The fight against sub-standard electrical components

[Slow Blow]

[QUOTE=DieterT;11734


Same for client using a contractor, making sure he is properly registered before having him do work on his premesis to avoid having any legal implications should something go wrong.

[/QUOTE]
What can a client do if something goes wrong and the contractor who does an alteration is not registered.
90% of "electricians" I meet now-days are handymen who will take on small electrical jobs, or builders who have a "boy" who can do conduit and wiring.

[DieterT]

One thing to remember that the responsibility falls on the user and lessor (or even lessee should there be a writen agreement) to make sure the person whom they are using is registered

Same as when a business owner employs a forgeiner he should make sure he has a valid passport and working permit. Say the owner did ask for proof that said electrician is registered and he ends up not having been, then this can also be handed over as fraud.

That is why I put emphasis on paper trail and when you request a CoC on the work that was done, the contractor should sign and give his adress and contact number with registration code as professional and (GN) number as contractor.

Both of these can be verified with the department of labour and/or Nico vd Berg the AIA. My advise is not to end up with a surprise and make contact with the them beter before using the contractor to avoid lots of headaches (this is south africa and we know that the government's bark is bigger than their bite...apart from SARS...)

But should the work have been done, CoC issued and contractor found to be "illegal" or not properly registered then the DoL or the AIA can be contacted.

[DieterT]

Always ask for proof of registration. I carry my DoL card with my everywhere. There is no excuse for the contractor not to have it, it is the same as not having your drivers liscense and the metro pulls you over.

The DoL indentification card does look fake, I have made beter fake IDs in my younger days than this, but if in doubt, call Nico vd Berg the AIA or the DoL and give them the registration numbers to make sure it is legal. Rememeber to give both as he should also be registered as electrical contractor (GN number) and not just the professional number (single phase tester, installation electrician or master electrician)

An artisan is not allowed to do electrical work without the supervision of an registered electrician. Supervision does not required the registered electrician to be there looking over his shoulder 100% of the time. It is just to show that some sort of control had been preformed by the registered electrician...

Pretty sure you would quickly see if the contractor is legal once you ask him if you can see his DoL card and to confirm if it is correct with DoL...This is honestly the only way we can get rid of these "fly by nights" as it is almost impossible for the DoL and one AIA to stop them all and even more if the user/lessors allow them to continue their work.

[DieterT]

Would that responsibility for material apply to a "test only" COC?


I'm finding this to be a regular problem, with two main elements:

• Clients don't insist on a COC when they have the installation altered - they rely on the existing COC already issued and don't realise the alteration affects the validity of the existing COC
• Clients are unaware that the electrical installation has been interfered with (most common one being geyser changes or repairs, but it's an issue that crops up with all sorts of other fixed appliances fairly often too).

Hi Dave.

No it would not.
Only to the extend that a visual inspection and test report could have shown defective or non compliant materials.

[DieterT]

Geyser replacements is probably one of the most common problems. We like to refer to it as the "ticking time bomb"

A common thing plumbers aren't aware of is the earth strapping thus most people are complaining about the taps tickling them when touched and getting bad shocks once drenched in water touching the taps or for that part anything conductive connected to geyser pipes....

[Sparks]

The plumbers are aware alright, they just don't give a flying rat's arse. They did cut it off to start with. If they even bothered to read the instruction booklet which comes with each geyser they will see that the manufacturer insists that the electrical be done by a suitably qualified person. They obviously just too lazy to connect it and too greedy to get an electrician to do the electrical. The public are not aware of this. I have had a friend refuse to pay her excess amount because I did not approve the electrical of her new geyser. Absa insisted on their own plumbers who have an electrician on their books but the plumbers are still doing the electrical albeit incorrect.

[Slow Blow]

Try getting on any bank/insurance companies books if you are white.
Biggest problem at the moment is that there are too few electrical apprentice's, I needed a house disconnected last month so I could repair the incoming cables, the tossers that the council sent around did not even know how to switch off the correct breakers or how to test which ones were correct, in the end I did the testing and switching for them, if I didn't the job would still be waiting.

The plumbers are aware alright, they just don't give a flying rat's arse. They did cut it off to start with. If they even bothered to read the instruction booklet which comes with each geyser they will see that the manufacturer insists that the electrical be done by a suitably qualified person. They obviously just too lazy to connect it and too greedy to get an electrician to do the electrical. The public are not aware of this. I have had a friend refuse to pay her excess amount because I did not approve the electrical of her new geyser. Absa insisted on their own plumbers who have an electrician on their books but the plumbers are still doing the electrical albeit incorrect.