BUSINESS AND TRAINING
45
PIRB requirements for CoC
geyser installations
We share information on complying with the changes to SANS 10254.
By Sam Dubazana
COMPLIANCE AND INSTALLATION
SPECIFICATIONS
Compliance refers to an agreement between
the South African regulatory body and
plumbing industry regarding the purpose
of safety methods to prevent the public
and domestic property from being harmed
by plumbers when they do installations,
replacement, or repair of a fixed electric
storage water heater (a standard geyser),
especially the high-pressure systems.
The plumbing sector — especially the insurance
companies, the Plumbing Industry Registration
Board (PIRB), and their service providers —
often misconstrues this agreement.
There is no clear information about who is
accountable and responsible for the activities
performed by plumbers or service providers
when installation, replacement, and repair is
done according to the agreement standards and
requirements.
In order to track the installation, the PIRB is
enforcing the Certificate of Compliance (CoC)
on their members in case of geyser damage to
the property.
Some of the queries raised are:
• What action will the PIRB take if one of
their members is found failing to comply
with the agreement.
• What will the insurance service provider
do if members of the PIRB are found guilty
of failure to comply.
• What is the role or function of the geyser
manufacturer in this regard.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
CONTROL OF PLUMBERS
AND PLUMBING WORK
The plumbing compliance certificate
requirement, according to the National
Building Regulations (NBR), local council by-
laws, and the SABS, is that:
1. No person shall perform the trade
of plumbing as contemplated in
Government Notice No. R1875 of 31
August 1979 unless he or she is a
trained plumber or works under the
adequate control of a trained plumber
or approved competent person.
2. Where any person who is not a trained
plumber has been practising the
trade of plumbing and was required in
terms of any local authority by-law to
register with it before so practising in
the area of jurisdiction, he or she may,
if so registered, continue to practice
in such area or the area of any other
local authority if such registration is
acceptable to such other local authority.
3. Any person not being a trained plumber,
or a person contemplated in sub-
regulation (2) above and who practices
the trade of plumbing, shall be guilty of
an offence.
Sam Dubazana
Sam Dubazana is the
founder and director of The
Plumbing Academy. He is
a member of IOPSA and
an accredited facilitator,
assessor, and moderator
through CETA and NAMB.
He gives back to the
plumbing community by
partnering with the local
plumbing entrepreneurs to
assist in the development
of plumbing artisans and
plumbing entrepreneurs.
So, to my understanding, this indicates that
all insurance service providers will need
to use a qualified person to comply with
the law. PA
Compliance refers to
an agreement between
regulators and industry.
March 2018 Volume 24 I Number 1