02/04/2026
✅️Our COC reg: EFSI01581
✅️WE offer monthly maintenance packages on electric fence systems.
For more information, contact us:
☎️ 060 713 4764
📧[email protected]
⚠️⚠️IMPORTANT information for people with electric fences in South Africa
PLEASE READ!!
With burglaries and robberies prevalent across many parts of the country, property owners often install electric fences as a first line of defence and deterrent against unwelcome intruders.
However, these barriers can have many weak points if not installed or maintained properly.
Some property owners have tried to save money on their installations by using unqualified or unregistered installers.
Using unqualified installers is opening the doors to a poor installation that is not done to legal requirements and mostly leads to the use of substandard quality equipment.
There are specific legal requirements for qualified installers, and they are legally registered at the
Department of Labour.
Common issues arising from these installations include no circuit and incorrect looping, which could prevent an alarm from sounding when an intruder makes contact with the fence.
It can also cause the alarm to go off repeatedly for no reason, generating false alarms that cause unnecessary panic or security callouts.
Criminals know the requirements for fence installations and will use this knowledge to detect access points and power drains in the fence.
They will often look for rusted or non-tensioned wires and “test” the fences to see if there is a response to any alarms.
A fence that is not correctly installed and grounded will have lower or poor power output. Criminals’ knowledge can extend to the maintenance required for electric fences.
A common problem in this regard is the growth of trees and other vegetation near the fence. They know it will bring down the power on a fence and will also use this vegetation as access points.
‼️Regular maintenance is key‼️
Keeping the area around the fence free of natural plant growth will not only reduce the potential for intrusion but also extend the lifespan of the fence.
Furthermore, it will improve visibility, reducing the likelihood of intruders trying their luck to clear the fence in a more concealed area.
Electric fences should be inspected at least once a month, with a more in-depth inspection at least once every six months, to check for the following:
✳️Vegetation overgrowth
✳️️Slacking of tension on wires
✳️Legal requirements for the basic functionality of the fence
✳️Checking the electrical supply and functionality of the fence
✳️Checking batteries for proper state and supply
✳️Proper grounding.
Having proper maintenance agreements with installers and service providers keeps all equipment used on a fence in the correct, purposeful state.
Registered suppliers are clued up on the developments and requirements, and all equipment used in their installations is certified by law.
The most recent adjustment in electric fencing regulations was published by the South African Bureau of Standards in 2023.
Among the changes introduced were more detailed instructions on proper grounding and earthing of systems to prevent electrical hazards.
The regulations also stipulate improved testing methods to verify the safety and functionality of the fence after installation and specify higher-grade materials for components such as wires and insulators.
There are also benefits of smart CCTV camera systems as another line of defence.
These systems can provide property owners and security personnel with better situational awareness during an intrusion than conventional “blind” alarm systems.
