Environment and energy
17
Pertinent SANS for built
environment and plumbers (Part 2)
By Andrew Camphausen
There are two little words that carry quite a bit of weight in our
industry: ‘shall’ and ‘should’.
So, what are the differences between them?
• ‘Shall’: This is the law and there is no way
around it — there are no grey areas.
• ‘Should’: This is a recommendation by industry.
These two words are vital for our SANS 10252:1 law for
the sustainability of the built environment. Please take
these words into account when reading further.
Terminal fitting flow controller
•
•
This controller shall be replaceable and should be fitted to
the terminal fitting for the purpose of water conservation.
The flow rates to taps on wash hand basins shall be a
maximum of 6ℓt/min and on showers at 10ℓt/min.
Water conservation in South Africa has never been more
prevalent than now. If we notice the weather patterns
presently in this country, it is quite apparent that global
warming is more dangerous than ever before. Drought
in the Western Cape with cold fronts that are delivering
less than satisfactory rainfall patterns, and in Gauteng
we find rain in the winter. The weather bureau will tell us
that a low pressure exists over Botswana lately, which
has attributed to winter rainfall in Gauteng. That just tells
us that global warming is highly prevalent and more so in
Africa and our country.
Flushing devices and WC flushing cisterns
•
Any single flush or dual flush water closet (WC) flushing
cistern shall comply with the requirements in SANS 821;
automatic shut-off valves for WCs and urinals shall comply
with the requirements in SANS 1240.
Note: For water conservation, it is recommended that the
dual flush WC units be considered.
•
a.
b.
c.
Any flushing device that serves a WC pan or urinal shall
be activated:
Manually, by the person using the pan or urinal; or
Automatically, by means of an approved apparatus that
causes the flushing device to operate after each use of
the pan or urinal; and
Shall be designed so that the valve cannot be held open
to exceed the prescribed flushing volume.
South Africans generally are conditioned to price over
anything else. No one cares if the product that is
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
bought actually functions within the ambit of the law.
Further to this, it is not policed, which makes it so much
more difficult for the law to be regulated. A handful of
manufacturers on the South African market actually
uphold the law, while others use price as the motivating
factor. Someone said to me today, “Who cares, as long
as I get the sale.” How short-sighted is this? If everyone
shares this outlook on our fragile drought-ridden market,
how much longer will our water resources last? The
law was promulgated with water saving and vandalism
resistance as motivating factors. Sustainable plumbing
is everyone’s business. It is our responsibility to do the
right thing.
Metering taps and showers
Unless otherwise required, ablution areas that have a battery of
more than three (3) wash hand basins or showers shall be provided
with metering, or demand type taps or metering type showers.
This is one of my favourite observations within the built
environment. When visiting mall ablutions for example,
it is commonplace to notice the beautiful, sleek lined
mixer type taps that are installed onto at the very least
10 vanity basins in a single run. So, consider the scenario
of a lever type basin mixer being left slightly open at
the end of a day due to a user in a rush to get home.
Pressure spikes during the night as not many people are
bathing, showering, or going to the toilet. Most people
are resting in their warm beds. So, this little thing called
pressure may open the lever tap (as it is already open)
and the next morning, the maintenance staff of that
establishment could be greeted by flood waters. So what?
Well, that perfectly good potable water is now mopped
up and flushed down the drain. Does this water go back
into our potable water supply? Normally, no! And that is
the problem. We don’t uphold the simple law that was
painstakingly put into existence for all that need water on
a daily basis to survive.
Andrew Camphausen
Andrew (Andy) Camphausen
has been in the building/
plumbing industry for over
20 years. During his six
years in the Free State,
he was nominated and
served as the vice-chairman
of IOPSA Free State. He
was offered a Regional
Management position at
Cobra Watertech, which is
still his employer today. In
2011, Andy was promoted
to National Channel Manager
of the Commercial Sector,
where he was transferred to
the head office in
Bryanston, Gauteng.
The laws are there for many things, but in this editorial,
this is for the sustainability of water conservation for both
the present and generations to come.
Are you upholding the law? PA
August 2017 Volume 23 I Number 6