Business and training : Community plumbing
53
Plumbers ’ qualification not crucial to the plumbing industry . Say again ?
Plumbers protect the health of the nation — certainly they have to be qualified .
By
Sam Dubazana
Most plumbing contractors prefer to either employ the services of semi-experienced plumbers with years of on-the-job experience , or to train trainees on site and employ them as assistants ( labourers ). Will these companies contribute a lot of money to the Skills Development Fund for compliance purpose only ?
The plumbing industry feels that the Plumber Certificate qualification is not worth the paper that it is written on . Arguments supporting and opposing this notion will be discussed in the next column . An astounding 80 % of plumbers do not know the fundamentals of plumbing , because they were trained on the job and their employers do not possess the qualification either .
Basic plumbing ethics The difference between the skilled worker and the qualified plumber is an understanding and an ability to describe plumbing ethics . Plumbing principles include , but is not limited to , water cycle , basic principles of pressure , flow and pipelines , water conservation , pressure flow and gravity , reasons for different pipe sizes , the effect of pipe size on flow , the effect of roughness , and the effect of the condition of pipes on water flow .
This crucial embedded knowledge is a requirement for the plumbing industry ’ s development .
Understanding is the foundation of all trades . Teach a person how to fish and you will feed that person for life .
Editor ’ s comment Sam will in this and future editions counter this approach by industry . Again , we see money on the altar , rather than paying to get it right the first time in the interest of delivering a professional service to consumers . PA
“ 80 % of plumbers do not know the fundamentals of plumbing .”
Sam Dubazana
The purpose of local government plumbing bylaws and the national building regulations are as follows :
• The occupational health and safety regulations .
• The role of the building and drainage inspectorate .
• The purpose of standardised specifications and codes of practice in determining the quality of the works .
• Basic water flow principles .
• Basic pressure and water quality principles .
• Basic corrosion of plumbing materials .
• Basic pollution prevention principles .
• Elements of basic plumbing drawings .
• The uses of plumbing , tools , components , materials , and consumables .
www . plumbingafrica . co . za March 2017 Volume 23 I Number 1