SANS 10142-1 Edition 3.03 Is Here: Why Every Registered Person Must Stay Updated
The electrical industry does not stand still. Technology changes, installation methods change, safety risks change, and the regulations that guide our work must change with it.
The new SANS 10142-1:2026 Edition 3.03 Amendment 3 has now been released and made available, bringing important updates that every Registered Person, electrical contractor, designer, installer and inspector must understand. This is especially important in the fast-growing SSEG, inverter, PV and battery storage environment, where installations are becoming more complex and where incorrect interpretation can create serious safety and compliance risks.
For a Registered Person, staying updated is not optional. It is part of the responsibility that comes with signing a Certificate of Compliance. The person issuing the CoC is the one placing their name, registration and professional accountability behind that installation.
The Regulation Has Changed Because the Industry Has Changed
For many years, electrical installations were mostly straightforward: a supply from the grid, a distribution board, circuits, protection devices and loads.
That picture has changed dramatically.
Today, many installations include:
Solar PV systems
Battery storage
Hybrid inverters
Backup supplies
Generators
Parallel sources
Island-mode operation
Smart control systems
Surge protection
Energy management systems
Specialised earthing and bonding requirements
This means that the Registered Person can no longer only look at the traditional AC installation and ignore what is happening around the alternative supply, PV array, battery system or inverter configuration.
SANS 10142-1 Ed. 3.03 makes it clear that these areas now require closer attention, better testing, proper documentation and a much stronger understanding of how multiple sources affect the safety of an installation. The attached Amdt 3 change register highlights major updates in installation requirements, special installations, verification, certification, test reports and generating plant/PV/battery documentation.
Availability vs Official Enforceability
One important point must be understood clearly.
The new document being available means the industry can now study it, prepare for it and start aligning with the updated requirements. However, standards and amendments also follow a formal official process. The Standards Act provides that SABS issues South African National Standards and amendments by notice in the Government Gazette, and that notice must identify the standard and summarise its scope or amendment.
In simple terms: do not wait until the last minute to learn the changes. Once the formal process is complete and the amendment becomes enforceable, Registered Persons should already understand what changed and how it affects their work.
Which Version Applies to Which Installation?
This is where many contractors get confused, and it is one of the most important parts to understand.
SANS 10142-1 recognises that the standard is continuously updated. Because of this, there must be a clear way to decide which edition applies to a specific contract or installation.
The practical interpretation is:
1. New work must follow the version applicable at the time of that work
For new contracts, the applicable version is the latest approved version before the contract date. That means if the contract is entered into after the new amendment has taken effect, the new requirements must be considered.
2. Older contracts are not automatically forced into the new edition
If a contract was signed before an amendment was approved, that work would generally be carried out according to the version that applied at the time of the contract.
3. Existing installations are judged by the rules that applied when they were erected
An existing installation is not automatically “non-compliant” simply because the standard was later updated. The edition that applied when that installation was erected defines the requirements applicable to that installation.
4. Extensions and alterations follow the rules applicable at the time of the extension or alteration
This is the key point. If an old installation is extended or altered today, the new work must comply with the version applicable when that extension or alteration is done. The old part of the installation is judged according to the edition that applied when it was originally erected, but the new work must comply with the current applicable requirements. The SANS wording explains that the implementation date, contract date, and date of erection or alteration determine which version applies.
In plain language:
You do not rewrite history on an old installation, but you must comply with the current rules on the work you are doing now.
Why This Matters for Certificates of Compliance
A CoC is not just a document to close a job. It is a legal and technical declaration that the electrical installation, or the part being certified, complies with the applicable requirements.
The OHS Act framework referred to in the SANS introduction links electrical installations to SANS 10142-1 and requires a Registered Person to issue a Certificate of Compliance together with a test report.
This means a Registered Person must know:
Which edition applies
What part of the installation is being certified
Whether the work is new, existing, altered or extended
Whether a generating plant, PV or battery system forms part of the installation
Which additional reports must be attached
What tests must be performed and recorded
Whether the installation is safe under grid, backup and island-mode conditions
Signing without understanding the latest requirements creates risk for the client, the contractor, the Registered Person and the industry.
Major Areas Updated in Edition 3.03 Amendment 3
Amendment 3 brings changes across several sections, but the biggest practical impact will be felt in the SSEG, inverter, PV, battery and testing space.
1. Alternative supplies and parallel operation
Alternative supplies are no longer only seen as simple backup generators or UPS systems. The updated wording brings stronger focus to supplies that can operate in parallel with the normal supply, which is exactly what many modern inverter and SSEG systems do.
This means the Registered Person must understand how the system behaves:
When the grid is present
When the system operates in backup mode
When sources operate in parallel
When the system changes to island mode
When neutral and earth references change
This is a major shift because the safety of the installation now depends on how the system operates under different conditions, not only how it looks when tested in one mode.
2. Neutral-earth reference in island mode
One of the most important SSEG-related changes deals with the neutral/earth reference for systems with backup functionality.
The change register highlights that the neutral/PE reference must be part of the generating set, power converter or manufacturer-supplied control equipment, and that a separate external relay or contactor arrangement is not accepted in that context.
This is very important because incorrect neutral-earth arrangements can create dangerous touch voltages, prevent protective devices from operating correctly, or create unsafe conditions during island operation.
The key message for Registered Persons is clear:
Do not guess with neutral-earth bonding on inverter and backup systems. Understand the manufacturer’s design, the SANS requirement and the test result before signing.
3. Multicore cables and different supply sources
Amendment 3 also introduces an important rule that a multicore cable may not contain conductors from circuits supplied by different sources, such as inverter input and inverter output conductors in the same multicore cable.
This has major practical implications for installers.
It means cable selection, routing and separation must be planned properly from the start. Shortcuts that may have been common on some inverter installations can now create compliance problems.
4. PSCC on generating plants, batteries and parallel sources
Prospective short-circuit current is no longer only a “grid supply” consideration.
Where generating plants, battery systems or multiple sources are installed, the Registered Person must consider the fault contribution from those sources. The change register notes that where more than one source can operate in parallel, PSCC summation must be considered, and PSCC information must be obtained from sources such as nameplates, datasheets, manufacturers or calculations.
This affects:
Protection device selection
Breaking capacity
Coordination
Fault current calculations
Test report accuracy
Overall installation safety
If the PSCC is wrong, the protection may be wrong. If the protection is wrong, the installation may not be safe.
5. PV, battery and generating plant test reporting
One of the biggest practical changes is the introduction of Annex S, an additional test report for generating plant, PV and battery installations.
This means the standard CoC and normal test report are no longer enough where these systems form part of the installation. The generating plant portion must be properly tested, documented and signed off.
The new report includes important information such as:
Converters
Storage systems
PV modules
Phases
DC voltage
Islanding settings
Surge and lightning protection
Single-line diagrams
Bonding continuity
ECC sizing and resistance
Neutral loop impedance
PSCC
Elevated neutral-to-external-earth voltage
This is a major move toward better accountability in the PV and battery industry. It also protects the Registered Person because the test report gives a clearer record of what was checked and what was certified.
6. AC, DC and PV array insulation resistance testing
Amendment 3 separates and expands insulation-resistance testing requirements for AC, DC and PV array DC circuits.
This matters because PV and battery systems introduce DC circuits that behave differently from normal AC circuits. Testing must be done correctly, safely and with the correct understanding of the equipment connected to the installation.
A Registered Person must know what to test, how to test it, when sectional testing is allowed, and what minimum insulation resistance values apply.
7. Structural loads and PV mounting
PV is not only an electrical installation issue. It is also a structural and mechanical safety issue.
Amendment 3 brings stronger focus to PV support structures, module mounting, roof penetrations and structural loading requirements. This is important because even if the electrical side is correct, an unsafe mounting system can still create serious risk.
Registered Persons and contractors must ensure that PV modules and mounting structures are mechanically sound, that roof penetrations are weatherproof, and that the relevant building and structural requirements are considered.
8. Fire risks
Fire safety is another major focus area.
PV, batteries, DC circuits, inverters and high current systems can create fire risks if they are incorrectly designed, installed, protected or maintained.
Amendment 3 highlights fire-risk requirements and the need to comply with national and local fire regulations applicable to the installation.
For contractors, this means the installation must be viewed as a complete safety system — not just a collection of wires, breakers and equipment.
Why Every Registered Person Must Take Personal Responsibility
The biggest mistake a Registered Person can make is to rely only on what they were taught years ago.
Experience is valuable, but experience without updated knowledge can become dangerous. The industry has changed too much for any Registered Person to say, “This is how we have always done it.”
A responsible Registered Person must stay updated with:
New SANS amendments
New test report requirements
New PV and battery rules
New earthing and bonding requirements
Manufacturer specifications
Municipal and supplier requirements
DoEL and regulatory expectations
Industry technical notices
You cannot sign today’s installation with yesterday’s knowledge.
The Risk of Falling Behind
Failing to stay updated can lead to:
Incorrect Certificates of Compliance
Rejected reports
Unsafe inverter or SSEG installations
Incorrect neutral-earth bonding
Incorrect fault-loop or PSCC values
Fire and shock risks
Insurance disputes
Client complaints
Professional liability
Damage to your registration and reputation
A Registered Person’s signature carries weight. When you sign, you are saying:
I have inspected, tested and verified this installation according to the applicable requirements.
That statement must be backed by current knowledge.
Final Thought: The Standard Has Changed — Have You?
SANS 10142-1 Ed. 3.03 is not just another book on the shelf. It is a reminder that the electrical industry is moving forward, especially in the SSEG, PV, battery and alternative supply environment.
Power may still be power, but the technology around it is changing fast.
The Registered Person who stays informed will remain relevant, compliant and trusted. The one who ignores the changes will eventually be left behind.
Stay Updated with Nearby Electrician
At Nearby Electrician, we understand how difficult it can be for contractors and Registered Persons to keep up with every technical change, regulation update and industry requirement.
That is why our members receive ongoing support, technical guidance and important updates to help them stay informed and compliant.
As a Nearby Electrician member, you gain access to a professional support environment where you can stay updated on regulation changes, technical requirements, CoC matters, SSEG developments and practical industry guidance.
✅ Stay informed
✅ Stay compliant
✅ Get technical support
✅ Understand regulation changes
✅ Build confidence as a Registered Person
✅ Be part of a professional contractor network
The industry is changing. Make sure you are not standing still.
Become a Nearby Electrician member today and stay connected to the regulations, the industry and the future of electrical contracting. ⚡
Can this new digital book/pdf be printed?
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