28 DESIGN : DEAR PLUMBERS

By D . S ( Vollie ) Brink Pr . Eng . MSAICE , MPMISA

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 wellearned retirement .

The training of the engineer , technologist , and technician in the “ workplace ” as candidate for professional registration and the actual “ work ” which this person must do to prepare for professional registration .

The training program is set out by ECSA , and this training program is known as the “ 11 outcomes ”.

To enter as a candidate the engineer , technologist or technician must apply to be registered as a candidate .

The applicants must have completed the required tertiary qualification such as an engineering degree , diploma , or certificate .

The applicant is a qualified engineer , technologist or technician and accepted as a candidate and then this person must enter the ECSA 11 outcomes training program .

This program is a practical work program which requires practical work to prepare the candidate to become competent in all aspects of engineering to become a competent engineer , technologist , or technician .

This work program takes a minimum of three years and can take up to five years or more to complete .

There are various sources of “ work ” which range from “ design ” to “ construction ” to “ operation ” and “ maintenance ” and “ specialization ” and many other types of engineering work .

There are some engineers who accept work for which they are not specifically competent , this is illegal .

There are even persons who have no qualifications and not formally competent to do engineering design but present themselves as “ engineer ” and as competent and charge professional fees for such work , this is illegal and an offence .

There are various sources of work , and it depends on the area and the location and the country and many other elements , it also depends on the industry and socio-economic situation and many other factors such as .

• Rural

• Industrial

• Metropolitan

• Agricultural

• Mining

• Municipal

• Medical

• Government

Work comes from entrepreneurs such as developers but also from state enterprises and the private sector which is the major developer all over the world .

It is important to take note of “ 4IR ” as a new work sources and space because it will dramatically change the future and the source of work and training and the need for engineers and all the related needs and competences that will go with 4IR .

“ The candidate must decide which discipline he or she wants to enter and obtain competence ”

The candidate must decide which discipline he or she wants to enter and obtain competence with and it must be within the boundaries of his / her tertiary qualifications .

This choice will affect the career of the candidate for the rest of their life or until they want to change and become competent in another or second or more disciplines .

There are various “ sources of work ” which dictate the design and construction of the work and the competences required for such work .

One cannot enter into a mechanical program and become excellent and competent with a mechanical degree and then want to do work as a structural engineer and sign for the design .

The work and training go together , but so too also the type of work and type of training .

It is not good to educate and train people for work and competencies which are not required or outdated .

It is not good to study for many years and then find out that there is no need for it in the marketplace for such work .

Civil Engineering is a complex and diverse engineering field and therefore the civil engineer must specialise in specific disciplines and as noted , more than one discipline .

There are certain disciplines in civil engineering that go together , such as municipal water and sanitation and

www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline April 2022 Volume 28 I Number 2