Compliance
What if my solar installation fails a municipal or CoC inspection in South Africa?
Stop energising any unsafe path, get the written defect list, and have the CoC-holding installer remediate before you chase feed-in credits or insurance comfort. Common fails: dual-supply labelling, earthing/bonding, SPD omission, wrong RCD patterns, and NRS settings that do not match the approval.
Updated 27 October 2026 · Illustrative ranges — not a formal quote, credit decision or legal advice.
Answer first: A failed inspection is a punch-list, not a rumour. Demand the written findings, photos, and which standard clause is cited. Pay retention only against cleared items.
Frequent fail themes
- Missing or incorrect dual-supply / embedded-generator labels — dual-supply labels.
- Earthing and bonding incomplete on roof steel / battery cabinets — earthing.
- No DC/AC SPDs where the design required them — surge.
- EV circuit not on a dedicated compliant path — EV CoC.
- Inverter settings not matching NRS / approval values — NRS 097.
- DB overcrowding or wrong breaker selectivity — DB upgrade.
Immediate homeowner steps
- Get the defect list in writing the same day.
- Do not bypass interlocks or labels “just for Stage.”
- Schedule remediation with the original CoC electrician where possible.
- Re-test and only then update SSEG / insurer files.
- Keep before/after photos for the sale pack — selling.
Money impact
While failed, you may lose export credits and, worse, run an unsafe islanding risk. Self-use can continue only if the electrician confirms a lawful temporary mode — zero-export · SSEG cost.
Who pays
Workmanship defects sit with the installer under the contract and CoC responsibility. Scope gaps you declined (SPD “optional”) may be variation-order items — read the quote — read a quote · red flags · inspector tips.
Insurance note
Notify the insurer if the system cannot be used as disclosed. Do not claim “fully compliant solar” on a policy while a fail is open — insurance · CoC.
Prevention on the next job
- Witness labelling and earth tests at commissioning.
- Photograph SPD part numbers and NRS settings screens.
- Refuse energisation without a clear CoC plan.
Communication template
Email the installer: defect list attached, photos attached, request remediation date within a defined number of working days, ask whether export must stay disabled, and whether any variation costs are conceded as workmanship. Copy yourself on the municipal reference if one exists.
Re-inspection readiness
- Labels fitted and photographed.
- Earth test results recorded.
- SPD indicators green / new where replaced.
- NRS settings printout matches approval.
- DB tidy with legend updated.
Related: PV GreenCard · choose installer · DIY risks · NRS inverters.
Desk closing note
Keep names, dates and reference numbers from every municipal call in one folder with the CoC. Clear punch-lists before you celebrate monitoring graphs — check a quote · 2026 tariffs.
Export credit clawback risk
If you already received credits on a non-compliant setup, ask the metro what happens during remediation. Do not assume silence equals approval — feed-in · meters.
Body corporate and estate fails
Trustee or HOA letters sometimes lag electrical CoC. Align both files before transfer or refinance — sectional title · property value · selling.
Retest photography pack
Photograph every remediated label, earth bar, SPD and settings screen. Attach them to the installer completion email and your insurer note. Future you will need them after hail or a warranty desk query — hail · surge.
When to escalate
If the installer ghosts after a fail, escalate in writing with the contract, defect list and a deadline, then engage a competent person for remediation while preserving warranty evidence — choose installer · GreenCard.
Safety first language for the household
Explain to everyone at home: no resetting tripped RCDs repeatedly, no removing labels, no DIY “temporary” neutrals. Stage comfort is not worth a shock or fire risk — fire myths · essentials · solar in shedding.
Documentation timeline
- Day 0: written defect list + photos.
- Day 1–2: installer remediation plan with dates.
- Remediation day: witness tests; photograph clears.
- Re-inspection: keep pass letter with SSEG file.
- Insurer/bank update if the system was disclosed as compliant.
Related process pages: SSEG steps · inspector tips · CoC.
Cost of delay
Every week without lawful self-use or export is bill money left on the table at 350–450 c import blocks. That is why punch-list speed matters more than arguing tone over email — monthly savings · metro tariffs.
Common myth: “the app is green so we passed”
Monitoring uptime is not a CoC or municipal pass. Only the competent person’s certificate and the metro’s acceptance (where required) close the loop — monitoring · CoC · SSEG need.
EV wallbox fails layered on solar fails
Annex-N-style EV circuit defects often appear in the same inspection visit. Fix solar dual-supply labels and the wallbox path together to avoid a second booking — EV wiring · DIY charger risks · charger choice.
After the pass
File the pass letter, updated as-builts and photos beside warranties. Tell the insurer remediation is complete. Then — and only then — celebrate export credits on the bill — insurance · feed-in · self-use.
Desk closing note
A fail is a dated punch-list with photos and standard clauses — clear it fast, keep the pass letter with SSEG and insurance files, and do not confuse a green monitoring app with compliance. Bring the defect list to every follow-up meeting — check a quote · choose installer · red flags · CoC.
Keep a running project log with installer emails, municipal reference numbers, meter serials and commissioning dates so any future buyer, insurer or warranty desk can reconstruct the compliance path without guesswork across the full ownership period of the system.
Educational ranges only — municipal forms, OEM parallel rules and inspection clauses change; verify the live primary documents before deposits or energisation decisions are finalised for your property.
Cross-link this answer with your metro feed-in page, usable kWh page and installer red-flag checklist when you build the comparison spreadsheet for competing quotes on the same brief.
Store PDF copies of approvals, CoC pages, settings screenshots and serial lists in two places — local disk and cloud — with filenames that include the property erf and the commissioning month for faster retrieval later.
Store PDF copies of approvals, CoC pages, settings screenshots and serial lists in two places — local disk and cloud — with filenames that include the property erf and the commissioning month for faster retrieval later.
Store PDF copies of approvals, CoC pages, settings screenshots and serial lists in two places — local disk and cloud — with filenames that include the property erf and the commissioning month for faster retrieval later.
Store PDF copies of approvals, CoC pages, settings screenshots and serial lists in two places — local disk and cloud — with filenames that include the property erf and the commissioning month for faster retrieval later.
Quick questions
Can I keep using the system after a fail?
Only as the electrician and municipality allow — often with export off. Do not ignore safety defects.
Should I hire a second electrician?
If the original installer stalls, a competent person can remediate, but CoC and warranty implications must be clear in writing.
Will SSEG be revoked?
Unresolved safety or settings fails can block or reverse export registration. Clear the punch-list fast.
Sources & related
Refile fees and contract language
Put who pays for re-inspection after installer errors into the contract. Vague “we handle council” language is how punch-lists drift for months while export credits wait — SSEG cost · red flags · choose installer.