DESIGN: DEAR MR PLUMBER
the ‘rules’ too rigidly, and cannot or will not adapt or
rationalise. Rules can no longer be rigid but
need to be adaptable, and the rational design is the
ideal vehicle to think anew and fresh, and with 4IR in
mind.
A typical example of this rigid thinking and lack of
adaptability is with the older generation who frantically
cling to the regulations and specifically the rules. An
example is the gully. There are other solutions for a
gully which are much more hygienic and much more
aesthetic. The basic reason for a gully was to provide
an overflow for backflow from the municipal sewer and
also a connection box to collect all the waste-water
discharge pipes, and it is supposed to be situated
between the house (kitchen and bathroom) and the
municipal connection.
The national building regulations (NBR) will not be
4IR-friendly at the rate it takes to adapt, and the
institutional red tape is also not conducive to faster
development. Perhaps the deem-to-satisfy rule will be
more aligned to a doom-to-stagnate rule for the future
or for fast tracking the 4IR requirements.
Perhaps what will be required in the short term is to
remove some of the people who cannot adapt or align
to new and fresh 4IR thinking. PA
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.
An engineer has developed a simple backflow-overflow
pipe configuration which has been used with great
success on many projects such as hospitals and
other buildings, and also some other solutions to
prevent overflow of sewage when there is a blockage.
Fortunately, these solutions are part of rational design
and could be implemented, but it is a pity that it
cannot be applied on all buildings, as changing the
regulations may take years.
17
August 2019 Volume 25 I Number 6
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