Safehouse Calls for Industry Clarity in 2025:

The NRCS has an ambiguous interpretation of regulations leading to stoppages of products: all products do not need an LoA.

We have entered an era of uncertainty, and it is time for us to take a stand and address the issues at hand. Safehouse members  are unanimous in standing together to create a safe and compliant electrical industry in South Africa.


Companies are facing stoppages and delays, not to mention significant confusion in the market, considering the LoAs. The NRCS has merged the safety standards and performance standards into a single “one size fits all” regulatory model based on a LOA approval for each 3rd party Type Test Report on products that are within the scope of a compulsory specification.

It is important to note that many national standards have not been adopted as compulsory specifications (VCs) and they need no mandatory regulation by the NRCS. Correct interpretation of standards and compulsory specifications is critical so that manufacturers and importers are familiar with their legal obligations. In some instances, unlawful embargoes are enforced on out-of-scope products, often due to misinterpretations leading to confiscation and destruction of consignments and significant financial loss to the supplier.

NRCS Regulations
Lighting and specialised appliances

Lighting and specialised appliance categories:

The Compulsory Specification for Electrical and Electronic Apparatus VC 8055-1.3a and 3b state that it does not apply to apparatus designed and sold for industrial purposes and intended for use by instructed and skilled individuals. Due to the lack of clarity and the misinterpretation of the scope of the specification, there are often stoppages not only of industrial/commercial luminaires but also of industrial items not classified under household specifications.

The most comprehensive specification VC8055, intended for the regulation of household appliances, covers requirements for mains-operated electrical and electronic apparatus for the safety and energy saving of products for use by the ordinary person in household, light industrial and general office applications. These products are generally available through normal distribution retail outlets.

Specialised traders and specialised products which are not sold to the general public, for instance, commercial or industrial luminaires with specialised photometric distribution for use in public buildings, transformers, reactors and power supplies used in electrical assemblies or installations, or catering equipment not used by the normal household, are not covered in the scope of VC8055 and should not be regulated by the NRCS, because many of these are installed and maintained by skilled or instructed individuals and installed in areas governed under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and subject to regular safety inspections.

Products are experiencing unnecessary stoppages.

Washing machine

Washing Machines:

The NRCS has set a limit for household washing machines with a volume of up to 150 litres, even though the standard household washing machine is not even close to 150 litres.
industrial steam iron

Industrial steam irons:

Industrial steam irons used for curtains and large volumes, approximately three metres in length, are being regulated under the same specifications as a standard iron used at home.
steam cooker

Steam cookers:

The 600-litre steam cookers, used for catering in hotels/army bases and large kitchens, are classified by NRCS under the same specification as a house-used pressure cooker.
Luminaires:

Luminaires:

Commercial luminaires, which you don’t buy off the shelf; bulkhead luminaires, usually installed in factories; and floodlights, which are designed for lighting installations, are often treated as decorative domestic luminaires and are all subjected to VC8055 and need LoAs.
lab testing and measuring equipment

Testing and measuring equipment:

Testing and measuring equipment is used in pathology and other laboratories and is not the normal measuring equipment for general use; yet it also now falls under VC8055.
tubular florescent lamps

Tubular fluorescent lamps:

Tubular fluorescent lamps are not covered by the new General Service Lamps specification and are allowed to be phased out following transition to LED technology. Although implementation of the new General Service Lamp specifications, VC9109 and VC9110, since May 2024, suffered extensive delays in obtaining sales permits for old stock and LOAs for the new lamp types, most importers are now compliant with the administrative implementation of the specifications. Importers have also received LOAs for new lamp types.
rechargable torches

Rechargeable torches:

There have been incidents of unlawful stoppages of consignments of rechargeable lanterns and battery-operated torches by the NRCS. Despite the confirmation by the IEC TC34 that the international standard for luminaires does not cover these products. NRCS refused to accept the IEC TC34 interpretation and also stated that the SABS TC64 Working Group, which was also requested to give an interpretation of the standard, does not have the mandate to interpret specifications that could affect the NRCS regulation.
cord extension sets

Cord extension sets:

Illicit trading of non-compliant cord extension sets is rife and poses serious safety risks to consumers. Low-cost sets with copper-coated aluminium conductors are an attractive deal but are all non-compliant with the applicable compulsory safety specification. Safety risks are increased by extension sets that are being used sometimes under adverse conditions in households. Lack of effective regulation aggravates the situation.
Passive infrared detectors

Passive infrared detectors:

Used in home security systems.
Energy-saving motion sensors

Energy-saving motion sensors:

Sensors installed in lighting circuits enable energy saving because when there is no movement in a room, the sensor picks that up, and then it either dims the lighting or it switches the lighting off.
These products are not covered in a compulsory specification, but despite that, there have been stoppages of consignments, and the importers must have test reports on these products.
  • This broad interpretation of specifications has resulted in unnecessary stoppages of consignments for these products.
  • Despite collaboration and conversations with the NRCS, they insist on demanding LOAs for all these products through their new online process.
  • Safehouse raised concerns with the NRCS, but the interpretation is so vague that it covers everything. Which is unreasonable, as these imported products not only cost millions but are not sold through retail outlets.
electrical test report

LoA is less reliable than having a test report.

The LOA is far less reliable than having a test report, as the LOAs are being manipulated by the NRCS to cover many products on one LOA with asterisks and variables to the point that the LOA does not show the exact type and model of the product issued for approval of the application. The test report only covers one or two products.

There are many reputable companies that make a detailed list of their product model numbers when they do an LOA application, and those model numbers appear on the LOA, ensuring the product identification.

Another disadvantage of relying on an LoA is that the person approving the product never actually sees the physical product. They base the LoA on the test report, even though they have never worked in test laboratories themselves. Unfortunately, they have the authority through the NRCS to do the evaluations.

If the NRCS has sole discretion and if the clinical person knows very little about electrical technology, this sole discretion can result in a dangerous approval.

The time for Clarity is now.

Safehouse believes there is a need for clarity in the scope of specifications to avoid these challenges.


Products that fall outside the scope of specifications are experiencing unlawful embargoes. It is important that importers and manufacturers are up to date with what the scope of specification should cover. Importers are being advised that they need to do LoA applications for products that fall outside the scope of the specifications to prevent stoppages while importing these products.


There used to be guidelines for importers about which products needed an LOA and which didn’t. The codes on Table 4.1 have been altered from recommended performance standards to the new code, which states applicable standards—this does not mean ‘compulsory standards’—it is a mixture of VC’s and normal standards causing major confusion.

electrical industry compliance

Significant Concerns.

There are significant concerns on the regulatory framework and its impact on industry compliance, and there is an urgent need for accountability and consumer safety awareness.
Safehouse encourages members to communicate their concerns and interact with other  members so that together we can assist in the implementation of change to ensure industry compliance.

Contact Safehouse to chat about concerns.

Safehouse Members need to continue to stand together to create a safe and compliant electrical industry in South Africa.
Contact Safehouse