DESIGN : DEAR PLUMBERS 25 day-to-day communication between the engineer and the contractor and the various formal and informal meetings .
The most important element of communication is that it must always be on record , and verbal communication must always be followed by confirmation in writing .
Many people assume that the CoC is the end of a project .
Many people think that the CoC is a declaration of compliance or acceptance .
3 . The Contractor ’ s QA inspector must check the work and sign for it .
4 . The Design Engineer must do random inspections and sign for it .
This checking and inspecting and testing must be carried out according to a pre-agreed / approved QA document , which must be submitted by the contractor as the contractor ’ s proposed QA system under the control of the contractor .
The main contractor is ultimately responsible for the quality , and the legally responsible person , and must be allowed to use his own QA system .
If you read ‘ Form 4 ’, then you will see the CoC states that the work is ‘ complete ’.
The CoC does not give any ‘ guarantee ’.
The Quality Assurance ( QA ) system is important as it has milestones and the final milestone is to declare the installation complete and in compliance and acceptable , and then it can be handed over to the owner and all the guarantees and guarantee periods ‘ kick-in ’.
The person that issues this final certificate is the legally responsible person .
It is extremely important that the QA system and the milestones are all agreed upon as part and parcel of the contract documentation . The ideal QA system must be as follows : 1 . The person doing the work must check his / her own work and sign it off . 2 . Plumber ’ s QA inspector must check the work and sign for it .
As I have said , QA is a process with milestones and you cannot have one final inspection at the end when the work is complete and then bring in a plumber from outside to do a final inspection . It is too late .
Perhaps , some day we must talk about ‘ the kick-off-meeting ’, which is the first meeting with the contractor , sub-contractor , architect , QS , PM , and all other relevant persons , to explain the ‘ works ’.
I think it is also worthwhile to work through the ‘ 11 outcomes ’ of the post-degree mentorship programme .
PS : Since there is a lady plumber at IOPSA , I thought I must address this letter from now on as Dear Plumbers .
Kind regards ,
Vollie
Editor ’ s Comment : Firstly , I am sure the whole industry will join Plumbing Africa in wishing Vollie a very happy 85 th Birthday , which he celebrated on the 5 April .
Secondly , thank you Vollie for acknowledging that our industry , not only has women plumbers , but we also acknowledge the many women working in our industry all along the plumbing supply chain . PA‐
June 2021 Volume 27 I Number 4 www . plumbingafrica . co . za