NEWS
5
Inox’s CSSPs receive SABS
test report
Inox Systems, a local manufacturer of corrugated stainless steel
pipes (CSSP) and managed by brothers Eric and Ofir Levi, has
received its South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) test report.
By Dineo Phoshoko
1
Multilayer pipe (at the time) was a good product;
however, not as an outside solution: it was not UV
resistant according to the required specifications. The
company then looked at the corrugated steel product,
bringing in samples from overseas and testing it
themselves. The initial smaller diameter pipe — 15mm
outside diameter (OD) — being slightly larger than the
copper pipe but smaller internally, worked very well
with the low-pressure geysers throughout the country,
not having had any issues or leaks to date. Once the
company reached the point where they could further
expand into other areas having experienced the success
of CSSP, and to take the product further, SABS testing
was the next step.
It was required to write a complete standard for CSSP
because no relevant standard existed. The initial
product (from overseas) was applied under two different
SABS standards: the first was the standard for flexible
connectors and the second was a standard for welded
stainless steel pipe. Juggling the two standards was
acceptable for the low-pressure solar industry and
the initial drive behind SANS 1689, which relates to
corrugated stainless steel piping systems for both hot and
cold water supplies.
“Over a period of approximately five years, we wrote the
standard with the SABS, with quite a few people involved,
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
2
The company started off about eight years ago and with
various contracts, it was involved primarily in the solar
industry. At that time, they were using multilayer or
copper, but were pushed to look for solutions in changing
the materials because of the challenges around theft, as
well as workers not having sufficient skills with soldering,
both on and off site. They sought out solutions where
bends could be avoided and the joints limited, and looked
for possibilities in doing the installations quicker, or as
quickly as possible, on site.
The company is a member of the Southern Africa
Stainless Steel Development Association (SASSDA).
including Dirk Vorster from Easyflex, so there was a lot
of knowledge at the table that helped in the process,”
says director Ofir Levi. A great deal of assistance to get
the standard going also came from a technical expert in
the field. Working closely together, they were one of the
driving forces behind getting the standard launched.
Initially, only supplying their products for testing, they
realised it would be a difficult task to get through
the creation and testing of standards. Inox Systems
management was invited to join the committee to
write the standard. “The process was indeed slow
due to the volumes of information required and the
verification process required thereafter,” Ofir Levi notes.
“Fortunately, some of the committee members involved
are very knowledgeable, so where it was required
to look at different standards for reference, these
members knew them off by heart, which made the
process a lot easier.”
1.
2.
Adapter kit being applied,
allowing an Inox CSSP
to fit securely into a
compression fitting.
Photo displaying the Inox
CSSP’s pliability.
Continued on page 7 >>
April 2018 Volume 24 I Number 2