FITTING THOUGHT 1
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Cheers to 2021 – we are already working on 2022 !
This is the last issue of the journal for 2021 as December will be the 2022 annual directory .
I doubt that anyone will be distressed to see the end of 2021 . Having said that , credit to the plumbing industry for ‘ soldering ’ on through this time . We said goodbye to many who either passed on or closed their doors due to Covid . To the latter we hope to see you back in the industry soon .
This issue features work that IOPSA continues to do for its members and the work being done for those less fortunate . The MES / IWSH / BluLever project is an example of where on the maintenance side we continue to see failure .
South Africa is not known for its maintenance culture generally , and the preventive maintenance article showed just how easy it was that a fire started due to incorrect material being used that due to its nature cannot earth . We will be focusing more on preventive maintenance in 2022 as this is not only a safety issue but provides more opportunities for plumbers .
Another critical topic is sustainability . What are companies , small , medium , and large doing for sustainability ? In this issue we look at Electrolux , and feature others every month as the topic offers great opportunities for the plumbing sector .
Our article on safety clothing for women is pertinent because it is real .
Back flow prevention is sadly not a top-of-mind topic and not only does Patrick Gordon provide insight , but in January we will present a full technical article from Richard Bailey who presented this topic at an IOPSA webinar in the Western Cape recently .
Vollie Brink teaches us to understand and appreciate the process of sound judgement that engineers must apply when they go about their work . So too must plumbers apply the same judgement in their work even though it may be ‘ sort of pre-decided ’ by engineers . It is so important that contracting plumbers particularly be part of the site meetings at early stages as plumbers have much to contribute .
Welcome to Uwe Putlitz , our new contributor , and well know to the construction industry . Uwe now enjoys a well-earned retirement in ‘ Paradise ’ and has time to write much of what he could not really do . His articles are focused on the subcontractor and are well worth reading and digesting .
For the first time we have input from the quantity surveyors . There has been negative chatter between the QS and plumber , so we thought it would be good to pose questions to the Association and credit to them for responding . At the end of the day , we are all part of the same team . They offer good advice and guidance .
This was not a memory lane idea , but I went back to the outcomes of WPC 2016 conference held in Cape Town and share these and how we have , and the world , have or have not progressed . Makes for interesting reading and it would be great if anyone would share their own views .
It would be churlish not to acknowledge the terrible year plumbing has gone through in terms of not only covid but its own ‘ political ’ arena . At the time of writing , the Technical Committee has been instructed to hold two meetings to achieve consensus on the PIRB matter . The second meeting is still to take place in October so Plumbing Africa remains barred from commenting . PA
Rory
Rory Macnamara , Editor | rory @ interactmedia . co . za
“ We will be focusing more on preventive maintenance in 2022 as this is not only a safety issue but provides more opportunities for plumbers .”
November 2021 Volume 27 I Number 9 www . plumbingafrica . co . za