A major South African bank and financial services group has cautioned homeowners who want to make the move to solar to do their homework before investing thousands of rands.
According to Standard Bank, insurers have started to see “a rise in unqualified and inexperienced solar installers, leaving households with a power solution that doesn’t work, structural damage to the home due to defective design and workmanship, or costly repairs that are not covered by homeowners’ insurance policies”.
The warning follows an alert issued by the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) which noted a rise in the number of complaints about solar systems and generators.
In a media statement dated 21 February, the CGSO said it had observed an uptick in the number of complaints relating to the purchase and installation of solar systems and generators. For the 12-month period from 1 February 2022 to 9 February 2023, the CGSO received 202 complaints relating to solar systems and generators. Of these cases, 46% had to be terminated “owing to a lack of co-operation from suppliers”.
The top complaint was the non-issuance of a certificate of compliance (CoC).
“This includes not disclosing the criteria that need to be met for a compliance certificate to be issued, or that an additional fee will need to be paid,” CGSO stated.
Understanding the role of the CoC
Municipalities and insurers require all solar photovoltaic (PV) and/or battery systems to be installed by a competent installer who must provide a CoC.
De Wet Taljaard, technical specialist: solar energy, at the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (Sapvia), says a CoC is a regulatory requirement for all electrical systems.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act, Electrical Installation Regulations (EIR), state that no person other than a registered person may issue a CoC.
Taljaard explains that the CoC is a declaration by the registered person that the installation complies with the relevant national installation standard (in this case, SANS 10142) – the national low-voltage wiring guide.
“This wiring guide does not speak to installation quality, only to minimum installation and electrical safety standards.”
He says if a loss is incurred by the homeowner because an installation is non-compliant, there are well-defined recourse mechanisms in terms of the EIR.
In the case of a dispute regarding the compliance or non-compliance of a system, an Authorised Inspection Authority (AIA) must perform an audit under the instruction of the chief inspector or upon the request of the homeowner. The AIA will produce an audit report that can serve as evidence in the arbitration or litigation process.
“Thus, the purpose of the CoC is to transfer the risk to the registered person, and away from the homeowner and/or the financier of the project,” Taljaard says.
Cover all your bases
Something else to consider is whether the installer has appropriate insurance cover in place, such as a contractor’s all risks (CAR) policy for the installations.
CAR is a non-standard insurance policy that provides coverage for property damage and third-party injury or damage claims, the two primary types of risks on construction projects.
Taljaard says many contractors also provide a 12-month workmanship warranty post installation.
Dr Hardy Ncube, head of personal products at Standard Bank Insurance, says that, as with other areas in the home, insurers do not cover faulty equipment, defective design, or non-compliant installation.
Ncube says, when it comes to getting cover against unforeseen loss or damage caused by “specific perils” (such as fire, lightning, storm, or theft) post installation, solar systems would normally be covered under homeowners/building insurance because it forms part of the fixtures and fittings of the property.
“It is important that the client consults their insurer or broker to obtain the correct advice, understand the policy terms and conditions, and ensure they are correctly insured,” he says.
As part of the process, an insurer will typically ask homeowners to provide a CoC; an invoice detailing the brand, size, type and number of solar panels, inverters, and batteries; municipal approval where required; and sometimes a structural engineer’s certificate to ensure the sound condition of the roof and its ability to carry the weight of the solar panels.
Finding an accredited solar provider
Sapvia reviewed its current registration system and created the PV Green Card assessment (pvgreencard.co.za) as a form of accreditation to assist in identifying qualified and trained installers.
Besides doing technical qualification checks, Ncube recommends that consumers conduct online searches of each installer and assess reviews of their service by previous clients to ensure they are experienced and reputable.
“It’s also essential to confirm that a registered electrician will be used to connect the system to the main distribution board and that the required CoC will be issued,” he says.
Notably, a reputable solar installer will conduct a site visit to assess the condition of the roof and property before finalising a quotation, says Ncube, and this should always offer a workmanship warranty.
Do your product research
Ncube warns that the high demand for solar in South Africa has seen a flood of sub-standard equipment into the market. He suggests doing online research as well as ensuring that the products offered are backed by appropriate manufacturers’ warranties or guarantees and the company carries the relevant licences or accreditation to instal.
“While the prices of these components may look attractive, the long-term costs of inefficiency, failure, and electrical and fire hazards make this a route to avoid,” he says.
According to Taljaard, the fact that there is no national compulsory specification for inverters has made the barrier to entry lower than it should be.
“However, there are national equipment standards for solar PV panels SANS 61215 (for poly and mono crystalline) or SANS 61646 (for thin-film) that currently form part of the national low voltage wiring guide, and for solar PV cables SANS 62930, that will soon be incorporated into SANS 10142,” he says.
Taljaard advises that homeowners should look for PV panels from Tier 1 suppliers.
“The Tier 1 rating speaks to the quality and after-sales support, including warranty support.”
When purchasing an inverter, Taljaard says homeowners should explicitly ask for inverters that are NRS 097-2-1 certified or listed on the City of Cape Town’s approved inverter list.
“NRS 097-2-1 is a national safety specification for inverters. The City’s list represents a convenient collection of inverters that comply with the NRS requirements.”
As for batteries. homeowners should look for batteries that comply with international standards specifically:
- IEC 60086-1:2021 Primary batteries – Part 1: General
- IEC 60086-2:2021 Primary batteries – Part 2: Physical and electrical specifications
- IEC 60086-4:2021 Primary batteries – Part 4: Safety of lithium batteries
- TUV SUD certification (or similar testing partner certification)
Maintenance is key
Wear and tear is a standard exclusion in policies. Ncube says damage resulting from wear and tear, and/or a lack of maintenance is not covered.
He says homeowners need to ensure the solar system or equipment is regularly maintained in line with the manufacturer’s requirements.
“This extends beyond the solar system and is applicable to the entire building or structure. Homeowners are encouraged to prioritise the maintenance of their home. Neglecting to regularly maintain their home can ultimately lead to costly repairs and claims not being paid out.” he says.
Taljaard also emphasises the importance of annual electrical, mechanical and roof inspections to ensure the effective functioning of solar systems.
He explains a mechanical inspection of roof-mounted PV panels, cables, and mounting structure is needed to confirm the adequate fixing of panels and cables to withstand wind load conditions.
An electrical inspection will determine the electrical safety of the system and ensure that the system performs as designed.
Roof inspections are necessary to prevent the build-up of debris, organic or otherwise, beneath panels that can result in damage, moisture build-up, and potentially pose a fire hazard.
“Finally, panels should be washed at least annually to ensure that the system performs as designed. All inspection and maintenance procedures should strictly be carried out according to the equipment manufacturer’s specifications to avoid any warranty claim disputes,” Taljaard says.
what spesific should i watch out for when considering instaling solar at my home?
The first thing is to ensure the contractor is reputable. The electrical work must be done by a qualified electrician who will provide a compliance certificate. Check on the company’s track record – how long has it been doing solar installations? Can they given you references? Also, find out what the municipal requirements are for solar installations. Will the installer handle the approval with the municipality? When you get quotes, ask for a full breakdown of all major components – are they SA Bureau of Standards approved? Use Google to check for ratings and reviews on the panels, inverter and batteries.
How do I verify that that supplier rating is Tier 1?