Plumbing Africa November 2019 | Page 3

FITTING THOUGHT 1 Commitment to compliance Plumbing Africa journal is the publication serving the plumbing design and contracting sector and has always been, and will continue to be, committed to upholding the compulsory standards of this country. It has been said that plumbers protect the health of the nation, and here we refer to all qualified plumbers through the correct process of apprenticeships and learnerships, who may also be registered with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) and company members of the Institute of Plumbing SA (IOPSA). Whether a retailer, importer, wholesaler, contractor, engineer, or quality surveyor, we all remain responsible for ensuring that only compliant plumbing products are specified and installed. It is through this process that we are able to be protectors of the health and safety of our nation and its people. It is no secret that non-compliant products continue to reach our shores and are sold and installed, going against the National Building Regulations and Water Regulations, which are compulsory standards. In other words, this is the law and no one, no matter who, is able to transgress these laws. Plumbing Africa would appreciate an assurance from all readers that non-compliant products are not produced or manufactured or imported by their organisation and that only tested and certified products, according to the standards, are sold. Why do we ask this? • Invariably those who can least afford to replace plumbing products are the ‘victims’ of non-compliant products. • Such products do not have the lifespan that a compliant product provides and can reasonably be expected from such a product. • Non-compliant products add little or no value to growth of companies as their commercial lifespan is short. • Non-compliant products, by and large, do not contribute to water saving/conservation. • Compliance and compliant products protect the health and safety of people and the environment. We are concerned at the dysfunctional state of many municipalities, the lack of maintenance, the ageing infrastructure, design and installations being done by unqualified people – none of which any of us can change. While Plumbing Africa continues to address these issues, our articles and features will focus on what is being installed and designed. November 2019 Volume 25 I Number 9 We are keen to give credit where credit is due to those that are part of the compliance body of companies. For ease of reference we list the relevant Acts that apply, and which will form the basis of all our articles: Consumer Protection Act • Section 40 – Right to fair and honest dealing – Unconscionable conduct (non-compliance for example). • Section 55 – Consumer’s rights to safe, good quality goods. Sub section (d) “Comply with any applicable standards set under the Standards Act, 1993 (Act no 29 of 1993), or any other public regulation.” • Section 58 – Warning concerning fact and nature of risks. SANS • SANS 10400 – The National Building Regulations (NBR) Part P Drainage, and Part A – the application of the NBR – “Every consumer installation must comply with SANS 10252, water supply and drainage for buildings et al, and SANS 10254 – installation, maintenance, replacement and repair of fixed water heating systems, or any other similar…” • SANS 10252 consists of two parts: • Water supply installations for buildings; • Drainage installations for buildings. Both apply to the whole spectrum of plumbing systems and products such as, but not exhaustive of, pipes, fittings, traps, taps, mixers, showers, hot water systems (geysers/solar) and any product that is in contact with potable water. The list of product standards is lengthy and the objective in the pages of our magazine is to establish, from the highest level, the commitment to compliance. We trust all readers will appreciate the need for us to establish and separate the compliant from non-compliant companies. PA Eamonn Eamonn Ryan, Editor Twitter: @plumbingonline Facebook: @plumbingonline Linked-In: @PlumbingAfricaOnline www.plumbingafrica.co.za