Plumbing Africa February 2018 | Page 19

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS 17 << Continued from page 15 The standard- setting process involves co-ordinated action between a variety of interested parties in a particular industry. Panellists discussing the SANS 721 case. Standards are sometimes created without considering practical implementations, creating a conflict for enforcements. New products and technology may be more appropriate than products that have been on the market for a long time and so, entry and compliance for these products need to be a simple and easy process. LOOKING AHEAD Standards need to be established through working and functional technical committees, applying consistent methodology and reasonable logic in what the minimum standard should be, including ease of maintenance or replacement and the ultimate expectation of the consumer, while also avoiding anti-competitiveness or unreasonable barriers of entry. Compliance to standards already adds costs to production and affects competitiveness on a global level. The world is moving rapidly; not maintaining the link to technology places standards at risk of becoming obsolete and ultimately, the protection of the consumer cannot be secured. PA Prepare for PLUMBDRAIN 2018! With only six months until PLUMBDRAIN 2018, co- located with Interbuild — Africa’s largest building services and construction exhibition — time is running out to book your stand at the only dedicated plumbing, drainage, sanitation, water, and sanitary- ware exhibition on the continent. This year’s exhibition marks Interbuild’s 50th year and promises a shift away from the traditional one- dimensional stand in favour of an interactive technical experience to give you a competitive edge in the marketplace. All Interbuild and PLUMBDRAIN exhibitors are required to abide by South Africa’s mandatory industry standards or to commit in writing to obtain the SABS mark. www.plumbingafrica.co.za As the owner of PLUMDRAIN and being the official media partner of Interbuild, hosted by Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, Plumbing Africa is your only reliable source for all relevant and exciting news before, during and after the exhibition, to be held at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg from 15 to 18 August 2018. Time is running out for you to book your space and enjoy the perfect platform to showcase your knowledge and expertise in all things plumbing and pipe, as well as the latest product technologies. PA For PLUMBDRAIN bookings and queries, call us on +27 (0) 11 579 4940, email [email protected], or book online at http://plumbdrain.interbuild.co.za February 2018 Volume 23 I Number 12