22 FEATURES
The accreditation, certification and acceptance conversation
Compiled by
Megan O’ Connor, with technical input from Piet Posthumus and Kevin Ebersohn( SATAS), Patrick Gordon( Splashworks), Justin Marsberg and Kelli Marsberg( CEISLAB SA), and Trevor Westman( JASWIC)
Choosing the correct product to use can prove difficult when the words‘ accepted’,‘ certified’ and‘ accredited’ are mentioned. In this feature, we break down these words and what they mean to you as the plumber.
Ultimately, compliance ends in the hands of the plumber, so understanding the certification landscape is not just about ticking boxes; it is about protecting your client, your workmanship and your livelihood. In this feature article, we will break down the meanings of these three big words, the risks of installing non-compliant products, and your role in the accreditation, certification and acceptance conversation.
Simply put, accreditation confirms the competence of the certifier, certification confirms the compliance of the product, and acceptance( JASWIC) refers to products that conform to standards and are suited for use according to local authority and by-laws.
Accreditation Accreditation does not apply to products directly, but it is the foundation that allows plumbers to trust certification marks.
Accreditation simply means whether a facility has been given international approval by an accreditation body to test and / or certify products. So,“ accreditation applies to organisations, not products,” says Justin Marsberg, general manager of CEISLAB SA, and therefore, an“ accredited organisation has gone through formal audits and assessments to receive legal authorisation and recognition to perform specific tasks( such as testing and certification)”.
In South Africa, the only organisation that can accredit test houses or certification bodies is the South African National Accreditation System( SANAS), as per the National Accreditation Act. Patrick Gordon stresses to think of accreditation as a“ formal relationship / contract with the certification body or testing house and SANAS”. Under this contract, the testing house or certification body is agreeing to be audited continually by SANAS to stringent IEC / ISO management system requirements.
Testing houses also need to be SANAS-accredited.“ All your test labs should be SANAS accredited, which means that they can test according to the South African National Standards( SANS). Effectively, they will accredit testing houses to specific test methods, proving they have the competency and the equipment to test according to SANS,” says Gordon.
Install with confidence. Independent testing you can trust. www. jaswic. co. za
Tel: 012 665 2205 Email: info @ ceislab. co. za www. ceislab. co. za
www. plumbingafrica. co. za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline May 2026 Volume 32 I Number 03