FEATURES
51
A matter of PHACT
By Ken Patrick, PHACT chairman
On 8 June 2006, representatives from a number of competing
piping companies agreed to form an association that would
promote the use of polymer piping systems for hot and cold water.
And so began the Polymer Hot and Cold Technology
(PHACT) Association, a non-profit organisation,
whose aim is to develop the polymer pipe system
market in South Africa through responsible, ethical,
and factual marketing. PHACT and the SABS worked quickly towards adopting
the relevant international standards and this was first
achieved for what were called the monolayer pipes (that
is, a single material) and subsequently, the multilayer
piping systems.
Before PHACT’s formation, misinformation,
misunderstandings, and unsubstantiated claims from
manufacturers and distributors alike, plagued the
polymer piping industry in South Africa. Since all PHACT members are competitors (sometimes
quite fiercely so), some lively discussions have taken
place over the years. Arguments, accusations, break-ups,
and reunions have ensued, but mostly, common purpose
has been shown. We now have SANS for:
• PEX (cross-linked polyethylene)
• PE-RT (polyethylene with raised temperature
resistance)
• PE (normal high-density or medium-density
polyethylene, often used in multilayer piping
systems)
• PB (polybutylene)
• PPR (polypropylene random copolymer)
• C-PVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride).
The industry now boasts over 20 different piping
systems available on the market, offering the South
African plumber a myriad of choice. Naturally, it can be
quite confusing to know which system to use, but South
African National Standards (SANS) do exist for all the
different pipe materials and combination pipe systems. After initial and overwhelming success since 2006,
certification has been a headache for the past three or
four years. The reason is simply that most piping systems
are sold globally and certified to ISO standards. SANS
are exactly the same as the ISO standards (except for a
requirement that DZR brass be used for brass fittings).
STANDARDISATION
Eleven years ago, in the absence of South African Bureau
of Standards (SABS) standards, PHACT was still trying
to update some JASWIC (Joint Acceptance Scheme for
Water Installation Components) ‘R’ specifications that
had been abused over the preceding years. Accordingly, systems that had provable ISO certification
were only required to provide the necessary DZR
testing certification and have their locally distributed
products tested over a shorter cycle (1 000 hours), to
ensure that the international results were in line with
what was being locally distributed.
The industry
now boasts
over 20
different
piping
systems
available on
the market,
offering the
South African
plumber a
myriad of
choice.
O-Ring
Pipe
stop
Stainless Steel
Bite Ring
Collet
An example of a crimp fitting.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
A typical crimping tool.
An example of a push-fit fitting.
October 2017 Volume 23 I Number 8