14
ASSOCIATIONS
Why is there a need for a
CoC audit?
By Erene Oberholtzer, PIRB Communications Officer
Within any industry, checking up on compliance is always
necessary. There is always a need to weed out shortcomings
within an industry, and within the plumbing industry, this process
is no different.
Erene Oberholtzer, PIRB
Communications Officer.
The need for a Plumbing Industry Registration
Board (PIRB) Certificate of Compliance (CoC) audit
is quite simple. With any regulations, standards
or laws, if the policing of such is left unchecked
it will result in the regulations, standards or laws,
becoming meaningless.
Just imagine if speeding on our roads or drinking and driving
was left unchecked. Carrying out a physical inspection or
audit ensures that plumbing regulations, standards, and
laws are upheld. In turn, this creates a fair, accountable and
equitable environment for us all to operate in.
The audit process
The auditing process within the plumbing industry is
undertaken by an outsourced third party. In allowing the audit
process to be carried out by a third party allows for the PIRB
to be impartial and unprejudiced. Currently, the Institute of
Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) fulfills this function.
In total, the PIRB auditing process is subject to the number
of PIRB CoCs that have been issued and logged. Just 5%
of all PIRB CoCs that are issued and logged are randomly
audited. Furthermore, complaints received from the public
or a random review of a licensed plumber may result in an
audit being undertaken.
Of course, there might come a time when a plumber
disagrees with an auditor’s findings. Plumbers are
therefore welcome and encouraged to raise these
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concerns with the PIRB. This must be done by
completing the disagreement with an audit form;
however, plumbers must submit the necessary
evidence to substantiate their disagreement. The
same goes for when a plumber feels that they’ve
been treated unfairly.
During an audit
An auditor looks for the relevant plumbing standards
and regulations applicable to the installation and the
local municipal by-laws during an audit. An auditor
can give a plumber a rectification notice after an audit
has taken place. The rectification notice will denote
any particular findings of the relevant plumbing
works. The notice may outline the failures and the
rectifications required by the plumber. This notice
must ultimately be rectified within five days of the
notice being given.
If a plumber does not complete the remedial action
concerning the rectification notice or provide
substantiated reasons as to why the rectification
was not undertaken, disciplinary action will be taken
against the plumber, which may lead to suspension of
registration with the PIRB.
To safeguard the homeowner the PIRB may also
need to provide the homeowner with the findings,
and they may choose to take further action against
the plumber. PA
@PlumbingAfricaOnline
February 2020 Volume 25 I Number 12