⚙️ Service Interval Guide
DB Board Thermal Scan
South Africa
Arc faults are invisible to the eye but readable with thermal imaging. The leading cause of residential electrical fires — preventable with an annual scan.
94°C
Temperature of a live arc fault we found
SANS
10142
Compliance standard
Q: How often should a DB board be inspected in South Africa?
A DB board should be thermally scanned annually under SANS 10142. Thermal imaging identifies hot connections and arc faults invisible to the naked eye — the leading cause of residential electrical fires in South Africa. The inspection covers all breakers, neutral bars, and incoming supply connections. A DOL Certificate of Compliance is issued on every compliant board by a DOL-registered electrician.
What the annual DB board inspection covers
✓Thermal imaging scan — infrared camera identifies temperature anomalies across all breakers and connections under live load
✓Arc fault identification — loose connections cause arcing that reads as localised heat; isolated and repaired before they cause fires
✓Neutral bar inspection — most commonly corroded point in SA residential DB boards
✓Earth leakage relay (ELCB) test — correct trip response verified; required under SANS 10142-1
✓Breaker condition check — breakers tested for correct trip response; aged breakers that fail to trip are a primary fire risk
✓Incoming supply check — cable sizing, insulation condition, and main breaker capacity verified
✓DOL Certificate of Compliance — issued on every compliant board by a DOL-registered electrician
Book DB board thermal scan from R700
SANS 10142 · Thermal imaging · DOL CoC issued · Same-day fault isolation
What thermal imaging reveals
A healthy electrical connection reads at ambient temperature — typically 20–25°C. On a routine HomeGuard Pro inspection in Durban, thermal imaging revealed a 40-amp breaker running at 94°C — more than double its rated maximum. The fault was a loose neutral connection causing active arcing, invisible to the naked eye. The breaker was isolated and replaced in the same visit.
South Africa's load shedding makes this worse. Repeated power cycling causes terminal screws to loosen through thermal expansion and contraction. Boards that were compliant 3 years ago may have developed loose connections through mechanical stress alone.
Insurance: Most SA home insurers require a valid Electrical CoC to honour fire damage claims. An annual DB board thermal scan with a new CoC is the most cost-effective way to maintain this requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CoC required annually?+
A new CoC is required after installation, significant electrical work, and property transfer — not legally annually. However, many insurers require evidence of annual inspection. A HomeGuard Pro DB board service provides the inspection report and, where compliant, a new CoC.
What happens if a fault is found?+
The technician quotes the repair in-app before touching anything. You approve, the cost is held in escrow, the fault is repaired, and you release payment on satisfaction. A new CoC is issued after repair.
How long does the scan take?+
30–45 minutes under live load conditions.
Every HomeGuard Pro service is performed by an employed RCE Electrical & Plumbing Services technician — Home Affairs identity verified, SAPS background checked, PIRB or DOL trade qualified, and publicly liability insured.