COC contradictions

[skatingsparks]

What do you guys do? I have mentioned this in another thread so sorry if i repeat myself

I know every electrical installation is supposed to have an existing CoC (yeah right....) - but they usually don't.

Say you do a small job, add a socket for example, to an existing circuit i think its fair to say you can do a CoC for that socket. All you can do its inspect and test that circuit to the best of your ability. I cannot and do not believe you are supposed to CoC the whole house just to that job (its just not realistic)

Then you do a bigger job (a solar install in my case). Do the basic checks and all checks out fine - this is a 6 bed R8 million house by the way.

Do the solar install in 2 long days and would welcome any AIA inspector or ECA guy to check it.

Comes to testing time and we start finding things wrong with the existing.

I spend 2 days (well more than that actually) fixing little bits and pieces and eventually enough is enough.

Advise client that so far we have found item a,b, c and d non compliant - nothing dangerous just lots of little things.

With most of our solar installs there is an existing CoC so we do a supplementary CoC to the existing (even though most we see are BS) we advise the client as such and they ignore it.

Any new works require a CoC (Agree) but we must do a CoC on teh whole building if we install solar to an existing installation if there is no CoC (disagree). Its just not realistic

How can we MAKE client fix non compliant installations? DOL says there must be a CoC but we can't issue because its not compliant.

Where do we stand? Can't make them pay for non compliant items?

I have chosen, until now, to only do new installs because I don't like adding to other people kak but since a lot of my customers got crappy solar installs I started do Solar again (was doing solar for years in the UK, Oz and New zealand before coming here) becaus ethe demand was there but that means I'm adding to existing.

I know what is supposed to happen but thsi is SA and its just not.

[Isetech]

Until the user (responsible person) is forced by the insurance (normally works the best ) or the supplier to produce a valid COC for the property or face disconnection, nothing is going to change.

Its a number game in our favour and the lack of credible experience electricians and inspectors nothing is going to change.

It all starts with the user taking repsonsibilty for the electrical installation. Ask any customer to produce a COC for the elctrical installation and the majority of them will have a blank look on their face, most of them dont even know what a COC looks like. they are not aware that they are suppose to keep a copy of the COC.

You wasting your time.

The SSEG regsitration is going to put a cat amongst the pigeon, feathers are going to fly. the only reason it is going to start making the user take responsibilty is because they will arrive at the gate to disconnect the installation. As soon as they start rolling it out you will see a response and watch how fast the news will spread and watch how quickly people will learn about SSEG registration, COC's and all that stuff.

[skatingsparks]

Yep

"Until the user (responsible person) is forced by the insurance (normally works the best ) or the supplier to produce a valid COC for the property or face disconnection, nothing is going to change." - still can't make people fix non compliant items - many just can't afford. We are still seeing VIR cable often. I mean thats had its day 40+ years ago.

"Its a number game in our favour and the lack of credible experience electricians and inspectors nothing is going to change." - experienced electricians

There are VERY few electricians left.

We recently took on some students who need there 2 years experience. Spoke to a lot of them - all they care about is the trade test paper. They DO NOT care they have no idea what they are doing. Its not about learning to be good, its about getting that paper to get more money. They think well paying jobs come with bits of paper not skill and merit. Thast why nearly every "electrcian" we tried to hire has been let go. We pay well and generally only do nice jobs (no house bashing thanks) and all but one guy who is still with me has driven me nuts.

I think things are to far gone. You are getting just 2 kinds of CoC - worthless or perfect. Thats why i stick to new installs. Hate adding to people crappy wiring.

No one will dare disconnet supply - even people who bypass meters don't get disconnected as long as you have a crisp R200 note.

Theres not even enough staff to fix the things that broken no mater go around disconnecting people.

I'm not phased if its wrong - but moving forward I'll sign of my (compliant) work and in the comments detail what is not covered by the CoC - I can only advise. Can't make people take the advise. That Comments section about "items not covered by this CoC" is there for a reason.

Whats the DOL or the AIA going to do. What I signed off will be to the book. If DOL or the AIA can make people pay to get things fixed I'll happily fix it.

Also some people just can't afford a rewire, simple as.