FEATURES 15
Rory Macnamara from Plumbing Africa magazine Compliance! Compliance! Compliance! It can’ t be emphasised enough. From using compliant products, to being qualified and certified, and to following all the regulations that govern every aspect of our industry, compliance is vital in plumbing.
Lea Smith, chairperson of PIRB
In plumbing, like in life, becoming a true professional doesn’ t happen overnight. It’ s shaped through time, trial and the drive and intuition to keep pushing forward. A professional isn ' t made by a certificate on the wall or a title; it’ s about how you carry yourself, on-site, how you solve problems under pressure, how you treat clients and others, and more importantly how you grow from each experience.
Image supplied by Lea Smith
Lea Smith.
John Maxwell said it best in Failing Forward: " The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure." In our trade and in life, mistakes will happen. But every incorrectly joined pipe, every misdiagnosed fault, every hard lesson- these are not roadblocks. They’ re stepping stones. Use them, own them, but more importantly, learn from them. Because failing forward is part of a professional journey, helping you transform into a professional, and a job into a lifelong career.
We need to stand up and be proud about our trade, as plumbing is more than a trade- it is a profession cemented in service, responsibility and purpose. As professionals, we have a role to play far beyond mere installations and repairs. We protect the health of the nation, contribute to environmental sustainability, and uphold the standards that define our industry. Professionalism isn ' t just how we perform the task, it’ s how we carry the responsibility that comes with it.
Peter Henman, chairman at Splashworks Insights from 30 + years in the plumbing industry: Quality is essential and does not have to cost a fortune.
Image by © Plumbing Africa
Peter Henman.
A good plumber knows a decent‘ value for money’ product. They would never install a questionable fitting into a system that could fail. One product failure causes extreme damage to one’ s reputation and relationships, not to mention the pocket. Returning to site for a repair and replacement is such a waste.
Worryingly, suppliers are stocking questionable ranges of zinc-based products. We all know
September 2025 Volume 31 I Number 07 www. plumbingafrica. co. za