Warning to households with electric fences in South Africa

South African households and businesses that use electric fencing should be aware that failing to comply with relevant laws could result in imprisonment or fines.

DSC Attorneys explains that even though the 10,000-volt electric fencing allowed for home use is not lethal when touched, entanglement can cause serious injury or death.

“Children and people with heart problems or who have pacemakers are particularly vulnerable when subjected to continuous high-voltage electrical shocks,” the law firm said.

The first absolute must is an electric fence certificate of compliance (CoC). Failing to obtain this is not only an oversight from a technical and safety perspective, but it is also a criminal offence.

“Any homeowner who does not have a valid CoC issued by a qualified electric fencing installer registered with the labour department can be held civilly and criminally liable for injuries caused by the fencing,” the firm said.

A properly qualified electrician who issues a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) will ensure that the installation meets all the necessary legal criteria, including the older 2011 regulations and the new 2023 requirements.

If they sign off and it turns out the system is not compliant with legislation, the liability for any injuries or damages may shift to them.

Among the requirements for home electric fencing in South Africa are the following:

• Installation must be on a wall with a minimum height of 1.5 metres
• Maximum outward angle of 45 degrees installed on the inside of the boundary wall
• Neighbours’ consent if the brackets angle into their property
• Installation and operation in a way that won’t cause hazard or entanglement to people or animals
• Maximum distance of 3 metres between posts
• A minimum of three earth spikes must be installed for every 30 metres of fencing
• Use of conduits for cabling from the fence to earth spikes. These cables may also not be buried
• The electrification of barbed or razor wire is prohibited
• Yellow warning signs are required at all gates and access points
• The maximum distance between yellow warning signs on other sections is 10 metres
• Electrified gates must enable a person to open and close them without receiving a shock.

In addition to being a legal requirement, a CoC is the minimum an insurer needs to process a claim for any damage covered under insurance policies.

The Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa recommends that customers request the Electric Fence System Installer (EFSI) number from service providers to ensure they are qualified.

Get your fence checked regularly

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) also published additional regulations regarding the installation, maintenance, material quality, and warning signage for electric fencing in June 2023.

Fidelity Services Group Charnel Hattingh previously told MyBroadband that some aspects of these regulations were not being met because no outside body was inspecting and validating them.

One particular issue is the lack of regular professional check-ups to ensure the fence is operational and working within the guidelines of the new standards.

Hattings explained that two separate types of inspections were necessary — one monthly and another quarterly.

“This is aimed at doing a visual inspection and corrective maintenance to ensure the fence remains operational and within the guidelines of these standards,” Hattingh said.

She stressed that it was the fence owner’s responsibility to hire a certified person to perform these inspections.

The standards also stipulate improved methods for testing the functionality and safety of electric fences, and the use of higher-grade materials for parts, including wires and insulators.

It should also be emphasised that although electric fences are a useful deterrent for the opportunistic wall jumpers, they are not difficult to bypass for seasoned burglars.

Private security providers have increasingly recommended more modern solutions, including smart camera systems that can identify human movement and send out alerts within seconds.

This should ideally be linked to a private security company’s control room to enable the fastest response possible and avoid danger to the homeowner or their family.