DESIGN : DEAR PLUMBERS 17
One would expect that there will be close contact and co-operation between the engineering fraternity and the plumbing industry as design goes together with installation and construction , and installation and construction follow the design .
The two bodies , the engineers , and the plumbers , meet on some common ground , such as the SABS and even the Building Control Office and in some cases the Municipal Engineers , however I have found that the two entities do not really combine efforts and coordinating , and this is not in the best interest of the industry .
If there are issues which affect both entities or which could affect both entities , then it would be beneficial if both entities got together and worked together .
My time is running out at 85 , but I still would like to see that the plumbers produce the long-awaited and promised document / manual for installation . Such a document is so extremely important as a tool for installation and training and quality control . Such a document must not only have installation information but must serve as a Quality Assurance ( QA ) document .
The plumber ’ s first responsibility is the correct installation of fixtures and piping , and then all the other installation work .
I have many examples of QA , to which I will gladly contribute . This document will also be a very good tool for the training of the building inspector , and it can also be used by the municipal construction worker and inspector and even the engineer .
Instead of trying to do the building inspector ’ s work , rather train them to do their own work , which can be done in the length of time it takes to train a plumber . This will provide work opportunities .
The Development Bank had a training programme for municipal employees perhaps this can be expanded to train the building inspectors ?
A function of the building inspector is the element of Quality Assurance which could be integrated into the inspections process . Inspection , for example , means to inspect the open drainage pipe in the pipe trench to see if it is straight and to witness the pipe pressure test and then to inspect the installation when the work has been completed . Unfortunately , this is technically not good enough anymore and , in many cases , not always applied due to various reasons .
The following is how the inspections and testing should preferably be carried out as part of a compulsory QA system . 1 . The ‘ laying out ’ of the drainage system must be done and checked and approved .
2 . The trench must then be inspected to ensure that no ‘ over excavation ’ took place and that loose material was used to fill the over excavation without approved backfilling .
3 . The invert levels of the trench must then be checked to be correct before the piping is laid .
4 . Then the pipe bedding must be put in the trench and the piping laid on the bedding .
5 . The invert levels of the piping on the bedding must be checked . 6 . The piping must then be pressure tested . 7 . The piping must then be covered with the approved backfilling of at least 300mm over the piping and the piping must be pressure tested .
8 . The general backfilling of the trench shall then be done and compacted as specified or as SANS1200 .
9 . The final activity must be to pressure test the piping and do a pipe camera inspection .
10 . The abovementioned procedures shall be carried out and on record not only in writing but also on camera .
11 . As-built drawings must be done and submitted for the record and a certificate of completion and compliance .
12 . The QA system must be signed by the following people .
• The plumber doing the work
• The supervisor of the plumber
• The QA officer of the contract
• The engineer ( to do ‘ spot checks ’)
The engineer must then issue a certificate as per SANS10400-A , Form 2 , and Form 4 . The proposed QA process is what most engineers apply on their projects and what competent plumbers are accustomed to applying .
Until next time , keep clear of Covid , and do your best . PA
Kind regards ,
Vollie
“ The engineer and the plumber must respect the value of one another and the contributions by each other and the potential of working together .”
August 2021 Volume 27 I Number 6 www . plumbingafrica . co . za