20
FEATURE
MIND THE ’ GAP ’
By
Rory Macnamara
In January 2021 Plumbing Africa wrote about illegal geysers , yet we still have them popping up like the proverbial bad penny .
When we addressed the matter with the company in 2020 , we were told to “ speak to [ their ] lawyer ”, who in turn instructed us to deal only with him on this matter . We were advised that the matter was subject to a legal counter with NRCS , and a reply was awaited from NRCS .
Secondly , if we look at SANS 151 for new geysers the tests are clear . Use of the phrase “ extensive testing ” in the definition is the trigger .
IOPSA Technical supplied the following related to hot water storage tanks ,
All went quite still until October 2022 when IOPSA ’ s eagle eyed National Technical manager spotted ads on social media and industry said – enough ! NRCS said – enough ! Using a recognised manufacturer ’ s name in selling the geysers is also against the law . It is called “ passing off ” and no doubt the manufacturer will take the necessary action .
Credit to the professional plumbers who collect the tanks and ensure they go for destruction .
There is a huge gap in the market when goods are of no use and cannot be reused / refurbished without compromising the material . The gap is fundamentally when a geyser is replaced and the tank needs to be destroyed .
One of two things happen , the tank goes for destruction in the correct way where the serial number and other information is recorded and returned to the manufacturer for their own records should that serial number ever rear its ugly head again OR unscrupulous people take the tank to companies that recondition – all for the princely sum of R100 which probably just covers the cost of petrol !
The latter is the gap . When a handful of geysers find their way to companies who believe they can make good what is old without any reference to the compulsory standard that governs Hot Water Storage Tanks ( Geysers ).
Is it obvious that these companies are reconditioning and not refurbishing as the definition indicates , ‘ The basic difference between the two terms is that a refurbished item has been returned by a client or customer , cleaned up , tested , repackaged , and made available for re-sale .” Another definition is simply “ cosmetic changes .”
“ A reconditioned product has also been returned and cleaned up , but it has also gone through extensive testing and possible repair before being repackaged and made available for re-sale .”
This is where the issue becomes clearer and even more pointed . Firstly , there is no standard for reconditioning of geysers and therefore no extensive test instructions .
SANS 151 8.2.2 Instructions for installation , maintenance , and repair : The leaflet or label accompanying the water heater shall clearly state that , for safe and effective performance , the water heater shall be installed , maintained , and repaired strictly in accordance with the appropriate and relevant requirements of SANS 10254 .
SANS 10254 Scope 1.2 This standard also covers the maintenance and repair ( excluding repair to the water heater body ) of the storage water heating system . 1.3 This standard applies to all water heaters that fall within the scope of SANS 151 , including the storage tanks of solar water heaters that fall within the scope of SANS 1307 , the storage tanks for heat pump systems and gas water heating systems .
Considering a geyser is a potentially powerful ‘ bomb ’ if not subjected to stringent testing and installation by qualified plumbers , the concept of ‘ own testing ’ as the one reconditioner states is unacceptable and carries a high risk . Now we can look at the gap that exists when old tanks find their way to these companies .
It is all an issue of where responsibility lies to ensure that these are correctly disposed of so as not to become a health and safety hazard by processes that are questionably suspect .
Geysers are installed in new buildings and would be specified by the engineer and installed by the plumber according to SANS 10254 .
As most replacement geysers are processed through an insurance claim , directly and through a third party used by insurance companies , who appoint the plumbers , with an instruction to purchase a geyser either through procurement arrangements with
“… extensive testing and possible repair ..”
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline February 2023 Volume 28 I Number 12