Hi all,

I recently had an installer upgrade my inverter and ensure everything was brought up to current regulations and fully compliant.

However, I later discovered that the company I hired outsourced the work to a third-party installer. The installation was completed (though not to the standard I expected), and a few days later I requested the Certificate of Compliance (CoC). They told me it had be sent to a Master Electrician for sign-off.

The next day, I was emailed a copy of the CoC, and told the original would be couriered to me – which I still haven’t received.

My main concern is this:
Is it legal for an Installation Electrician or Master Installation Electrician to sign off a CoC when they weren’t involved in the actual installation or testing of the system?

It feels questionable that someone who didn’t do (or directly supervise) the work can legally certify it as compliant.

Would appreciate any clarity on this

Thanks

Edited September 28, 2025Sep 28 by Foot
Error

10 hours ago, Foot said:

My main concern is this:
Is it legal for an Installation Electrician or Master Installation Electrician to sign off a CoC when they weren’t involved in the actual installation or testing of the system?

I am not an electrician, but logic and common sense tells me this way of coc sign off cannot be legal at all!! So this "Master Electrician" believes anything they tell him?

Scam way of doing things - imho

Best people to ask are these guys https://ecasa.co.za/

4 hours ago, Demo said:

I am not an electrician, but logic and common sense tells me this way of coc sign off cannot be legal at all!! So this "Master Electrician" believes anything they tell him?

Scam way of doing things - imho

Does he need to be there, though? If he got all the test results etc, surely that's fine. What exactly more is he supposed to do when he's there? If it's a reputable installer and they didn't forge the results, then surely that's fine. I would sign off on results and pictures unless I think the installer has forged everything.

16 hours ago, Foot said:

Is it legal for an Installation Electrician or Master Installation Electrician to sign off a CoC when they weren’t involved in the actual installation or testing of the system?

This seems to be standard practice, not only for electricians, but for all trades. The same argument applies to building inspectors, plumbers, civil engineers, assessors, etc. A proper inspection of installations on most sites by a duly qualified and ethical person normally results in a rework and sour relations

When signing a Certificate of Compliance (CoC), the general control a registered person exercises is the primary control measure, meaning they must personally oversee, instruct, and supervise all electrical installation work to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations before signing the CoC. This requires a thorough inspection and testing of the installation to confirm it meets standards, making the signing person legally responsible for any faults or transgressions discovered. So in @Foot case the COC signed by the MIE would not be valid if he did not exercise General Controll of the installation site. The question also why did the sub contractor not issue the COC no need for a MIE to issue a COC unless it is a specialised site( medical, flame proof installation etc.)

https://ecasa.co.za/member-support/dont-get-caught-up-in-certificate-of-compliance-fraud/#:~:text=Guess%20who%20will%20end%20up%20carrying%20that%20can!&text=Be%20aware%20that%20you%20will,nearest%20ECA(SA)%20branch.

ECASA

PV INSTALLERS MUST BE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS | ELECTRICAL...

By Mark Mfikoe, ECA National Director This article is taken from the July-August 2022 issue of the ECA(SA)'s magazine 'SA Electrical Contractor' and the original article can be download

In South Africa, only a qualified and registered electrician, specifically an Installation Electrician (IE) or Master Installation Electrician (MIE), can issue a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for an electrical installation or a solar system. These individuals are registered with the Department of Employment and Labour and are authorized to certify that the installation meets the safety and regulatory requirements set out in the Electrical Installation Regulations of 2009.  

18 hours ago, Foot said:

My main concern is this:
Is it legal for an Installation Electrician or Master Installation Electrician to sign off a CoC when they weren’t involved in the actual installation or testing of the system?

In Short NO above states very clearly what is required on the links to the ECSA website on that specific question.

The person issuing a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is not required to have performed the physical work themselves, but they must have exercised general control over the installation and personally satisfied themselves through inspection and testing that the work complies with the regulations. This ensures the registered person takes legal accountability for the installation's safety and compliance, even if an unregistered individual did the actual work under their supervision, according to the Electrical Contractors Association (South Africa). 

3 hours ago, TaliaB said:

When signing a Certificate of Compliance (CoC), the general control a registered person exercises is the primary control measure, meaning they must personally oversee, instruct, and supervise all electrical installation work to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations before signing the CoC. This requires a thorough inspection and testing of the installation to confirm it meets standards, making the signing person legally responsible for any faults or transgressions discovered. So in @Foot case the COC signed by the MIE would not be valid if he did not exercise General Controll of the installation site. The question also why did the sub contractor not issue the COC no need for a MIE to issue a COC unless it is a specialised site( medical, flame proof installation etc.)

My guess is that the sub contractor is only a Single Phase tester, supposedly working under the "general control" of the MIE, otherwise he could have easily issued the CoC himself. I've asked them to send me his credentials, but so far no reply.

3 hours ago, Powerforum Store said:

https://ecasa.co.za/member-support/dont-get-caught-up-in-certificate-of-compliance-fraud/#:~:text=Guess%20who%20will%20end%20up%20carrying%20that%20can!&text=Be%20aware%20that%20you%20will,nearest%20ECA(SA)%20branch.

ECASA

PV INSTALLERS MUST BE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS | ELECTRICAL...

By Mark Mfikoe, ECA National Director This article is taken from the July-August 2022 issue of the ECA(SA)'s magazine 'SA Electrical Contractor' and the original article can be download

In South Africa, only a qualified and registered electrician, specifically an Installation Electrician (IE) or Master Installation Electrician (MIE), can issue a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for an electrical installation or a solar system. These individuals are registered with the Department of Employment and Labour and are authorized to certify that the installation meets the safety and regulatory requirements set out in the Electrical Installation Regulations of 2009.  

In Short NO above states very clearly what is required on the links to the ECSA website on that specific question.

The person issuing a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is not required to have performed the physical work themselves, but they must have exercised general control over the installation and personally satisfied themselves through inspection and testing that the work complies with the regulations. This ensures the registered person takes legal accountability for the installation's safety and compliance, even if an unregistered individual did the actual work under their supervision, according to the Electrical Contractors Association (South Africa). 

Thanks, this is a really helpful and informative article.

I think I will give the installer the opportunity to rectify the problem by sending out a qualified to IE or MIE to inspect and test and issue a new CoC, before I take matters further.

The lesson learnt is to ask upfront to see their credentials before commencing work and not be so trusting.

8 minutes ago, Foot said:

My guess is that the sub contractor is only a Single Phase tester

While an Electrical Tester for Single Phase (ETSP) may handle the AC part of the installation NO DC WORK, a qualified Installation Electrician (IE) or Master Installation Electrician (MIE) is required to also sign off on the DC portion and the overall installation, making them the only ones legally permitted to issue the complete CoC for the entire system. My question to @Foot was there any test conducted on the system AC or DC side that you are aware off. IF the COC is issued it needs to accompanied by a Test report that has been done. There is many tests that needs to be conducted for compliance, eg earth loop impedance, neutral loop impedance, IR test PSCC(Prospected short curcuit current), PEFC(prospected earth fault current) to mention just a few.

14 minutes ago, TaliaB said:

While an Electrical Tester for Single Phase (ETSP) may handle the AC part of the installation NO DC WORK, a qualified Installation Electrician (IE) or Master Installation Electrician (MIE) is required to also sign off on the DC portion and the overall installation, making them the only ones legally permitted to issue the complete CoC for the entire system. My question to @Foot was there any test conducted on the system AC or DC side that you are aware off. IF the COC is issued it needs to accompanied by a Test report that has been done. There is many tests that needs to be conducted for compliance, eg earth loop impedance, neutral loop impedance, IR test PSCC(Prospected short curcuit current), PEFC(prospected earth fault current) to mention just a few.

As far as i could see, there were no such tests done. I asked him before he left, "dont you need to do testing for the CoC". He replied that he had already done the test and recorded the readings. I tried to watch their every move throughout the day and never saw any test instrumentation other than a Multi-meter. You can see the test results attached. It says he did an insulation resistance test, and as far as i know you would need to unplug all sensitive equipment to run such a test, which he never did. In fact he never even opened my main DB board at all. The only time he opened it was when I called them back a few days later, as he hadnt installed the Sunsynk CT coil. He told me it wasn't necessary if i wasnt exporting to the grid. I tried to explain to him that it is the most important part of the installation, even if you are not exporting to the grid. He reluctantly agreed to come and fit it, but wanted to install it inside the inverter. I told him that this is the wrong place to install it, it needs to go just after the main switch in my DB board and I insisted that he put it there. This was the only time he opened my main DB board.

@Foot Just another question? Before any upgrade and or work began do you have a valid COC for your property?

10 hours ago, Foot said:

Sunsynk CT coil. He told me it wasn't necessary if i wasnt exporting to the grid.

Contractor not qualified to install Hybrid inverter systems as to your above statement.

10 hours ago, Foot said:

but wanted to install it inside the inverter.

And that confirms my statement.

13 minutes ago, TaliaB said:

@Foot Just another question? Before any upgrade and or work began do you have a valid COC for your property?

Yes, I have a valid CoC for the property from when I bought it in 2010. He did ask to see it. Im not sure how long they are valid for though. Probably best to get a new one done.

31 minutes ago, Foot said:

Yes, I have a valid CoC for the property from when I bought it in 2010. He did ask to see it. Im not sure how long they are valid for though. Probably best to get a new one done.

Not necessarily if major changes was done to your AC electrical system( Db board) then yes but if only upgrade was done to your inverter system then they only need to do a supplementary CoC with test report then you attach it to your original COC that was issued in 2010. The only time you will do a full COC if major electrical changes was made or should you sell the property. It all depends on the scope of work done. But the IE or MIE should know the diffrence.

I can send you a link to some electricians if that would help?

3 hours ago, LawnDolar said:

I can send you a link to some electricians if that would help?

@LawnDolar yes please, that will be a great help.

On 2025/09/30 at 7:31 PM, Foot said:

@LawnDolar yes please, that will be a great help.

I've used them before and their great. here you are - solihull electricians

The electrician whose business I usually use is an MIE. Depending on the job he will inspect, or his right-hand man (an electrician, but not an MIE) will inspect. EG I wanted some timers put in, the right-hand man comes out to check what is required. I say I think the house needs rewiring then the right-hand man goes up into the roof and takes photos which he sends to the MIE. The MIE then comes to discuss the scope of the work for me.

For all work done there will be photos before, and photos after. All uploaded to some service in the cloud, and also sent to the MIE. He may then instruct that certain tests be performed and asks the right-hand man to send him the results. He then issues the COC on the basis of the after photos and the results for the tests which he requests.

This relationship obviously involves a good deal of trust between the guy running the business and signing the COCs, and the guy actually doing the work. It also requires me to accept that the MIE had control of the job, had a way to say that something was not properly done, or that it needs tidying up.

ISTM that this is the nub of the matter. Does the MIE I'm dealing with have control over how the job is done? Does oversight (which he has, albeit remotely) count as control?

13 hours ago, Bobster. said:

or his right-hand man (an electrician, but not an MIE)

Is the right hand man a qualified electrician or a qualified installation electrician(IE) Does this person have a wiremans license. ?The company belonging to the MIE should be a electrical contractor registered with DOL and the MIE most probably the director. If the right hand man does have the qualifications of an IE and is employed by the MIE via his company there is no need for the MIE to sign the COC as the IE that is on site doing the work and conducting the test could just sign off the COC. If the right hand man is not an qualified IE then the MIE can not sign the COC remotely as he is not in general controll of the wiring at the work site. The big question if there is a qualified IE on site doing the work why does the MIE get involved.

23 minutes ago, TaliaB said:

Is the right hand man a qualified electrician or a qualified installation electrician(IE) Does this person have a wiremans license. ?The company belonging to the MIE should be a electrical contractor registered with DOL and the MIE most probably the director. If the right hand man does have the qualifications of an IE and is employed by the MIE via his company there is no need for the MIE to sign the COC as the IE that is on site doing the work and conducting the test could just sign off the COC. If the right hand man is not an qualified IE then the MIE can not sign the COC remotely as he is not in general controll of the wiring at the work site. The big question if there is a qualified IE on site doing the work why does the MIE get involved.

IDK. IDK about lots of this, which is why I'm describing the situation but not passing judgement.

Does an IE or MIE have to do all the work themselves? This would seem to me to be impractical in the real world. But they do have to exercise some sort of QC, of making sure that everything is done properly. So that's where my questions lie: Is looking over the workman's shoulder enough, and from what distance can you look?

The COC itself is a summary document; its validity is wholly dependent on the detailed test report that must accompany it. This report, often called the "Section 4" test sheet, is the proof that you conducted the necessary inspections and measurements. Forgetting to attach this report, or leaving critical fields like earth fault loop impedance or insulation resistance values blank, renders the COC null and void. So the IE or MIE that signs the COC and test report must be on site to conduct the tests.

General control: Did the IE or MIE that signed the COC and Test report conduct these tests personally on site if not then the COC is not valid.

7 hours ago, Bobster. said:

Does an IE or MIE have to do all the work themselves?

No they make use of electrical aid.

7 hours ago, Bobster. said:

But they do have to exercise some sort of QC,

All final tests and test report(section 4 test sheet) including signature on COC to be done by IE or MIE in person on site.

7 hours ago, Bobster. said:

So that's where my questions lie: Is looking over the workman's shoulder enough, and from what distance can you look?

Conducting tests in person on site ,signing test report in person on site and Issuing COC in person on site.