Associations
IOPSA manufacturer members have voluntarily tabled their
requirements to potential testing houses and certification
providers who test against the SANS document. Manufacturers
will engage individually with the testing houses, with IOPSA
purely facilitating these conversations.
The risks of an open competitive quality support environment are
the possibility of misinterpretation of requirements, standards,
and management. The government body that currently measures
and certifies testing and certification entities is the South African
National Accreditation System (SANAS)
It is imperative that industry and public are assured of quality
products across the plumbing supply chain. A plumbing
industry oversight body can achieve this by creating an
industry guideline within the existing framework and
enforcement mechanism to ensure that minimum product
performance standards are kept.
57
a hot water cylinder to explode, causing harm, damage, or
even death.
As plumbing is a relatively technical subject, one cannot expect
a consumer to understand the risks when making a choice,
unless the risks are highlighted. So, let us draw attention to
the reality that if you knowingly sell or install a product that
may cause harm, it is highly irresponsible and contravenes the
Consumer Protection Act, Building Services Act, Water Services
Act, and Occupational Health & Safety Act. Infringements may
lead to prosecution.
Let industry take ownership of their future and an equitable
environment for all.
For more information, please visit the IOPSA website at
www.iopsa.org or contact 08610 PLUMBER. PA
The health and safety of a person should not be equated to
cost. In other words, one cannot state that health and safety
requirements cannot be met due to expense. The plumbing
industry cannot place a person at risk by, for example, not
installing an electrical geyser safety valve, which may cause
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
July 2017 Volume 23 I Number 5