DESIGN: DEAR MR PLUMBER
57
Competencies required
from the plumber
The proper installation of all types of piping and piping
materials, fittings, and fixtures for water systems is essential.
By Vollie Brink, Pr Eng
This includes domestic cold and hot water, and also
piping and fixtures for fire protection and firefighting
water systems. You install firewater reticulation
piping with fire hose reels and for fire hydrants and
even the fire sprinkler system piping, if you are
approved to do so.
A culture exists of ignoring signs of imminent or potential
danger if there is a cost involved for the owner or
management. There is a very old saying, “A stitch in time
saves nine”; in this case, it would be “… saves lives”.
Fire engineering places a high priority on the installation
of water fire systems such as fire hose reels, hydrants,
and sprinklers to fight fires, but not so much emphasis
on how to prevent fires. Fires start somewhere with a
small or large flame and in many cases, it originates
from some or other electrical fixture, wire, or cable.
We recently established a new division at the South
African Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE), so the path
of the engineer and the plumber now cross that of fire
engineering. This is a competency that must be added to
the profile of the plumber.
When I was younger, I once had an after-hours contract
to fix the electrical problems in the offices of a large
company. The problems were almost entirely related to
electrical plugs in which heaters had been connected
and the wiring had overheated and burnt. Any of these
plugs could have caused a fire and some of the heaters
had been left on during the night and over weekends.
I watched a series of TV programmes on disasters
and the question was, “Could it not have been
prevented?” In all the disasters, there were ample
warning signs over a period of time, but it was
ignored by the owners or management. In most cases,
it was about money — not appropriate maintenance,
ignoring warning signs, and so on — instead of the
safety of people.
We regularly inspect the water systems to fight a fire,
but we don’t also check the electrical system from
where most fires originate. Or am I wrong? Should we
not have a large note on ALL fire hose reels: “CALL THE
FIRE BRIGADE IMMEDIATELY”? Should we not have
a regulation that all buildings must be inspected and
certified by an electrician once a year, as an example?
Just one match dropped carelessly in an old escalator
that for many years had not been cleaned properly, didn’t
just cause a fire, but a disaster and it killed and maimed
many people.
Vollie Brink is one of the
industry’s longest serving
wet service engineers.
He continues to serve on
SABS committees and
has been involved in the
Green Building Council
Star rating system.
Brink continues to consult
for various organisations
while enjoying a
well-earned retirement.
A pumping set-up for a fire
sprinkler system.
Most, or all of the disasters could have been prevented
if early warning signs had been taken seriously by the
authorities, management, or owners, and if minor work,
maintenance, or changes had been made timeously. It
could have saved many, many lives.
Vollie Brink
In many cases, the authorities had made a rule that the
staff must first try to contain the fire and if that fails, only
then must they call the fire department. Only after the
disaster had occurred did they change the rule to allow
the staff to immediately call the fire brigade, even if there
is only smoke.
Why do people wait for a disaster to happen before
they react?
Continued on page 59 >>
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
November 2018 Volume 24 I Number 9