Due to the constantly rising electricity costs in South Africa many home owners are now opting to have gas appliances installed in their homes. This is a great way to cut down costs but if not done correctly it could render your insurance policy invalid.
In 2009 regulations were introduced and these regulations state that all gas installations must have a Certificate of Conformity (COC) according to the Pressure Equipment Regulations which have been made known under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (85 of 1993). This certificate states that the gas installation is safe and free of any leaks.
In order to be compliant, your certificate of compliance must be issued by an authorised person who is registered with the Liquified Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa. This certificate is needed by all homeowners who have a liquid gas installation in their home and the onus is on the homeowner (not the installer) to make sure that a certificate of compliance is in their possession. Should an appliance be defective something goes wrong, an insurance company will be well within their rights to reject a claim if a certificate of compliance is not produced.
It’s important to note that being compliant is not only important to keep your insurance policy valid but also ensures that you are not putting yourself and your family at risk by having an unsafe installation. If you wish to sell your home you would also need to provide the new owners with the original or a copy of the certificate of conformity.
Need to know more or find out how much it costs to be compliant? contact us today!