24 FEATURES
Pipes and fittings
By
Rory Macnamara
Pipes and fittings are one of the most crucial parts of a water and water reticulation system .
The matrix provides the basics that a plumber and engineer should understand when installing and specifying pipes and fittings , be it for drainage or in buildings . Because of the nature of what pipes convey from potable water all the way along to waste , stormwater , and everything else , the standards that exist , which are compulsory , are there to protect health and safety of people in the building , as well as prevent damage that ensues when pipes burst , or wrong fittings are used and blocked drains that cause dangerous situations on roads and the loss of potable water .
Pipes and fittings in the standards are a system in that the pipe and fitting are compatible with each other and tested accordingly .
There are some plastic pipe manufacturers that see no need to obtain the SANS accreditation for reasons only known to themselves . However , certain pipes do not have a SANS certification due to their rather simple application . Sadly , beware those that claim to hold SANS accreditation but can never provide the certificate of the certifying body , be it SABS , SATAS , AENOR , SAPCS , Conformity International .
The JASWIC listing which highlights SANS but also accepts tests , hopefully leading to full certification , indicates “ special conditions .” As with SANS there is more than just the certificate , but conditions which form part of the standard . These must be referred to so that costly mistakes are averted .
The SA Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association ( SAPPMA ) which are mostly in the large bore pipes line but have members that are working in the building space , not only insist on SANS but also carry out their own extensive checks at member factories . One needs to look out for the SAPPMA mark as well as the SANS mark , where applicable .
One cannot help getting the feeling that some SABS TCs get ‘ captured ’ not necessarily for the benefit of the industry !
Equally the types of tools , especially when the manufacturer states ‘ generic ’ tools may be used , need to be carefully considered , and should be of a good quality . Cheap and nasty tools do not survive for any length of time but will damage the pipe / fitting . Spades are not considered a tool for cutting pipe , especially plastic pipe .
Pay attention to the manufacturer ’ s instructions as they offer solid advice to obtain the best life from the pipe and its appropriate fitting .
In the matrix the applicable standards are mentioned in the listing and the full standard may be obtained from : www . sabs . co . za .
It must be noted that the information provided assumes that the installer is a qualified plumber .
End users / specifiers must take responsibility to check the Mark certificate and the supporting documents which are integral to the issuance of the certificate .
We have added the name of the Certification Body to the list .
Explanatory Notes * Lifelong under ideal water conditions . Lifespan of pipework and warranty / guarantee – correctly installed as per the manufacturer ’ s instructions . Maximum kPa – this relates to the actual pipe / fitting when installed . Environmental application – Can it be installed inland and / or on the coast ? Reusable – does the material end up on a landfill or is it recyclable ? PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline November 2024 Volume 30 I Number 9