DESIGN : DEAR PLUMBERS 31
Dear Plumbers
By
D . S ( Vollie ) Brink Pr . Eng . MSAICE , MPMISA
I have previously mentioned that for professional registration with ECSA , the candidate Engineer , Technologist or Technician must complete a development course which consists of 11 outcomes .
This course begins after the candidate has completed and obtained a tertiary qualification as an engineer , technologist or technician and has also performed practical work for a certain number of years .
This period of working and preparation is typically around 5 years , depending on how the candidate progresses .
This course is called ‘ The 11 Outcomes ’ and the candidate must comply with each of the 11 outcomes .
Knowledge of these outcomes is valuable for the plumber to understand the work and responsibilities of the engineer and technologist , and specifically the technician .
This knowledge is valuable for the plumber to carry out the construction in the workplace and understand how the installation is designed and how to function .
The course begins with the engineering design element and the practical basis of the engineering , which should be of interest for the plumber .
The following is from the Outcomes :
• GROUP A OUTCOMES 1 TO 3
○ Knowledge based engineering problem solving :
• OUTCOME 1
○ Define , investigate , and analyse engineering problems .
• OUTCOME 2
○ Design or develop solutions for engineering problems .
• OUTCOME 3
○ Comprehend and apply principles , specialist knowledge , jurisdictional and local knowledge .
NOTE : The abovementioned is on different levels for the Engineer , Technologist and Technician and therefore these three persons will approach the design differently .
COMPLEX PROJECTS AND CHALLANGING SOLUTIONS .
• It is critically important that the engineer , technologist , and technician be able to illustrate “ competence ” and “ engineering knowledge ”.
• It is also critically important to have the basic knowledge of the design principles and theory and how to apply it .
• The engineer must design on basic engineering principles , formulas , and calculations and not by reading from “ Tables ”.
• The engineering theory must be the basis of the solutions .
• The National Building Regulations ( NBR ) allow three methods of design .
• One is the “ Deem-to-satisfy-rules ”, which is just a “ recipe ” with “ tables ” and not an engineering solution .
• However , an engineer is allowed to do a “ Rational Design ” based on engineering theory and a few performance specifications .
• All complicated engineering designs should be rational and based on engineering design principles to render them fit-for-purpose and cost effective .
• The design must be based on the design process as per the abovementioned three outcomes .
I trust this will give the plumber an overview of how the engineer is trained to “ think ”, design complicated engineering systems and to co-operate on site . PA
Vollie
Vollie Brink is one of the industry ’ s longest-serving wet services engineers . He continues to serve on SABS committees and has been involved in the Green Building Council ’ s Green Star rating system . Brink continues to consult for various organisations while enjoying a wellearned retirement .
“ Knowledge of these outcomes is valuable for the plumber to understand ….”
May 2022 Volume 28 I Number 3 www . plumbingafrica . co . za