10
ASSOCIATIONS
The COC’s success and
resolving common
challenges in compliance
Since the commencement of the Plumbing Industry
Registration Board (PIRB) certificate of compliance (COC)
in 2012, more than 200 000 COCs have been issued by
plumbers throughout South Africa.
In addition to the fact that it is a legal
requirement for a COC to be issued for any hot
water installation, consumers have also become
more aware of the benefits, and COCs are
increasingly coming into demand for all types of
plumbing work.
One of the popular benefits for the consumer is that the
PIRB performs audits on a sample of all COCs issued.
This not only holds the plumber
accountable for the work he or
she does, it importantly opens the
door for plumbers to have access
to expert knowledge in assisting
the process of improving the
quality of the work delivered.
"A geyser
explosion will
cause serious
property
damage and
if any person
happens to
be in close
proximity,
death is a
likely result."
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When an audit is performed and non-
compliances are identified, the plumber is
compelled to correct these. The majority
of such cases result in the plumbers
correcting the non-compliances without
delay, however cases where plumbers
neglect to implement the necessary
corrections do occur. If this happens, the
result for the plumber is that they might
end up being suspended from the PIRB for
not complying with the rules of the COC.
The common causes of non-
compliance
To help plumbers better understand the pitfalls
that could result in suspension, the PIRB has identified
the two most common non-compliances. These non-
compliances are also of a safety-critical nature, which,
if left unattended could land up causing harm, serious
injury or even death.
The first most common mistake relates to the discharge
pipe from the Temperature and Pressure Safety (TP)
valve. It is often found that the discharge pipe from the
TP valve is too long, has too many bends, bends that are
too sharp, or will discharge at a position that is unsafe.
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Bear in mind that the function of this valve is to give
the homeowner an advanced warning that something
serious has failed on their geyser and more importantly
to protect the geyser from explosion.
A geyser explosion will cause serious property damage
and if any person happens to be in close proximity, death
is a likely result. It is therefore of utmost importance
that the TP valve and its discharge pipe are installed so
that it will allow the valve to fulfil its function without any
restrictions.
South African National Standards
(SANS) 10254, clause 5.2 requires
among others, that the discharge
pipe may never have 90 degree
bends, that if the pipe is longer than
4m the full pipe length must be
increased to a larger diameter, and
that the pipe may never be longer
than 9m. All of these requirements
aim to prevent flow resistance in the
pipe when the TP valve needs to release
the content of the geyser at full rate in order
to prevent an explosion.
The second most common element of neglect
that may potentially lead to suspensions from
the PIRB, is a failure to ensure that a geyser
is properly bonded and earthed. Earthing of all
electrical circuits is an essential component in
protecting people from the dangers of electricity
and lightning. If any component is left unattended, this
creates the risk of potential loss of life.
A mistake made too often by plumbers is that when
a geyser is replaced, the plumber fails to re-connect
the earthing wire between the electrical circuit and
the bonding straps. Bonding straps are ineffective if
the earthing wire is not re-connected. If it is found that
such an earthing wire is not in place, the plumber is
encouraged to enlist the help of a registered electrician
to correct the electrical installation so that it can be safe,
and the earthing wire to the bonding is provided.
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August 2019 Volume 25 I Number 6