Standards
Introduction to the SANS 10222-3:2012 Edition 4.1
In South Africa the Electric Machinery Regulations, Government Notice No. R250 (Government Gazette 34154) of 25 March 2011, published in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993) (OHS Act), which is administered by the Chief Inspector of Occupational Health and Safety of the Department of Labour, requires that all electric fence installations (non-lethal), temporary or permanent, comply with the requirements of SANS 10222-3.
It also requires that an accredited person, defined as an electric fence installer, issues an Electric Fence Certificate for an electric fence installation (non-lethal). Such a person will be registered with the Department of Labour by the Chief Inspector of Occupational Health and Safety.
ADVANCED ELECTRIC FENCING strictly adheres to all the Standards.
Below follows only a few of the many Standards as it appears in the SANS 10222-3:2012;
4.1.3.3 a) the neutral/earth continuity conductor shall be identified by colour green only;
4.1.3.3 d) The live continuity conductor shall be identified by the colour red only;
4.1.4.1 c) Joints and terminations shall not be made in any conductor, bend, elbow or tee- piece of a conduit;
4.1.4.2 a) Joints on the fence bare conductors shall be: made of ferrules or clamps (or both);
4.1.4.2 b) soldered, where wire wrap joints are used; and
4.1.4.2 c) sealed with paint, butimen or by soldering;
4.2.1.1 a) An insulated fence high-tension cable shall not run in the same trench or wireway -with a mains alternating current supply cable;
4.2.1.1 b) -with the cables or wires of telecommunication, radio and signalling circuits;
4.2.1.2 d) the bare high-tension conductors (of an electric fence) shall be at least 30 mm from any foreign object that is not part of the electric fence installation;
4.3.1 Fence high-tension cables and conductors shall only be buried if they run in conduit, pipe, trunking or in similar protection.
4.3.2 a) The protected fence high-tension cable shall be buried in pickable ground with a minimal cover of 300 mm;
4.4.1 h) All joints, fittings, entry and exit points to conduit, pipe, trunking or similar protection, shall be sealed so as to prevent the ingress of moisture, water or other foreign substances;
4.6.1 All electric fences shall be identified by prominently displaying warning signs.
4.6.7 In high density populated areas, sign boards shall not be more than 10 m apart.
5.3.2.3 Where an electric fence and communication line is installed parallel to each other for a distance less than 100 m, the minimum separation distance of at least 1m shall be maintained.
10.4.1 c) The lowest live wire strand installed on building elements shall be a minimum height of 1 500 mm above walking or ground level (or both), when bordering a public area.
10.4.1 d) Brackets shall be installed a maximum distance of 3 000 mm apart.
10.4.1 e) Fastening devices used in brick and concrete walls shall penetrate a minimum of 50 mm into the wall.
Annex C – Earthing of electric fences
C.1 b) All earth electrodes shall be a minimum length of 1.2 m with a minimum diameter of 10 mm.
C.2 a) A distance of at least 2 m shall be maintained between the energizer earth electrode and any other earthing system’s connected parts.
C.3 b) Three earth electrodes shall be installed in a close proximity to the electric fence energizer.
C.4 a) Electric security fences or domestic pet control fences (or both) shall have earth electrodes inserted at a maximum distance of 30m apart.
Annex G – Lightning protection requirements for electric fences
G.3 b) At the point of connection (between the electric fence and the energizer) or as close to it as possible, lightning arrestor(s) shall be connected to the ‘live’ wire(s) and an earth electrode. In the case of monitored systems, two lightning arrestors shall be used, i.e. one on the outgoing ‘live’ wire and the other one on the return ‘live’ wire.
