Original and supplementary COC

[Isetech]

This question keeps popping up literally by the day.

Issuing a supplementary COC for an existing installation which doesn't have an original COC.

The way I do it, I will not issue a supplementary or original for only a part of an installation. The customer must produce an original COC, no original - no supplementary.

So long as my loop impedance test is within the spec, I do the supplementary for that par tof the job, buy dont forward it to the customer until they as the responsible person for the installation produce the original.

How do you tackle this issue and are there any rule or regulations which will prevent you from doing work on a site which doesn't have and original ?

I put my blinkers on and get the job done, if I had to stop doing work because of non compliant sites and site which dont have original COC's, my business would have gone bankrupt years ago.

[Isetech]

A few things to consider when issuing a COC:

1/ For a new installation being connected to an existing installation?

2/ For the sale of a property?

3/ For the installation of a socket outlet or light connected fed from an existing circuit ?

I believe the important part of any electrical installation is the information that is collected and recorded.

If you install a socket outlet from the DB to the socket outlet directly and there is no COC for the building because it was done prior to 1994, then you should just issue a COC and fill out section 3a as required and under notes: "A COC is required for the entire installation is required as per regulation EIR 7" ., hand it to the responsible person and it is no longer your problem.

I think the confusion for many electrical contractors is that we still think we are the "responsible person".

A concern that many of us would have is that it would be used for the sale of a property, it is actually not your problem if the seller decides to do that. If someone buys the property and the buyer figures out that the COC is not for the entire property, its actually not your problem. You filled in the document as required for your part of the contract, so the seller being the responsible person will be held accountable.

[Isetech]

A real life example:

I was asked to add a few socket outlets and lights at a property that had just been purchased.

I went to site, did what I had to do and issue a supplementary COC for my work, which was to be attached to the original (not worth the paper it was written, like most COC's)

While working on the site I noticed a few parts of the electrical installation were non compliant. I made a note of my observation added it to the note section of my COC and made a note on the invoice and email.

5 years later the property was sold and the customer requested a new COC for the entire property, I informed the the customer about the non compliant issues of the elctrical installation noted and enquired if they had been repaired. I was told nobody else had worked on the property since I was last on site.

I carried out a test report and submitted a quote for R15000 to repair the non complaint issues. That is where the fight started.

The customer informed me that I should have repaired all the non complaint issues and I was now responsible for the entire site, I smiled and walked away.

When I look back, I should have just fixed the entire installation at my cost and just kept adding the costs to other for the people linked to that person, because I lost all their work once that person started bad mouthing my business.

An expensive lesson learnt, sometimes you have to weigh up the odds and make a decision. Dont trust anyone.


People forget very quickly and are quick to point a finger when it affects their bank balance, no matter how sweet they may seem face to face.

[Isetech]

The next question:

1/ Can you issue an original COC for only part of the installation ? It seems you can.

2/ Can you have more than 1 original COC for a site/DB? I assume that the original would stay the original even though it is for only 1 or 2 socket outlets and the rest of the elctrical installation would then be added to the supplementary.

3/ If the rest of the electrical installation was done before 1994, are you as the responsible person (not the elctrical contractor) required to get a COC for your property, just because you decide to add 1 socket outlet?

4/ If purchased my house prior to 1994, do I need to get a COC or do I only need to get a COC when I sell ?