A Certificate of Compliance is not an optional document in South African solar. It is a legal requirement under the Occupational Health and Safety Act — and without it, your Eskom or municipality SSEG registration will not be completed. More practically, it is the document that protects the homeowner’s insurance, enables property sale, and provides evidence that the installation is safe. See South Africa Load Shedding Solar Design for more. See South Africa Section 12B Solar Tax Incentive for more.
This guide covers every aspect of the CoC process for solar installations: who issues it, what it covers, when you need a new one, and how to handle tricky situations.
Always Get the CoC from the Installing Contractor
The contractor who installs the system is best positioned to issue the CoC — they know what they installed and can stand behind the work. Getting a second contractor to issue a CoC for someone else’s installation requires a full independent inspection and means the second contractor takes on liability for work they did not do. Always agree upfront that the installing contractor will provide the CoC.
What the CoC Certifies
The CoC is a legal declaration by a registered electrical contractor that the electrical installation complies with SANS 10142-1 at the time of inspection. For solar, this means:
| Element | What the Contractor Verifies |
|---|---|
| DC cabling | Correct type (UV-rated), correct size, correct routing |
| DC protection | String fuses (where required), DC circuit breaker ratings |
| DC isolators | Present, labelled, lockable, correctly rated |
| Earthing/bonding | Array structure bonded and connected to earth system |
| Surge protection | SPDs installed where required by design |
| AC wiring | Correct cable size, protection, connection to distribution board |
| AC isolator | Present, labelled, lockable |
| Distribution board | Solar connection clearly labelled, protective devices present |
| Inverter settings | Protection settings match NRS 097-2-1 requirements (commissioning report) |
| Labels | All required DC and AC labels installed and legible |
| Documentation | As-built drawing matches physical installation |
When You Need a New CoC
| Trigger | Action Required |
|---|---|
| New solar installation | CoC required — cannot connect to grid without it |
| Adding more solar panels | New or amended CoC required |
| Replacing the inverter | New CoC required (different model, different settings) |
| Installing battery storage | New CoC required for the battery addition |
| Property sale | Buyer’s conveyancer will request current CoC |
| Insurance claim involving electrical installation | Insurer may require valid CoC to process claim |
| Significant rewiring | New CoC required for the rewired portion |
Verifying a CoC Is Valid
Before accepting a CoC from a contractor, verify:
- DoL registration number is visible on the CoC and matches the contractor
- Contractor’s details — business name, address, registration number
- Installation address — matches the property
- Date of inspection — recent enough to reflect the current installation
- Contractor’s signature and stamp — both required
- Description of work — covers solar PV installation, not just “general electrical”
To verify a contractor’s DoL registration, contact the Department of Labour’s provincial office for the area where the installation took place, or request the contractor’s registration certificate directly.
CoC Failures: Common Causes
| Failure | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Non-UV-rated cable on roof | Installer used building cable to save cost |
| Missing DC isolation | DC isolator omitted or not installed near inverter |
| No earth continuity in array structure | Mounting clips assumed to provide continuity without testing |
| Incorrect inverter protection settings | Factory defaults not reconfigured to NRS 097 |
| Labels missing | Installer did not install labels before inspection |
| As-built drawing not matching installation | String count changed during installation without updating drawings |
Generate CoC-Ready Solar Documentation Before Installation
SurgePV produces the as-built single-line diagram, cable schedule, and commissioning record that your DoL-registered contractor needs to complete the CoC inspection efficiently.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can the homeowner request a CoC for their own installation? The homeowner cannot issue a CoC. Only a DoL-registered electrical contractor can issue a CoC. The homeowner can, however, request a CoC inspection from any registered electrical contractor — they do not have to use the original installer. A second-party CoC inspection is common when purchasing a property with an existing solar system.
My solar installer offered to issue the CoC without visiting the site. Is this legal? No. A CoC cannot be issued without a physical inspection of the installation. A CoC issued without an on-site inspection is fraudulent and legally invalid. Do not accept a CoC that was not preceded by a documented site inspection. The issuance of a false CoC is a criminal offence under the OHS Act.
What if the inspector finds non-compliances? The contractor lists the non-compliances and the CoC is not issued until they are rectified. The installer should then carry out the rectification work. After rectification, the contractor re-inspects the relevant portions and issues the CoC if satisfied. Keep a record of what was found and what was done to rectify it — this documents the installation history.
See the SANS 10142-1 guide, the DoL vs ECSA sign-off guide, and the Eskom SSEG registration guide for related topics. Use solar software to generate installation documentation that supports fast CoC inspections.
