FEATURES 15
Put that in your pipe
by
Tanya Olckers
Pipes are vital to the business of plumbers. How are they checked and what standards are applied to pipes? We take a look.
When taking a journey through pipes – particularly plastic pipes – the best place to begin is with the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association( SAPPMA). The association has been around since 2004, and has provided technical information, product standards and quality assurance to the plastics pipe industry.
All images by SAPPMA
Jan Venter, SAPPMA CEO says that there are some pressing issues that the industry is currently facing.“ There is the problematic inclusion of recycled polymer in certified pipes,” he says.“ This violates national product standards.”
Venter also points out that there is insufficient focus and investment in infrastructure – a situation we see across a number of areas in South Africa.
For pipes testing it is vital to have a SANAS approved testing laboratory, and luckily in South Africa there is just such a thing. CEISLAB South Africa. This is affiliated with international regulator AENOR, providing this service so that local manufacturers can get their tests done in-country.
According to CEISLAB CEO, Federico Munoz Sanchez, having a facility in South Africa will help improve service for local manufacturers, reduce logistical costs and testing times, and ensure compliance with both regional and international regulations.
“ We believe that CEISLAB South Africa will contribute to expanding the AENOR plastic pipe certification in the country and consequently, to spread the importance of quality control, testing and certification among the southern African countries,” he says.
CEISLAB South Africa lab offers multiple advantages. The primary benefit is the reduction of costs and lead times, as there is no need to send samples abroad for analysis. Additionally, proximity allows for better customer support, enabling testing processes to be tailored to the specific needs of the African market.
“ Our local team, led by Justin Marsberg, also serves as a boost for the local manufacturers,” Munoz Sanchez states,“ This promotes the
Pipe testing is key to reducing environmental impact.
production of certified, high-quality materials, which enhances the competitiveness of regional manufacturers. Ultimately, expanding into South Africa reinforces the commitment of our company to quality, innovation, and the development of emerging markets. With a modern facility and a team of testing experts, the new subsidiary will help raise industry standards and provide reliable solutions to meet the growing demand in the African market.”
Plastic pipe testing is essential to ensure safety, durability and performance in various applications. These evaluations help detect defects, leaks and structural weaknesses that could lead to failures, environmental damage or high repair costs.
“ Pipe tests can vary greatly depending on the client ' s needs. From quality control, certification and failure investigations there is a wide array of tests which can be used to assess the piping,” says Justin Marsberg, general manager of CEISLABS South Africa.“ There are two main categories of tests which are material properties and fitness for purpose.”
Material properties focus on key processability parameters such as flow rates, melting temperatures etc, but can also include aspects such as additive compositions, dispersion, resistance to chemicals and a wide variety of other properties.
June 2025 Volume 31 I Number 04 www. plumbingafrica. co. za