out, this should be kept with the original CoC for insurance purposes.

[Dave A]

There is no definition of what constitutes a change to the installation in SANS 10142-1

The closest the regulation comes to dealing with this is under 7.4 -

Where any addition or alteration has been effected to an electrical installation for which a certificate of compliance was previously issued, the user or lessor of such electrical installation shall obtain a certificate of compliance for at least the addition or alteration.