The damage of NOT doing your COC

The nearly 3 600 formal house fires recorded during 2010 in South Africa, according to the National Fire Protection Association’s most recent statistics, caused the deaths of 60 people and a monetary loss of more than R1, 3 billion. Further, 49% of house fires have their origins in electrical distribution or lighting equipment problems, according to NFPA figures for the period 2005 – 2009. Which is why it’s critical to use only qualified, registered contractors to do the electrical compliance certification of a property when it changes hands, says Richard Gray, CEO of Harcourts Real Estate. Commenting on government’s decision to take over the function of registering electrical contractors from the Electrical Contracting Board of SA to the Department of Labour as of 1 June 2012, Gray said he hoped the move would ensure tighter control over the industry and in so doing, root out fraudulent and unregistered operators. “It’s no secret that the industry is fraught with operators who are illegally issuing electrical compliance certificates to unsuspecting consumers,” he says. “As a result, many new home owners are laboring under the false impression that their properties are safe.” According to Chris Greager, National Director of the Electrical Contractors’ Association South Africa (ECASA), the electrical compliance certificate, one of the legal requirements of selling a property, should confirm that a thorough inspection of the property’s electrical installation has been done by a qualified, registered contractor. “Regardless of how old a property is, it can have electrical problems such as poor earthing, illegally installed additions, open joint boxes, unreadable ratings on circuit breakers, a lack of labeling on the distribution boards, faulty light switches and socket outlets, and illegal open wiring,” he says. “Fires can occur as a result of the circuit breaker being overrated for the wiring it protects. If there is a fault, the undersized wiring could then start burning before the circuit breaker detects the fault.” Other major causes of electrical fires include faulty appliances such as electric heaters and stoves, and ceiling insulation. Explains Greager: “Home owners, when installing Think Pink-type products in the ceiling over low voltage down-lighters, don’t always know that they have to cut holes above the lights to allow for the heat to dissipate. Down-lighters generate a lot of heat, which can cause the beams to start smoldering and eventually burst into flame.” In older homes, he continues, the wiring may have deteriorated and need replacing, or the owners may have carried out their own illegal additions and alterations. In newer properties, the most common problem is that part of the installation, whether as a result of negligence or a lack of oversight by the original contractor, was not carried out in accordance with SANS 10142-1, which prescribes the minimum safety requirements for all electrical installations in South Africa. The severity of fire damage to a house would depend on a number of different issues, says Greager. “Thatched houses would obviously suffer significant damage. Less obvious but also vulnerable are homes under normal plaster tiles, because, should the beams start burning, the roof will collapse if the fire isn’t extinguished quickly enough. Inside the house, damage would be relevant to what combustible materials there are in the vicinity of the fire.” According to Greager, section 8 of the Wiring Code (SANS 10142-1) stipulates that contractors work through an extensive checklist, from the point of control (the point at which the incoming supply from the meter can be switched off) to the point of consumption (such as a socket outlet, or the supply terminals to stove or swimming pool connections etc). “They must ensure that it is safe, that there is no illegal wiring and no deterioration of the system. They then have to carry out a range of tests with instruments to ensure that the numerous readings they are required to take fall within the accepted and prescribed parameters.” Accordingly, Greager urges sellers, transfer attorneys and financial institutions to ensure that they not only use registered companies and contractors but that they also receive the correct version of the compliance certificate. “There are still many electricians using the incorrect documentation, which will render the certificate invalid,” he cautions. He also strongly recommends that non-selling home owners use only registered electrical contractors when having electrical installation work done, and to insist on a certificate of compliance for any new installations, additions, extensions or alterations. “If such certificate isn’t issued, any previous certificates will be invalidated, which could in turn result in an insurance claim being refused,” he warns. “For peace of mind, property owners must use the services of an electrical contractor who is a member of the ECA (SA) which guarantees their work for up to R15 000.”

Workmanship and Manufacturers/Supplier Warranty

Warranties protect you from mistakes made by a contractor or defective products from the manufacturer/supplier. It is therefore paramount that you, as a client that make use of services and products, clearly understand the differences between a workmanship warranty and a manufacturer/supplier warranty.

Workmanship Warranty
A workmanship warranty is an agreement offered to you by the contractor that states specific conditions regarding the proper use of the products that was installed and the number of months the work is covered by the contractor. It is in no way connected to warranties offered by the manufacturer/supplier of the products installed.

Example: The contractor installs a stove, gate motor, CCTV camera, circuit breaker etc. at your premises. The equipment stops functioning after one week. The contractor investigates and discovers that the equipment was installed incorrectly and that the fault was caused by this installation.

Who is at Fault?
The contractor is at fault because the product was not installed properly, In other words, the workmanship caused the problem; there was nothing wrong with the product. Therefore, the contractor is responsible to repair the installation, not the manufacturer of the product.

Manufacturer / Supplier Warranty
A manufacturer/supplier warranty states conditions that apply to the electrical or security products purchased from the manufacturer. Whether you make the purchase or a contractor makes the purchase, the warranty is in no way connected to the work performed at your premises by the contractor.

Example: The contractor installs a stove, gate motor, CCTV camera, circuit breaker etc. at your premises. The equipment stops functioning after one week. The contractor investigates and discovers that the equipment was installed correctly and that the fault was caused by the product that malfunctioned.

Who is at Fault?
The manufacturer of the product is at fault because the product had a defect that originated at the manufacturing plant. In other words, the product caused the problem regardless of the contractor's good or bad workmanship. Therefore, the manufacturer is responsible to replace the product, not the contractor.

Dan Electrical Policy on Workmanship Warranties
At Dan Electrical we believe in providing exceptional service to our clients. We are committed to quality believing that integrity and honesty helps build life long relationships. Our workmanship carries a workmanship guarantee from the Electrical Contractors Association to the value of R15 000.
As soon as a complaint arises the customer must report it to Dan Electrical. We will email or fax a standard complaint form to the client which must then be completed and returned to Dan Electrical. We will endeavor to resolve the client`s complaint as soon as possible.

Please note;
1.   The first call out to the customer will be free if it is proven that the complaint is due to a workmanship or manufacturers warranty problem.  If misuse or a secondary fault caused the problem, the costs will be for the clients account.
2.   Costs related to workmanship problems will be covered by Dan Electrical
3.   Costs related to manufacturers problems will be covered by the manufacturer and or supplier of that product.  This means that traveling and labour costs, if applicable, will still be for the clients account.

For more information contact us on 012 997 2737 or visit our website at www.danelectrical.co.za

The Body's Reaction to Electricity

It is a well-known fact that the human body will conduct electricity. A current flows any time the body comes into contact with an electrically energized part while simultaneously making contact with another conductive surface, such as metal. Once the current enters the body at one contact point, it will pass through the body and exit at the other contact point, usually the ground.
Several factors affect the severity of electric shock injuries, including the system voltage, the amount of electricity or amperage, the type of current (direct or alternating), and the body's resistance to the current. The path the current takes through the body and the length of time the body remains in contact with the current are also factors.
The body's reaction to electric shock can range from a minor tingling sensation to instant death. Even at levels as low as 3 milli-amperes, current traveling through the body can cause indirect or secondary injuries, including bruising and bone fractures. Keep in mind that a standard domestic earth leakage device (RCD),when functioning correctly, should disconnect the circuit at 15mA-30mA when a fault condition is detected.
Consider how the body reacts when it comes into contact with the following levels of electricity:

• 0.5-3 mA      Tingling sensation 
• 3-10 mA     Muscle contractions and pain
• 10-40 mA      "Let-go" threshold
• 30-75 mA      Respiratory paralysis
• 100-200 mA      Ventricular fibrillation
• 200-500 mA      Heart clamps tight
• 1500+ mA      Tissue and organs start to burn

To put these levels of exposure into perspective, the voltage levels for equipment and power sources present in various installations follow:

• 220V – 240V    Standard domestic installation - sockets, light switches, appliances, heaters,
• small machinery, drill presses etc
• 380V – 440V      Large domestic, commercial and industrial installation - Heavy-duty machinery,
• appliances, equipment etc
• 525V -6600V     Mining and industrial installations - machinery, substations, transformers etc
• 11000-22000V       Incoming feed from the power company 

How can I prevent electric shock
1. The best thing to do is to leave the electrical work to the experts! Registered electricians are dedicated professionals who specialize in their field and study for years. They are qualified to handle electricity and all electrical problems safely and successfully.
2. Ensure that you have a valid certificate of compliance for your electrical and electric fence installation.
3. Regularly test your earth leakage to ensure that it is working correctly
Dan Electrical Contractors specialise in peace of mind. We are registered Master Electricians and can test your electrical or electric fence installation to identify hazards and faulty components before you become part of the statistics.
Contact us today at 012 997 2737 or sales@danelectrical.co.za
www.danelectrical.co.za

So, what exactly is an electrician...and what do we do?

An electrician is a tradesperson specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also specialize in wiring ships, airplanes and other mobile platforms.
Electricians are divided into two primary categories: linemen, who work on electric utility company distribution systems at higher voltages, and wiremen, who work with the lower voltages utilized inside buildings. Wiremen are generally trained in one of five primary specialties: commercial, residential, light industrial, industrial, and low-voltage wiring, more commonly known as Voice-Data-Video, or VDV. Other sub-specialties such as control wiring and fire-alarm may be performed by specialists trained in the devices being installed, or by inside wiremen.
Electricians are trained to one of three levels: Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Electrician. They generally take several hundred hours of classroom instruction and are contracted to follow apprenticeship standards for a period of between three and six years, during which time they are paid as a percentage of the Journeyman's pay. Journeymen are electricians who have completed their Apprenticeship and who have been found by the local, State, or National licensing body to be competent in the electrical trade. Master Electricians have performed well in the trade for a period of time, often seven to ten years, and have passed an exam to demonstrate superior knowledge of the National Electrical Code, or NEC.
Service electricians are tasked to respond to requests for isolated repairs and upgrades. They have considerable skills troubleshooting wiring problems, installing wiring in existing buildings, and making repairs. Construction electricians primarily focus on larger projects, such as installing all new electrical system for an entire building, or upgrading an entire floor of an office building as part of a remodeling process. Other specialty areas are marine electricians, research electricians and hospital electricians. "Electrician" is also used as the name of a role in stagecraft, where electricians are tasked primarily with hanging, focusing, and operating stage lighting. In this context, the Master Electrician is the show's chief electrician. Although theater electricians routinely perform electrical work on stage lighting instruments and equipment, they are not part of the electrical trade and have a different set of skills and qualifications from the electricians that work on building wiring.
Electrical contractors are businesses that employ electricians to design, install, and maintain electrical systems. Contractors are responsible for generating bids for new jobs, hiring tradespeople for the job, providing material to electricians in a timely manner, and communicating with architects, electrical and building engineers, and the customer to plan and complete the finished product.

www.danelectrical.co.za

Standby for more Savings

Dan Electrical

These days our homes are full of appliances that use electricity all the time, even when we aren’t there. We leave them on standby mode, waiting to be used again. You would think that an appliance on standby would only use a little electricity, but sadly we are mistaken.
In some households appliances of standby mode use the equivalent of leaving a 100W light bulb on all year
Some examples of appliances that use power, but can be switched off are; battery and phone charges, microwaves (do you really need that digital clock?), computers, TVs, DVD players, decoders, Hi-Fis, game consoles, rechargeable toothbrushes, the list can go on and on. There are some appliances that do however, need to be powered all the time such as; home security systems, remote controlled gates and garage doors, to name but a few. Make sure you select low consumption models to reduce your electricity usage.
Check the Label

Before you buy a new appliance, check the energy efficiency rating, which is rated on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). A-rated appliances are better for the environment and cost much less to run. For example, if you replace the fridge-freezer you bought in 1995 with an A-rated energy efficient one, you would save about R 680.00 a year on electricity. Some brands are A+ or A++ rated - the pinnacle of appliance energy efficiency.
Here are some handy tips for reducing energy around the house:

Lights:

1.    In most homes, lighting accounts for around 17% - 20% of the electricity bill. A considerable amount of electricity can be saved by replacing your conventional tungsten bulbs with compact-florescent lamps (CFLs). They are more expensive, but CFLs last 8 times longer.
2.    Turn off the lights that you don’t need on and use lighter lampshades as they will make the most of the energy.
3.    Fit lower wattage bulbs wherever possible and avoid leaving spot lights on for too long, as they use more electricity.

In the Lounge:

1.    Switch the TV off when not in use, leaving it on standby mode uses up to 50% of the power the TV would use if it was actually on, the same goes for the Hi-Fi’s and computers.
2.    Rather use a gas heater or a temperature-controlled oil heater for space heating and switch of the heater if you leave the room.
3.    Curtains help to retain the heat, so draw them early in the evening.

www.danelectrical.co.za

Dan Electrical Master Electricians Pretoria South Africa

Teachers ask that electrical safety be worked into program content



If there's one thing common to all children, it's curiosity. The urge to discover how things work, that drive to explore the unknown, is to be celebrated.

But children have to learn how to be safe. We have to teach them that cars and trucks and electrical outlets can be dangerous. And as the utility that provides electricity to so much of the province, BC Hydro takes responsibility for helping to deliver that safety message.

"We use electricity every day," says BC Hydro's Mary Ferguson. There are potentially hazardous situations everywhere.

Overhead lines are dangerous to kite flyers. Residential transformer boxes on the ground can be obstacles to kids playing hide-and-seek. Toasters and appliances in the kitchen must be used properly and with safety in mind.

Luckily, young children in particular want to do the right thing, says Mary, one of the people who coordinates FirstWave and BC Hydro's school programs.

"Kids take learning seriously," she says. "We teach electrical safety in the context of understanding how we get our electricity and how we use it."

Developed for every age of student, from early childhood and kindergarten to high school, the programs offered by BC Hydro are created to support the curriculum and learning outcomes set out by the Ministry of Education. And teachers at all levels, says Mary, have asked that safety be embedded in the electricity context.

An outdoor activity included in the Energy Explorers resource kit for teachers helps kindergarten students learn the "look, but don't touch" rule. The flash cards pictured here are used in games that directly teach safety lessons.

These activities help teach the "Safety and injury prevention" module established by the Ministry.

Safety messages are always presented in context. Grade 6 students, for example, learn how electrical circuits work, and also learn to think ahead. That forward planning, says Mary, is both prudent for safety but it's also part of the scientific method.

High school students take things a step further with more sophisticated lessons about electricity and safety.

What children learn in the later years, says Mary, is built on what they've learned previously. "It scaffolds," she says.

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info@danelectrical.co.za

27 12 997 2737