34 TECHNICAL
Geysers waiting to be refurbished .
The NRCS stresses that these products are extremely hazardous and should not be used in any households as they could cause severe damage to property and endanger human lives .
To date , the NRCS has issued several directives to prevent the sale and promotion of these non-compliant products . The confiscation and disposal of such substandard geysers is part of the NRCS ' s ongoing efforts to protect consumers and eliminate dangerous goods from the market .
The issue often arises when geysers exceed their typical five-year lifespan , leading to leaking shells . These are then illegally refurbished and re-welded without undergoing the necessary safety tests required to ensure compliance with SANS 151 .
What to do if you spot these illegal geysers IOPSA has a system by which they notify NRCS of these refurbished geysers . Simply contact IOPSA ’ s head office and speak to the national technical manager or email him directly at technical @ iopsa . org . If you have photos of the illegal geysers , while not essential , send these on as this would be helpful to the investigators at NRCS .
IOPSA is counting on plumbers to report these illegal geysers whenever they see them , and they commend every single plumber who has already submitted reports on these , as well as the technical team at IOPSA which have been working hard in the background to get the word out and to make reports to NRCS . It ’ s only through the diligence of those in the industry who are willing to stand together that we can end the sale of these illegal geysers raids and have arrests being made .
While your client might be thinking they are saving money by going for a refurbished geyser , the truth is that they are placing their lives and the lives of those they love at risk by installing them . It ’ s your duty as a plumber to educate your clients on the dangers of these geysers .
Ultimately , a brand-new geyser certainly costs a great deal less than medical bills , or a funeral . PA
“ While your client might be thinking they are saving money , they might be placing lives at risk .”
Geysers arrive in a shocking state .
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline January 2025 Volume 30 I Number 11