Electric Fence Compliance

According to law (Regulation 12 of the Electric Machinery Regulations of 2011), any electrified fence is required to be compliant, and the homeowner issued with a Certificate of Compliance (COC), which must be on hand should it be requested.
Shockoloza is registered to issue an Electric Fence Certificate of Compliance. We are also able to inspect a fence, and advise customers what might need to be done to the fence to make it compliant.
Who needs a Certificate of Compliance?

You need a COC if:

  • You installed your electrified fence after 1 October 2012
  • You upgraded or altered your system after 1 October 2012
  • You purchased a property with electric fencing after 1 October 2012.

How do you make an electrified fence compliant?

  • It must be installed by a registered, specialist installer, like Shockoloza
  • The electrical output must be non-lethal
  • Visible warning signs must be evident from outside the property
  • The fence may not overhang into neighbour’s yard or a pavement
  • The homeowner must have a Certificate of Compliance.

What might happen if your fence is not compliant?

  • You cannot sell your property without a Certificate of Compliance
  • If your electric fencing is non-compliant, you may be forced to remove it
  • If someone is shocked by a fence on your property, you could be sued.

Electric fence maintenance

  • According to regulation SANS 10222-3:2012, a monthly overview is required, plus a detailed three-monthly inspection which should comprise the following actions:
  • Walk/drive along the length of the electric fence and note and correct all obviously visible faults.
  • Clear the fence of all vegetation and debris that could cause arcing of high-voltage pulses and that could lower the effectiveness of the fence.
  • Tighten wires that are visibly slackened, and replace or repair all faulty fence components (insulators, joints and clamps).
  • lnspect and repair the energizer and electric fence earthing system.
  • lnspect and repair any gates.

International Regulations and Safety Points

  • All mains operated energizers should comply with a number of international and national standards. These include:
  • Using insulated cable when connecting a ground system to the energizerNot connecting the fence ground system to any plumbing system or any other grounding device
  • Keeping the earth system at least 40m away from other electrical earth systems or telephone earths
  • Connecting each energizer to its own ground system
  • Not connecting two or more energizers to the same electric fence
  • Never connecting any energizer to barbed wire of any description
  • Not attaching live wires to a post carrying overhead power lines unless authorized to do so
  • Avoid erecting a fence parallel to, or running under, power lines. Where this is unavoidable, cross underneath the power lines at right angles, and restrict the wires to a maximum of 2m above ground
  • Try to avoid running a fence line parallel to telephone lines or near any radio tower.