Electrical plugs and socket outlets for household use in South Africa
Plugs and sockets for electrical appliances that are not hardwired to the mains supply originated in the United Kingdom in the 1870's. British standards proliferated throughout the former British Empire to become the de facto standards that we know today.
Introduced in South Africa in the 1920's, the 15 Amp BS546 plug upgraded in 1994 to 16 Amp when the newer SANS 164 standard was introduced. The Round BS 546 is still the dominant domestic plug and socket system in South Africa despite the new standard being adopted in 2018.
BS 1363 was introduced in 1947 as one of the new standards for electrical wiring in the United Kingdom used for post-war reconstruction. The plug and socket replaced the BS 546 plug and socket, which are still found in old installations or in special applications.
The new ZA plug is a response to concerns about the safety of the older SANS 164-1 plug. Althought plugs with sleeves are available, by far the most plugs do not have insulated pins. The combination of sleeveless pins and non-recessed sockets make it it possible to touch the pins of the plug while they are under tension.
Another safety concern about the older standard is the relative amount of space the the plugs takes up next to adjacent sockets. This results in consumers cascading multiplugs and adapters to ensure enough open sockets to power their appliances. These stacked multiplugs often lead to dodgy electrical connections between them which may result in short circuits and even electrical fires.
The new ZA Plug shields the consumer from exposed pins, and, with a smaller footprint allows for more socket per wall box, curbing the use of multiplugs.
By law, all new buildings have to be fitted with SANS 164-2 sockets. These sockets can also include the old three-pin plugs, but they must include the new SANS 164-2 plugs too and may have switches. While fitting traditional sockets in existing buildings is not illegal, SABS is urging South Africans to adopt new sockets, which incorporate all kinds of plugs, and are now available.