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certification of products. No new products have been tested. SAPPMA: Indeed, despite early and continuous warnings and interactions, many product permits expired without being renewed in time by the SABS. PHACT: Most definitely, yes. PHACT knows of several companies that have lost contracts worth several million rand because they were unable to produce a valid SABS certificate— despite meeting the necessary product criteria— and in one instance having already paid for the testing to take place.
PA: What actions have been taken to address such difficulties? IOPSA: Current laboratories that can test are PESC and TEST Africa, and current certification bodies include South African Technical Auditing Services( SATAS). IOPSA and all manufacturers have met with the SABS and received excuses as to why the SABS has not been able to deliver, yet it continued its promises to resolve the issues. IOPSA has also met with the chief director at the Department of Trade and Industry( DTI), Dr Tshenge Demana, who pleaded that the DTI had been unaware of the crisis at the SABS. The outcome of the meeting was for the DTI to facilitate a discussion between the SABS and IOPSA regarding industry concerns. SAPPMA: After many months of fruitless attempts to get it fixed by the SABS, we decided to open an alternative avenue of certification. This resulted in most of our members migrating to a new service provider, SATAS. PHACT: The European [ Spanish ] certification body( AENOR) has started offering certification to SANS for hot and cold water piping systems. AENOR is fully accredited by SANAS, who themselves accredit the SABS to offer identical certification. SATAS is also very close to being able to offer the same certification. Hence, valid certification is available once more from any of these sources.( Plumbing Africa has confirmed that at the time of writing, SATAS had received accreditation from SANAS, in addition to the timber accreditation that they have held for many years.)
PA: On the enforcement side, please rate the performance in this field, 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. IOPSA: Enforcement lies with the local authorities, with a small porting of municipalities performing well. The bulk is not performing well at all, especially in the major metropolitan areas. The Plumbing Industry Registration Board( PIRB) is an industry enforcement mechanism that is gaining momentum. PIRB’ s oversight covers not only new build but also replacement and maintenance plumbing work. Currently, the National Building Regulations( NBR) require all solar and heat pump installations to have a PIRB Certificate of Compliance( COC). Current amendments will include electric geysers. The NRCS is moving to have national specifications written for all products, which will move enforcement from local government to national government. JASWIC still has a major role to play in listing products that may be used by local authorities or within their jurisdiction. SAPPMA: Enforcement under the NRCS umbrella was less than satisfactory. PHACT: We would rate it as a three.
PA: If rated three to five, please elaborate as to what area of enforcement is performing well? IOPSA: The plumbing industry is taking control of the enforcement of plumbers’ installations and now products. The manufacturers’ forum has approved IOPSA to look at an alternative advisory mark scheme, driven and sustained by industry, with the primary objective to create equality and oversight. PHACT: PHACT provides a score of three, because enforcement of standards could certainly be a lot worse! Building inspectors are at least generally aware that national standards exist and often ask suppliers or contractors for proof of certification. The difficulty, however, is that such actions are inconsistently applied, and complete knowledge by these inspectors is rare and understandably very difficult to maintain. In addition, there is no assistance from the originator of the national
THE INSTITUTE OF PLUMBING SA
QUALITY PLUMBING FOR ALL ESTABLISHED 1989
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www. plumbingafrica. co. za
February 2017 Volume 22 I Number 12