What is a plumbing COC?
A plumbing Certificate of Compliance (COC) is a legal document issued by a registered plumber confirming that the plumbing installation or alteration meets the requirements of:
- SANS 10252 (Water supply and drainage for buildings)
- SANS 10400-W (National Building Regulations — drainage installations)
Only a plumber registered with PIRB (Plumbing Industry Registration Board) can issue a valid COC.
When is a COC required?
A COC is legally required for:
- Any new plumbing installation (new home, new bathroom, new kitchen)
- Alterations or additions to existing water supply, drainage, or sanitation systems
- Any work requiring municipal approval
- Property transfers (your conveyancer will require it)
- Insurance claims related to water damage
What happens if you don't have a COC?
- Insurance: Your insurer can reject claims for water damage if work was done without a COC
- Property sale: Your conveyancer will flag the missing COC; it must be obtained before transfer
- Bond approval: Banks require COCs for new work when approving or transferring bonds
- Municipal fines: Councils can require remediation and issue fines for non-compliant work
How to get a plumbing COC
- Hire a PIRB-registered plumber for the work (only registered plumbers can issue COCs)
- The plumber inspects the installation and issues the COC if compliant
- Keep the original COC and provide copies to your insurer, bank, and conveyancer as needed
All plumbers in the FlowLeads network are PIRB-registered and include a COC with all qualifying work. Get a free quote today.