Electricity can kill
That is why some electrical products and electrical installation services are subject to compulsory specifications with which, by law, those products and services must comply. Despite this, there are sub-standard products and services available in South Africa on a considerable scale. These products are usually at lower prices than compliant products, and you could, therefore, be attracted to acquiring potentially dangerous products and services that can cause physical injury, even death or, at best, can damage or destroy assets.
For instance, in 2011, the latest year for which statistics is available, more than 3,200 fires were known to have been caused by electricity**, quite possibly many of them due to faulty products.
- The South African SAFEhouse Association
The prevalence of sub-standard electrical products and services has prompted the formation of the SAFEhouse Association.
The SAFEhouse Association is an industry initiative with the following principal objectives:
- To protect users of products;
- To expose unsafe products & services;
- To enforce its code of conduct amongst members;
- To co-operate with all entities who have congruent objectives, notably the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS); and
- To promote environmental protection.
The SAFEhouse Association requires its members to adhere to its code of conduct which includes the following:
- To sell only products that are safe and fit for purpose.
- In the absence of local regulations, to comply with credible international standards.
- Compliance with the Consumer Protection Act.
- In the case of its members’ products having safety defects, to:
** Information supplied by the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa
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