NEWS
5
Jenfit gets reissued with SABS
and Jaswic approvals
As manufacturer of compression fittings and saddles for HDPE pipes, Jenfit
has been reissued with SABS certification for two of its products: 50 Equal
Tee and 32 Equal Elbow. Jenfit is part of the joint acceptance scheme for
water services installation components organisation (Jaswic).
By Dineo Phoshoko
Jenfit initially had SABS certification for 15 years until
the standards bureau went through a restructuring
process. During those years, the products complied
with the SANS 14236 standard. “We had our SABS
certification renewed every three years, up to a point
where restructuring took place at the SABS,” explains
Basil du Plessis, Jenfit’s owner.
Jenfit had to reapply to get their products certified — a
process that took almost two years. As a result, Jenfit
had to adapt their products to a certain extent to get the
SABS approval. He also added that Jenfit was one of the
first companies in South Africa to get SABS approval for
local compression fittings prior to the restructuring.
One of the main reasons for Jenfit working to get
reissued with SABS certification is because of the
company’s drive to constantly expand their range and
maintain high quality standards. Du Plessis mentions
that although the process to get reissued with SABS
certification was not easy, some improvements at the
SABS were noticeable after the restructuring. “After the
restructuring of the SABS, there is definitely an urgency
in attending to certification for customers,” he says.
He also emphasises the importance of being persistent,
proactive, and constantly working together with the
SABS. “If they want something from you, make sure you
do it and you do it right, and if there is a problem, find
out what the problem is.”
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
SABS certification is a prerequisite for Jaswic. Since
getting reissued at the SABS, Jenfit had to reapply for
its Jaswic certificate at the municipality. The company
managed to do so successfully and now has Jaswic
qualification in addition to its SABS certification. Despite
being without its SABS certification for a brief period,
Du Plessis maintains that the manufacturer’s sales had
been unaffected. Jenfit has been involved in mould
design and manufacturing as well as the injection
moulding of various components in engineering
polymers. The move was inspired by the realisation of a
need to provide high-quality fittings and saddles within
the low-cost housing development schemes, as well as
the needs of the civil industry, plumbing contractors,
and irrigation industry.
Despi te the lengthy process, Du Plessis maintains that it
was all worth it. “At the end of the day, it is rewarding,”
he concludes. PA
The Jenfit 32mm equal
elbow (on left) and the
50mm equal tee.
“After the
restructuring of
the SABS, there
is definitely
an urgency in
attending to
certification for
customers.”
Basil du Plessis
May 2018 Volume 24 I Number 3