It is critical for any electrician performing electrical installations, whether at home or at the workplace, to possess appropriate qualifications and also to be a registered electrical contractor, says electrical solutions company Magnet training manager Johan Roets.

“The onus is on the user of any electrical installation to ensure that this is the case. An electrical compliance certificate is proof that the electrical installation is safe and complies with the current Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act)”.

Roets adds that, in the event of damage to property resulting from an electrical fault, insurance companies will require a valid electrical certificate to be presented before a claim can be settled.

He says that Magnet offers local industry a specialist on-site inspection service to ensure that a plant’s electrical installation complies with the OSH Act.

Magnet’s inspection and test programme is based on the Electrical Code of Practice SANS 10142-1. This service is offered to diverse properties, including shopping centres, hotels, banks, hospitals, industrial premises and properties in hazardous environments, says Roets.

Magnet also offers a power quality analysis service to industries including mining, metal manufacturing, sugar milling, railways and power utilities, as well as to power factor correction and electrical consultants.

This service encompasses power factor and harmonic filtration and balancing the load, as well as checking the general power quality of the installation.

Magnet’s range of test and measurement devices includes a-eberle network power analysers, designed for reliability, portability and easy operation.

The PQ-Box 100 - which is a network power analyser, power meter and transient recorder in one - has been developed specially for mobile operation and is suitable for measurements in public networks.

The device, which is compact and shockproof and has a waterproof housing, is designed for tough applications. The PQ-Box 100 measures voltage quality according to the requirements of NRS048, EN50160, IEC 61000-2-2 Class A, for low, medium and high voltage networks.

The instrument has a power supply through measurement cables, and has application specific settings that are easy to programme. A number of triggering options enable quick location of the fault and a USB II interface is available to transfer the data. PQ-Box 100 has a 1 GB memory and enables measurement values to be stored for up to a year.

Magnet has also invested in a thermal imager for use during site inspections. The device, which provides temperature measurement and fault detection, enables thermal imaging surveys to be completed whilst the plant is operational. Thermal imagers play an important role in the predictive and planned maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems.

The company also offers a power factor correction service, designed to protect electrical and electronic equipment from potential damage and to reduce electricity demand.

Magnet also runs a five-day refresher course on the SANS 10142-1 Wiring Code, based on the current syllabus issued by the Department of Labour for electricians who are working towards getting their licence and becoming a Registered Person (previously known as the wireman’s licence).