An electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is a legal document certifying that all of the electrical work and installations in a building are safe, in good working order, and up to standard. A CoC can only be obtained from a qualified and registered electrician. CoCs are valid for two years from the original issue date.
Ideally, every property owner should have a valid CoC at all times. It’s important to ensure that all the electrical work in a building is safe and up to standard, especially in older buildings that are prone to electrical wear and tear. Even in new houses, it’s generally just a good idea to have your building inspected every 2 years.
A qualified, registered electrician will be able to thoroughly inspect the building and either issue the certificate if all is well, or pinpoint any problem areas. If any electrical aspect is malfunctioning, faulty, or poses a danger to any person or animal in the building, it must be removed, replaced, or repaired.
Here’s how you can spot if your Certificate of Compliance (COC) is invalid.
1. Residential main distribution boards should have an elevated voltage of less than 25 Volts.. If it’s more than 25 Volts, consider your COC as invalid.
2. Main distribution board should have a continuity bonding of 0.2 Ohms or less. If it’s higher, your COC is invalid.
3. The insulation resistance value should not be less than 1 mega ohms. It can either be 1 or infinity. Do make sure that this has to be stated on the COC.
4. The operating of earth leakage units should be between 15-30 Milliamps. This must be stated on your CoC.
5. A valid COC should have no corrections or alterations on it, if there is it’s considered invalid.
6. The information on the CoC must be accurate. Information such as the date of issue and the electrician’s details should be captured correctly. Failure to ensure that this is correct results in the COC being invalid.
7. Under the inspection and tests section, the answer must be either ‘Yes’ or N/A. If the answer is ‘No’, the certificate is invalid.
8. The electrician who is issuing the CoC must sign the certificate. If there are any problems with the CoC, or if it is deemed invalid, you can hold the electrician accountable as their signature confirms that all of the information stated in the certificate is valid and correct.
The electrician issuing the certificate might leave comments noting any possible issues that may need actioning. Make sure you understand the comments, if there are any.
Having a valid CoC is a crucial part of owning a property. While it can seem like a nuisance, it’s the best way to ensure your property is safe. Faulty electrical installations are the leading cause of house fires, and they can be life endangering if not attended to swiftly.
Contact us today and one of our service professionals will be in touch with you as soon as possible to set up a date and time to inspect your property. We are standing by to check your electrical compliance today!
