'n Jong seun het onlangs ernstige brandwonde opgedoen toe sy tent aan die brand geslaan het in 'n woonwapark aan die KZN-kus. Daar is bespiegel dat sy beddegoed vlam gevat het as gevolg van 'n kortsluiting in sy elektriese kombers.
Hierdie voorval is net die ore van 'n seekoei, by wyse van spreke. Daar is drie dinge wat my pla as ek oorde se fasiliteite en mede-kampeerders se gewoontes bekyk. Eerstens meen ek dat menige kragpunt onwettig en onveilig is. Die SABS stel dit duidelik dat kragpunte moet voldoen aan die amptelike standaard SANS 10142-1:2003: ‘blue adapter plug which has a six o’clock earthing position and must be 230 V single phase 15 A or 20 A. The points have to comply with SANS 1239 (be splash-proof).’ Elke kragpunt moet sy eie stroombreker hê en mag nie verder as 25 meter van die staanplek wees nie.
Een opinie is dat oorde wat voor 2003 gebou is, hiervan vrygestel is, maar dis nie heeltemaal waar nie. Die SABS stel dit duidelik dat enige oord wat reeds onveilige kragpunte gehad het of sedert 2003 van eienaar verwissel het, sy kragpunte moet opgradeer om aan SANS 10142-1:2003 te voldoen. Daar is dus min twyfel dat menige kampplek se voldoeningsertifikaat (certificate of compliance) onwettig (lees ook ‘vervals’) is. Kampeerders moet oorde ernstig aanspreek oor onveilige kragpunte. Die Verbruikersbeskermingswet kan lekker hard byt.
Tweedens meen ek dat kampeerders die situasie boonop vererger deur te veel toerusting aan een kragpunt te koppel. Ook sien ek gereeld hoe kampeerders met die oorde se kragpunte peuter en dan ook nog kabels aanmekaar las sonder om enigsins oor veiligheid bekommerd te wees. Derdens moet die ou gesegde dat goedkoop koop, duurkoop is, ons almal tot besinning bring. Dit is uiters gevaarlik (lees ook ‘onnosel’) om by 'n straathandelaar 'n multi-prop en kragkabel te koop. Hierdie produkte is afkomstig van lande wat beslis nie bekommerd is oor kwaliteit (en ons veiligheid) nie. Hulle voldoen beslis nie aan minimum-vereistes nie.
Ek moet duidelik meld dat ek geensins sinspeel dat die KZN-oord, die brandslagoffer of sy ouers aan iets skuldig is nie. Ek sien hierdie geval eerder as 'n waarskuwing. Die SABS, die Toerismegraderingsraad van Suid-Afrika (TGCSA) en die AA moet hierdie saak na behore dek in enige nuwe standaarde of graderingkriteria.
ENGLISH SUMMARY
Campsites must adhere to the official wiring standard SANS 10142-1:2003: ‘blue adapter plug which has a six o’clock earthing position and must be 230 V single phase 15 A or 20 A. The points have to comply with SANS 1239 (be splash-proof).’ Each site should have its own electrical point with its own circuit breaker. Guests must not need to use a connector cord more than 25 metres long in order to reach a power outlet. This applies to new installations done since October 2003, unless unsafe conditions existed in the first place. If the property has changed ownership since then, or been modified, altered or extended in any way, a certificate of compliance will have been required and non-compliant aspects rectified in line with the new regulations, as amended.
Campers should also refrain from using sub-standard multi-plugs and extension cords. The SABS, Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) and AA need to address this issue when writing any new standards or grading criteria.
If electrical points are supplied to some or all of the sites, it is recommended that a maximum of four electrical outlets per power box outlet be provided. Each electrical box must be fitted with an earth leakage and all wiring must be suitably screened from view inside the power outlet box to prevent accidental contact with the wiring. All electrical power boxes must be waterproof and the doors or lid must be able to be securely closed with power cords installed in their socket points (i.e. relief slots in the bottom of the box should accommodate these cords). All power boxes must be securely mounted on a suitable post at a height and location that is clearly visible to the camper. Ideally, no power outlet should be closer than 1.8 metres to a water outlet. Guests should not have to use a connector cord more than 25 metres long in order to reach a power outlet, nor should it be necessary to lay a connector cord across any access road or pedestrian pathway, or over another site.
At four- and five-star facilities, each site must have its own electrical point (not less than 10 A) with its own circuit breaker.
WOONWA-PRAATJIES
Neels van Heerden is professor and head of the Department of Marketing, Logistics and Sport Management at the Tshwane University of Technology. He is the master assessor of the AA Quality Assurance Programme for caravan and camping and has been enjoying the camping lifestyle for more than 30 years.
(This edition of Woonwa-praatjies was published in the September 2011 issue of Caravan & Outdoor Life)
