Filenews 18 February 2025
Gaps, shortages and a broken supply chain govern the issue of electrical installations in Cyprus, with the president of the Cyprus Association of Licensed Electrical Contractors (CYAC), George Kyriacou, warning that many tenants in Cyprus are at risk of short circuits, electric shock or even fire from faulty equipment.
The tragedy in Limassol has again highlighted the serious long-standing problems regarding electrical installations and appliances, with professionals in the sector sounding the alarm.
The president of the NHS expressed his concern to "F", stressing that both electricians themselves, importers and state authorities should assume their responsibilities in order to prevent new tragic situations due to equipment failure.
Asked about this, Kyriacou said that the problem lies in the problematic equipment imported into Cyprus. As he explained, when it is found that these products are problematic and lurk risks, such as short circuit, electric shock and fire, it is too late, since this equipment has already been installed in many houses and apartments. In most cases, as Mr. Kyriacou points out, this problematic equipment is not replaced and so many owners and tenants of houses are at risk at any time from failures that can cost them their lives.
Essentially, as the president of the EAC told "F", a number of products and electrical equipment that has already been installed in homes is problematic, with a serious risk for those who live in them, but it cannot be replaced because the legislation does not provide for controls.
It is a ticking time bomb, he said, which will explode if everyone, from importers to electricians themselves, and the state does not assume its responsibilities. Mr. Kyriacou argued that most products deemed problematic come from a specific country abroad, which, as he adds, should trouble the authorities.
No prior check
According to Mr. Kyriakou, most defective products are detected after their installation and after complaints from the citizens themselves. As he said, the Association informs the authorities of these reports, which in turn proceed with an inspection of the equipment. When it is found that this equipment is indeed defective, then it is withdrawn, however, the damage for many houses has already been done and the danger will lurk, since these products have already been installed and in most cases will not be replaced.
Check every 2 and 10 years
Asked about the ways that can be resolved what has been put forward by the Association, Mr. Kyriacou said that the state should on the one hand modernize legislation and on the other hand regulate the import of equipment from countries from which it is proven – as he notes – that most problematic products are identified.
As Mr. Kyriacou explained, under current legislation there is no obligation to re-inspect the facilities and it is considered that the first inspection carried out by EAC during the installation of the equipment is satisfactory for the safety of the tenants. Something that, as he said, cannot be true, since in many cases, problematic products are identified after they have already been installed and while the electrical installations have passed the relevant EAC inspection. According to the president of the Association, many houses in Cyprus may hold an EAC certificate but after some time they may not be safe.
A solution to this, as Mr. Kyriacou argues, can be provided with the new bill, which will provide for an audit every two years for rented premises and every ten years for privately owned premises.
Bipolar sockets and adapters
Another issue that arises is related to electrical appliances sold in Cyprus that have a bipolar socket instead of a tripolar one. The president of the EHC described it as a very serious issue, especially for devices that need a high electrical load to operate. As Mr Kyriacou said, heavy electrical appliances are not safe to operate with transformers (adapters) supplied by consumers with the purchase of the product. There are, he added, many examples where adapters have had problems because they cannot operate continuously with such an amount of electrical charge.
He said these devices would need to have a three-pole socket in order to operate safely.
