6 ASSOCIATIONS
Plumbing – buy cheap , buy twice
By
David Poggiolini for IOPSA
All businesses are at risk of incurring water damage due to plumbing systems that have been incorrectly installed , maintained or repaired .
However , this risk is especially high in high-rise commercial real estate and high-value buildings , as well as hospitals , clinics and health services centres . The degree to which these buildings incur water damage because of plumbingrelated issues is also usually more severe and the resulting losses higher than in other types of premises . This is considering the extensive use of bathrooms in these buildings and their water-intensive outlets .
Insurance companies only cover the cost of the water damage when it was sudden and unforeseen . Therefore , the insured will not be able to claim when water damage is due to wear and tear of plumbing systems over time . Moreover , property owners cannot claim from insurance if water damage is the result of a defective plumbing system design ; poor quality plumbing workmanship ; or the use of inferior plumbing materials . It is only in exceptional cases that costs of repairing damage because of wear and tear of plumbing systems have been covered by insurance companies . Even in such cases , the property owner still bears the full cost of repairing or replacing damaged plumbing systems . This unplanned cost can be extremely high , not to mention the resultant water damage which is often much more costly . Considering the risk involved , it is advisable that property owners or tenants ensure that their plumbing systems are correctly installed , maintained and repaired . Qualified plumbers will issue a Certificate of Compliance for their plumbing workmanship . This holds them accountable for the quality of the work that they have performed .
“ Water damage can have a significant negative impact on business . I am not just referring to the cost of replacing damaged inventory , furniture and equipment , which can be exorbitant on its own . Many businesses may also not be able to operate at full capacity or at all until such time that the repairs have been completed , resulting in a loss of revenue during this period which will depend on the severity of the damage . Worryingly , there are many businesses that are still willing to take this risk , evidenced by the increase in substandard plumbing workmanship in the country . It is certainly not only homeowners who use the services of unqualified ‘ plumbers ’ or skimp on maintenance ,” says Brendan Reynolds , executive director of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa ( IOPSA ). IOPSA is the official mouthpiece of the South African plumbing industry . The institute ’ s
“ Qualified plumbers will be able to mitigate this risk …” strong membership consists of qualified plumbers as well as manufacturers and suppliers of quality plumbing products .
There are two types of plumbing leaks that can damage property . They include incoming freshwater and outgoing sewage leaks .
The lead cause of interior water damage in multi-storey buildings with stacked plumbing is leaking toilets . Toilets have several parts that can deteriorate over time . Generally , toilet inlet hoses need to be replaced at least every three to five years – even if they do not appear to be worn . As much as 113l of water a day can leak from a small hole in a toilet hose or waste pipe . This may not be immediately noticeable and can potentially become a more serious problem if left unattended . The damage is compounded by the cost of the wasted water that will reflect on the monthly utility bill . Higher than normal utility bills are always a tell-tale sign that there are leaks on the premises .
Meanwhile , as much as 950l of water a day can leak from a 0.3cm crack in a pipe resulting in significant damage over time and an excessive waste of water . The extent of the damage caused by a leaking pipe will vary from mild to severe , especially when water leaks into walls or floors . These leaks can also damage the foundation of a structure , which is not supposed to be exposed to moisture . Older buildings are especially prone to this risk considering the age of their plumbing . A challenge , however , is that serious pipe defects may go undetected for extended periods before it is too late . This is considering that many pipes on a property are concealed in walls , floors , underground or in ceilings . Interior corrosion that eventually leads to pipe bursts can also go largely unrecognised . A qualified plumber is trained to detect leaks in hidden pipes and whether they are about to fail due to internal corrosion problems . Various sophisticated methods are deployed to locate leaks on pressure pipelines and non-pressure pipe systems . The most suitable method is determined after a comprehensive site inspection .
Water main breaks almost always cause extensive damage . Lead causes of water main breaks include extreme weather events , construction activity and soil erosion , as well as the age of the system . A qualified plumber will be able to advise whether it is time to replace a water main . Older systems used steel pipes which were susceptible to corrosion and reactive with most chemicals , whereas polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) pipes are now widely used in these applications . PVC water pipes are also free from bio-film contamination that can be a breeding ground for bacteria and are very effective in avoiding unnecessary water waste from source to
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline February 2023 Volume 28 I Number 12