Plumbing Africa April 2020 | Page 35

35 DESIGN: DEAR MR PLUMBER “I believe engineers, plumbers and the industry must work together and create a common interest forum where both are required to develop technology and support each other and don’t work behind each other’s backs.” you having to do anything in terms of design, unless your contract requires you to do so. This ‘note’ on a drawing is usually used by persons who are not competent designers and who are doing work for which they are not qualified. For a rational design you must be professionally registered in terms of the Engineering act, but some people ‘get away with not being registered’. The ‘deem-to-satisfy-rule-design’ was developed specifically so that you don’t need an engineer for the design of the services of a house. However, whether the design is a rational design or a deem-to-satisfy-rule-design you cannot just get away with a ‘note’ stating that ‘The drainage system must comply with SANS 10400-P or ‘The water system must comply with SANS 10252-1’ and leave it to the plumber to know what to do. You, the designer, must take out of the above-mentioned documents, or other relevant documents, what is relevant April 2020 Volume 26 I Number 02 for the specific project, and not throw the whole book at the plumber. You, the designer, must provide all the documentation in detail, with detailed drawings and specific specifications and references. Quality control is a greatly neglected element in design and construction and some people have checklists for design and also for the construction, but if it is not applied then it is basically useless. My last thought for you to ponder, is that it seems that plumbers and engineers seem to drift further and further apart and create their own domains. I believe engineers, plumbers and the industry must work together and create a common interest forum where both are required to develop technology and support each other and don’t work behind each other’s backs. Vollie Brink is one of the industry’s longest-serving wet services engineers. He continues to serve on SABS committees and has been involved in the Green Building Council’s Green Star rating system. Brink continues to consult for various organisations while enjoying a well- earned retirement. The economy is difficult, and it seems it is getting more difficult: Should we not take hands and work together for the benefit for all? PA www.plumbingafrica.co.za