IOPSA News

URGENT NOTICE: WARNING AGAINST COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS AND SAFE CONSUMER PRACTICE

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:22:30 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is issuing an urgent warning to all plumbing professionals, retailers, and consumers following a formal notice from Henkel South Africa regarding the discovery of counterfeit Tangit products being sold under misleading names such as "Tonqit" and "Lanqit", and falsely associated with a fictitious company called "Honkoi."

These counterfeit products are not manufactured, endorsed, or distributed by Henkel and pose serious risks to consumer safety, installation integrity, and the professional reputation of our industry.

What’s Happening

Counterfeit Tangit products have been found in circulation, particularly in Gauteng Province, where enforcement actions have already led to the confiscation of fake goods.
These products are being sold through unauthorized retailers and non-official channels, often at discounted prices to lure unsuspecting buyers.
The packaging mimics the genuine Tangit brand but contains misspellings, inconsistent logos, and substandard packaging quality.

Why This Matters

As plumbing professionals, we rely on certified, high-quality products to ensure the safety and longevity of our installations. Using counterfeit adhesives can result in:

System failures due to poor bonding strength
Health and safety hazards for end users
Legal liability for installers and retailers
Damage to professional reputation

IOPSA stands firmly with Henkel in protecting the integrity of the Tangit brand and the safety of our industry.

How to Identify Genuine Tangit Products

Henkel has provided the following guidelines to help you verify authenticity:

Correct Spelling: Look for the proper spelling of “Tangit” and “Henkel” on all labels.
Official Logo: The Tangit logo should be consistent, clear, and professionally printed in black and white.
Packaging Quality: Authentic products have high-quality packaging with proper seals and no smudging or misprints.
Authorized Retailers: Purchase only from trusted distributors such as Builders Warehouse, Buko, and Leroy Merlin.

Visual Reference

Henkel has included images of authentic Tangit packaging in their official notice. We urge all members to familiarize themselves with these visuals and share them with staff and customers.

What You Can Do

Report any suspicious products or sellers to Henkel at info.tangit@henkel.com
Educate your teams and customers about the risks of counterfeit products
Refuse to install or resell any product that cannot be verified as genuine

IOPSA’s Commitment

IOPSA is committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism in the plumbing industry. We thank Henkel for their swift action and encourage all members to remain vigilant.

Together, we can protect our industry, our customers, and the brands that support quality workmanship.

For further information or to report counterfeit activity, please contact Henkel South Africa directly:

22 Skeen Boulevard, Bedfordview, Gauteng
+27 (11) 617 2400
info.tangit@henkel.com

Click here to view the formal notice

Smarter homes, stronger grid

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 08:48:44 GMT

Smarter homes, stronger grid: Vodacom Business, Ariston & Sensor Networks unite to decrease monthly energy bills in SA homes & improve grid stability

Cape Town, South Africa – Vodacom Business, Sensor Networks, and Ariston are proud to announce a strategic partnership that brings proven smart geyser technology to the forefront of South Africa’s efforts to improve stability of the national electricity grid and reduce household energy consumption.

This collaboration builds on Vodacom’s nationwide connectivity, already powering Sensor Networks’ smart devices in homes across the country. By combining Sensor Networks’ innovation in smart appliance technology with Ariston’s global expertise in water heating, the partnership enables intelligent control of one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home: the geyser.

“Geyser technology is evolving to meet the energy challenges South African households face. With a connected controller installed on the geyser, homeowners can manage hot water heating directly from their smartphone: switching it on or off, adjusting temperatures, and setting advanced schedules with multiple time and temperature blocks throughout the day,” says Mark Allewell, founder and CEO at Sensor Networks.

“This level of control not only supports solar integration and energy efficiency, but also positions households to benefit from time-of-use tariffs as they’re introduced in future, reducing costs and easing demand on the national grid”.

Through an installed fleet of over 12 000 smart geysers with Sensor Networks technology, average data indicates that large households are saving on average over R400 per month in electricity costs. This equates to approximately 50,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity saved each day - roughly 1,500 megawatt-hours (MWh) per month and over 18 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year.

At an average electricity price of R3 per kilowatt-hour, these savings translate into nearly R55 million a year in reduced energy costs for consumers.

Sensor Networks, South Africa’s leading manufacturer of connected geyser devices and home energy management solutions, first partnered with Ariston, one of the world’s largest geyser manufacturers, to distribute select Ariston geysers bundled with Sensor Networks’ smart technology through major retailers across South Africa.

The partnership has now formally expanded to include Vodacom Business, a long-standing connectivity partner to Sensor Networks. Leveraging their Global Data Service Platform (GDPS) connectivity and extensive network infrastructure, Vodacom Business provides the secure, scalable backbone required to ensure uninterrupted access to smart geysers - whether installed inside ceiling cavities, behind walls, or in remote areas.

As Sensor Networks prepares to roll out its energy management platform across the African continent, Vodacom’s network scale and reliability will be critical to delivering seamless, continent-wide control and connectivity.

“While alternatives like solar and gas geysers can be expensive and take years to pay off, connected geyser technology offers a more accessible and immediate way for households to cut energy costs,” says Wayne Vertue, Country Manager at Ariston SA. “With full control via smartphone - scheduling, temperature settings, and remote switching - South Africans can start saving from day one.”

Malcolm Subramony , Executive Head of Department, IoT Connectivity at Vodacom Business, adds: “If this technology were adopted at scale across the country, the impact could be enormous. It would take real pressure off the grid, and do so at a fraction of the cost of building new power infrastructure. This is a proven, home-grown solution that delivers results.”

In South Africa, geysers are not only among the highest consumers of household electricity - they’re also one of the most frequent sources of insurance claims, often resulting in costly water damage. Connected geyser technology addresses both challenges. Proven through years of deployment with leading insurers, Sensor Networks’ solution detects early signs of failure - such as leaks, pressure build-up, or overheating - and automatically shuts the geyser down before damage occurs.

This reduces claims, lowers insurer payouts, and improves customer experience. As part of this broader role, Sensor Networks will be rolling out additional sensors through its energy management platform to fully automate and optimise energy use across the home.

“The rapid rollout of home energy management technology offers a practical, scalable solution to South Africa’s energy demands,” concluded Subramony. “By giving households real control over how and when they consume electricity, platforms like Sensor Networks are helping to stabilise the grid, reduce pressure during peak times, and bridge the gap while broader structural reforms take effect.”

Big Changes for SA Plumbers – Here’s What You Need to Know!

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT

A Defining Moment for South Africa’s Plumbing Industry

A Stronger Future for Our Trade

The plumbing industry in South Africa has reached a historic milestone!

IOPSA is proud to announce after years of deliberations and engagements by your IOPSA representatives, the regulatory process to amend the Pressure Equipment Regulations (PER) has officially been completed. With promulgation on the horizon, this marks a transformative moment for the plumbing industry and its future.

But this is more than just a regulatory update. It’s an official recognition of what we’ve always known, plumbers play a critical role in protecting public health, safety, and infrastructure in South Africa.

This milestone is the result of years of collaboration, with IOPSA working alongside government, industry partners, industry associations and stakeholders to drive professionalism and ensure that plumbing is recognised, regulated, and respected.

The Future of Plumbing Starts Now!

This is the beginning of a stronger, more unified, and future-ready plumbing industry, one that stands proudly alongside other regulated trades and builds even greater trust with the South African public.

To every plumber and industry partner, this achievement is yours! Your dedication and professionalism have brought us here, and together, we are shaping the future of plumbing in South Africa.

The best is yet to come!

Download the notice here

Another Victory Against Non-Compliant Products

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:36:17 GMT

IOPSA is thrilled to celebrate a significant victory in the fight against non-compliant products in South Africa. The recent raid by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Glenesk, Johannesburg, is another crucial step towards safeguarding consumers and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

On October 15, 2024, nearly 100 illegal refurbished domestic geysers valued at R400,000 were confiscated. These substandard products posed severe risks to consumers, including potential explosions, electric shocks, water contamination, and higher energy costs. This decisive action highlights the importance of vigilance and cooperation in addressing such threats.

A Collective Effort

This success would not have been possible without the unwavering commitment and support of various stakeholders:

IOPSA Members: Your vigilance in reporting illegal geyser sales has been instrumental in escalating the issue to the NRCS. Your dedication to protecting the industry and its consumers is commendable.
Plumbing Africa: Thank you for continuously raising awareness about non-compliant products through insightful articles. Your efforts play a significant role in educating the public and industry professionals.
IOPSA Regional Chairpersons and Committees: Your consistent advocacy during monthly meetings has been vital in keeping this issue at the forefront of industry discussions.
NRCS and SAPS: We applaud the NRCS for their decisive actions and SAPS for their indispensable role in these successful raids. Your commitment to consumer safety and compliance inspires us all.
The Public: Your reports of illegal sales have been a critical part of this campaign. Please continue to report non-compliant products to ensure safer practices across the industry.

Supporting the Fight Against Non-Compliance

IOPSA fully supports the NRCS’s ongoing efforts to remove dangerous goods from the market. We are proud of the regulators' pledge and their dedication to eradicating non-compliant products. This milestone emphasizes the collective strength of the industry, regulators, and consumers working together to uphold safety and standards.

Let us remain united in this fight. Together, we can protect consumers, uphold the integrity of the plumbing industry, and ensure a safer future for all South Africans.

If you suspect the sale of non-compliant products, please report them anonymously to recon@iopsa.org. Let’s continue making a difference, one report at a time!

IOPSA Annual Plumbing Industry Awards 2024: A Night to Remember

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:22:38 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) held its spectacular Annual Plumbing Industry Awards on September 18, 2024, at the Royal Elephant Conference Centre. The evening was a celebration of excellence, innovation, and the remarkable individuals shaping the future of South Africa's plumbing industry.

The vibrant event was MC'ed by the charismatic Rendani Tshivula, who kept the energy high, making the evening fun and memorable for everyone in attendance.

Welcoming Remarks and Nostalgia
The evening commenced with a heartfelt welcome by IOPSA President, Adriaan Myburgh. He praised the passion and dedication of IOPSA members and shared his excitement for the future, emphasizing the incredible things yet to come in the plumbing industry.

Following the President’s address, IOPSA’s Executive Director took attendees on a nostalgic journey down memory lane. With an emotional collage of past and present images, he highlighted the association’s growth, from humble beginnings to its current position of leadership. The moments captured spoke to the hard work, dedication, and passion of everyone in the room, creating a sense of pride and unity.

Awards and Recognition
After the opening, the much-anticipated awards ceremony kicked off, honoring exceptional contributions across the plumbing industry:

Region of the Year: Southern Cape
Plumbing Company of the Year: AB Plumbing (KZN)
Retailer of the Year: Builders Warehouse
Importer of the Year: Harscan Distributors
Industry Lady of the Year: Cindy Snyman
President’s Award: Chris and Courtney Coetzee (OHSS Consulting)
Apprentice of the Year: Veronica Ntho
Manufacturer of the Year: Advanced Valves
Education Provider of the Year: KZN Plumbing Academy

In addition to these honors, special recognition awards were presented to former IOPSA Executive Director Brendan Reynolds for his unwavering dedication to the plumbing industry, and to his wife, Dianne Reynolds, for her constant support. As a final surprise, Kaela Wilson was recognized for her extraordinary service and dedication to IOPSA.

Sponsors
A huge thank you to all sponsors for their generous support, with special acknowledgment to the Platinum Sponsors, Advanced Valves and Ariston, for their significant contributions to the event.

The IOPSA Annual Plumbing Industry Awards 2024 was a night filled with joy, inspiration, and well-deserved accolades. Congratulations to all the winners, and here’s to another year of driving excellence in the South African plumbing industry!

Click here to view the full gallery

Joint Statement between IOPSA and ECA

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 12:22:19 GMT

Joint Statement

Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)

Without Prejudice

Ensuring Safe and Compliant Plumbing and Electrical Installations

In light of recent inquiries and to provide clarity within the industry, we are outlining the governance, regulations, and best practices surrounding electrical installations and especially in relation to the fixed storage water heater. This information is essential for industry professionals, consumers, and all stakeholders to ensure safety, compliance, and accountability.

1. Governance and Legal Framework for Electrical Installations

All electrical work is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations. Compliance with relevant legislation, such as the Construction Regulations and the Electrical Installation Regulations, is mandatory. Key definitions include:

Installation Work: Installation, extension, modification, or repair of an electrical installation, connection of machinery, and inspection/testing for compliance certification.

Electrical Contractor: An entity undertaking electrical installation work for others, excluding employees of that entity.

Electrical Installation: Machinery used for electricity transmission within premises, excluding certain machinery like communication circuits and vehicle installations.

Regulations mandate that only competent persons, as defined by the Act, carry out such work. Specific provisions under the Construction Regulations emphasize the need for qualified personnel and stringent safety measures on construction sites.

2. Working on the Electrical Aspects of Fixed Hot Storage Water Heaters

SANS 10254 is a compulsory South African National Standard covering the safe installation, maintenance, replacement and repair of fixed electric storage water heating systems requires that the electrical wiring system shall comply with SANS 10142-1 (Part 1: Low-voltage installations)

SANS 10254 – Ref 4.4 Electrical installation

The electrical wiring system shall comply with SANS 10142-1 and the water heater shall be connected to the electrical supply in an approved manner.

Considering the Governance and Legal Framework for Electrical Installations as mentioned in point 1, only competent and qualified electricians, operating under the supervision of registered electrical contractors, may work on electrical aspects of fixed hot storage water heaters. This ensures that all work is performed safely and in compliance with regulations.

3. Role of Qualified Plumber in Electrical Work

The plumbing curriculum and trade test doesn’t include training and testing for electrical competencies and the same is true for the electrical trade test which excludes plumbing competencies aspects.

Plumbers, unless registered as qualified electricians, must not perform electrical installation work.

Instructing a plumber or any other person/s to do electrical work for which they are not competent is strongly discouraged and may place the plumber in a situation where he breaks the law, not only is it illegal but may result in unsafe installations that may lead to end users being exposed to serious risks such as fires, shocks, injury and death. Failing to comply may result in severe penalties, fines and imprisonment.

4. Relocating Geysers and Electrical Compliance Certificates

Relocating a fixed storage water heater (Geyser) requires a qualified electrician to calculate necessary specifications, testing and issue a new Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the electrical aspect of such installation. This ensures all work adheres to safety and compliance to the standards, maintaining accountability for any modifications made.

5. Temporary Electrical Work by Plumbers

Plumbers cannot legally disconnect, remove or reconnect electrical work at a hot storage water heater (Geyser), even temporarily. Such actions must be performed by a registered electrician to ensure compliance and safety. Plumbers must remain vigilant and avoid compromising safety regulations to protect themselves and the end users.

6. PV / DC Control Systems including timers and other control units.

The installation of Photovoltaic (PV) and Direct Current (DC) control systems, including those connected to geysers, falls under electrical installation work. Only qualified electricians should handle these systems, ensuring the safety and reliability of the installations.

An Electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the electrical installation must be issued on such installations.

7. Issue of supplementary electrical certificate of compliance (COC)

A supplementary electrical CoC is required for any electrical work carried, including the geyser replacement and thermostat changes which would constitute connection or disconnection or the appliance at its terminals, to certify compliance with safety standards.

This measure ensures accountability and traceability for all electrical work performed, leads to safer installations with aim of safeguarding the consumer and end user.

8. Addressing Electrical Shocks at Terminal Water Fittings

If consumers experience electrical shocks when using water fixtures. (A critical safety concern with a high potential of electrocution). A qualified electrician must be immediately called to investigate and resolve the electrical issue, which often involves electrical fault finding using specialised equipment, testing for things such as correct earthing and bonding.

Typically, if there is an increased potential (Voltage) the fault typically would lie on the electrical side of an installation and thus an Electrician would be the first point of call.

Health and Safety should never be compromised and in all cases a qualified electrician must be called to investigate, resolve and work on all electrical issues.

9. Importance of Proper Bonding and Earthing

Proper bonding and earthing are crucial for maintaining electrical safety. These tasks must be performed and tested by qualified electricians using specialized equipment to ensure a compliant installation. Accountability for these critical safety measures cannot and should never be compromised.

Many believe this task to be a simple connection of 2 wires, but the theory and practical application behind it stems much deeper. Earthing is verified by means of a test carried out and needs to be sufficient to carry fault current back to the source, where bonding is a principle of equal potential verified by means of a test to ensure all the accessible parts of low enough resistance to ensure equalisation.

The responsibility of ensuring safety

It is to be acknowledged that safety and accountability are paramount in both electrical and plumbing work including other industries. We therefore urge all stakeholders, users and interested parties to adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations including all relevant South African National Standards and local authorities.

Ensuring compliance, having the competency and maintaining a high standard of safety is the most responsible approach to preventing accidents, reduce risks, achieving a safer working environment and safeguarding our communities and families.

The above should not discourage Plumbers or Contractors from work but instead motivate for more multi-faceted artisans which ensures the person doing the work possess the correct competency and can carry the work out safely.

We look forward to a safer industry where our industries can support each other.

Date of signed joint statement: 28 August 2024

Click here to download the signed statement

Celebrating World Plumbing Day: IOPSA's Impact Across Regions

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 06:36:23 GMT

As we commemorate World Plumbing Day, a momentous occasion dedicated to recognizing the indispensable role plumbing plays in our communities, IOPSA (Institute of Plumbing South Africa) stands tall, celebrating the remarkable contributions made by our dedicated teams across diverse regions. From Gauteng to KZN, Freestate to the Western Cape, our commitment to enhancing lives through plumbing excellence shines brightly.

In Gauteng, our engagement was multifaceted, highlighting the breadth of our initiatives. Initially, we actively participated in an event hosted by the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB). Here, our team seized the opportunity to engage with fellow plumbers, fostering meaningful connections, and spreading awareness about the myriad benefits of joining IOPSA. This event not only served as a platform for networking but also sparked growth within the plumbing community.

Moreover, our Gauteng committee showcased unwavering dedication to community upliftment by visiting Park Ridge Primary in Vanderbijlpark. Here, they undertook the monumental task of fully outfitting two ablution blocks with new sanitary ware, significantly enhancing the learning environment for students. This project, made possible through the generous sponsorship from Plumblink, will undoubtedly foster improved hygiene practices among the students, nurturing healthier communities for generations to come.

In KZN, our team orchestrated an inspiring event at Paw Prints, where they installed two 5000L tanks sponsored by Africa Tanks. These tanks, along with auxiliary piping supplied by our dedicated sponsors, ensured reliable water access for the facility. What's more, the event brought together local plumbers and residents who united to bathe the puppies, donate essential supplies, and install the water tanks, exemplifying the spirit of community and compassion. Notably, Lea Smith from the PIRB put down his pen for the day and traded it in for a pickaxe, actively engaging with the team in their efforts.

Meanwhile, in Freestate, IOPSA took on the critical task of improving water and sanitation facilities at the SPCA in Bloemfontein. By guaranteeing clean water and proper sanitation for both staff and animals, we contribute significantly to the welfare of our beloved furry friends and those devoted to their care.

In the Western Cape, our efforts extended to House of Hope, where we embarked on extensive plumbing upgrades and repairs in two venues. These enhancements ensure that children residing in these homes have access to clean water and sanitary conditions, promoting their health and well-being.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed sponsors: Africa Tanks, BuildIt, Unitwist, Advanced Valves, Simply Bathrooms, Ganga Plumbers, Plumbing Academy KZN, Afri Plumb, Modl Plumbers, PIRB, Berlesell, Euro-Aquatech, Lixil, Ariston, Zero2One Plumbing, House of Plumbing, Advanced Valves, and Plumblink Vredenburg. None of these remarkable achievements would have been possible without their unwavering support.

As we reflect on World Plumbing Day, let us not only celebrate the significance of plumbing in our daily lives but also recognize the profound impact it can have on communities when wielded with care and compassion. IOPSA remains steadfast in its mission to champion excellence in plumbing and continues to serve as a beacon of hope and transformation in South Africa. Together, we build healthier, more vibrant communities, one pipe at a time.

Half of the water supplied by municipalities does not meet quality standards.

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 07:55:32 GMT

The latest Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports from the Department of Water and Sanitation indicate a marked deterioration across the board.

Government seems reluctant to call this a crisis, IOPSA believes it is in fact a crisis of monumental proportions.

According to Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director at IOPSA, “This is absolutely a crisis of monumental proportions, it is bigger and far more complex than the loadshedding crisis. 46% of our drinking water does not comply to standards, 67% of wastewater treatment works are failing and 47% of our potable water is lost to non-revenue water, mostly leaks in the municipal system. How can you not call that a crisis?

IOPSA has noted the vast sums of money which government at all levels wastes on high profile conferences, workshops and fancy, headline grabbing projects. It is IOPSA’s opinion that investing this money in repairing, maintaining, and upgrading our water and sanitation systems would go a long way in creating real sustainable employment opportunities, provide a much-needed boost to the economy and present crucial opportunities for skills development and practical work experience. The savings to the fiscus would be massive, not to mention the increase in revenue. All this whilst protecting and conserving vital water resources and preventing further damage to the environment. Everyone at every level of society will benefit if government just simply does their job!” ,he concludes.

The Blue Drop Report

This is the report on South Africa’s potable water supplies. For the year to June 2022, 144 Water System Authorities (WSAs) were included in the survey, including seven water boards. Across the board there was decline since the last report in 2014.

Almost half the water supplies in South Africa fall below the minimum compliance levels, and a third of the systems are in critical condition. 46% of water supply systems do not comply to water quality standards – a huge decline from 5% in 2014.

Systems in a critical state rose from 174 systems in 2014 to 277 in 2022. Those in an excellent state decline from 44 to 26 systems.

“The water in these systems could pose serious health risks. IOPSA recommends that water in these areas should be boiled before use, for those with the financial means there are excellent water treatment options available to protect your families. As much as people have been investing in alternative energy over the past few years, the public needs to start thinking about how to secure safe water sources for their families. ” says Steve van Zyl, Technical Manager at IOPSA.

Only 26 water supply systems received Blue Drop Certification.

The Green Drop Report

This report looks at the state of the wastewater treatment works. 67% of WWTWs are in a critical state. Only 15% of WWTWs comply to microbiological limits. “…85% of WWTWs do not meet microbiological limits and this indicates the effluent from these WWTWs present a serious health risk to downstream users due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the effluent,” says the report. In other words, the WWTW’s are polluting our freshwater resources with raw sewage.

“Plumbers have a critical role to play in this regard, the vast amount of stormwater which is being diverted into sewage systems is seriously damaging WWTW and municipal infrastructure. This practice needs to stop, qualified plumbers generally know that this is forbidden, but there are thousands of unqualified people pretending to be plumbers and they have no idea of the impact their actions are having.” Says Van Zyl.

The No Drop Report

This report looks at water losses and non-revenue water (NRW). 47% of South Africa’s treated water is simply lost.

“We, the public, are paying to treat, store and distribute water that is simply lost. We constantly hear municipalities, the Department of Water and Sanitation and various Water Boards blaming the public for using too much water. This is completely disingenuous. It is the municipalities lack of maintenance and failure to replace ageing infrastructure that is causing the problem. Of course, we all need to do our part in saving wherever we can, but the problem lies squarely with government.” says Reynolds.

Whilst IOPSA applauds the government for providing such a transparent report, the reality is that South Africa is facing a challenge far greater than anything it has ever faced before. Life is not possible without water, the health impacts if this decline continues will be nothing short of a disaster.

Qualified Plumbers play a crucial role in ensuring that water and sanitation is done safely and that it improves the health and safety of the public. At present the industry is being decimated simply because government is failing dismally in enforcing its own laws. There is a massive influx of sub-standard, non-compliant and outright illegal product being sold blatantly in industry. The unchecked growth in unqualified people conducting work and the virtually non-existent enforcement of by-laws at the vast majority of municipalities is all having a massive impact on our country. It is high time that government recognises how critical highly skilled and qualified plumbers are to the basic functioning of any society and takes concrete steps to protect and develop this critical industry.

Media statement from the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF)

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 09:12:47 GMT

IOPSA has noted the media statement from the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) dated 20 November 2023. In the statement which is below, SAAFF has detailed the challenges facing the ports and logistics industries in South Africa. The ports are owned and managed by Transnet. According to SAAFF the current situation is far worse than that experienced during the strike in October 2022. Due to poor maintenance, equipment breakdowns, material shortages and poor weather conditions the ports are currently unable to operate at their required capacity. This has led to significant delays and currently there are 96 vessels currently at anchor awaiting their turn to enter the ports. This situation has led to daily losses of more than R26 million per day. You may wonder what this has to do with plumbers?

In October last year we saw huge plumbing material shortages and delays in the market. If SAAFF is correct that this situation is worse than last year we should expect the same. At this time of year many plumbers are trying to finish off jobs and delays can be disastrous, especially on large contracts. We urge all plumbers to order their material as soon as possible to try to avoid delays. We also recommend that plumbers increase their stockholding of important daily items to avoid running out. Furthermore, SAAFF has indicated that the extreme costs of these delays could increase the cost of goods by between 4% to 24.5%. These increases will almost certainly be passed on to the industry in one way or another, so it is quite possible that prices will increase more than expected in the near future. IOPSA recommends that plumbers contact their suppliers as soon as possible to check on the status of critical materials.

If the past few years have taught us anything it is that South Africa’s extreme reliance on imported goods leaves us open and vulnerable to forces completely out of our control. IOPSA has long advocated for the use of locally produced products. The current situation once again illustrates how important local manufacturing is for the country. Not only does it create vital jobs, it stimulates and grows our economy (which is great for everyone) and it allows us, as a country, to be masters of our own destiny. Make no mistake, impots will always play an important role, but without local manufacturing capacity we are at the mercy of the vagaries of the world. So please choose local, the power is in your hands.

We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank all members for their continued support during the year. We hope that you and your families have a peaceful break in December. For those who are travelling please return safely. We look forward to an action packed 2024.

Click here to download the media statement

Mervyn Jordan: A Lifetime of Dedication to the Plumbing Industry and IOPSA

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 08:40:23 GMT

Mervyn Jordan is a name synonymous with dedication, commitment, and passion within the plumbing industry. With many years of invaluable service under his belt, Mervyn's tireless efforts have played an instrumental role in shaping the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) into the influential and cohesive organization it is today.

Throughout his journey, Mervyn's commitment to the plumbing industry has been nothing short of remarkable. His dedication was not limited to regular working hours; countless late nights were spent tirelessly working to further the cause of IOPSA. He was a true visionary, someone who understood the potential of unity in a fragmented landscape.

One of Mervyn's most significant accomplishments was his role in uniting the various independent IOPSA regions into a single, cohesive national body. This consolidation not only streamlined the organization's operations but also amplified its voice and influence within the industry.

Mervyn's contributions to IOPSA extended beyond his volunteer work. He dedicated a substantial part of his career as an employee of the organization, ensuring that his impact was sustained and meaningful. His involvement in numerous SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) technical committees showcased his commitment to maintaining industry standards and safety.

Education has always been at the core of Mervyn's efforts. He provided training to hundreds of plumbers, passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation. This commitment to education not only improved the skill set of plumbers but also elevated the industry's overall standards.

One cannot speak of Mervyn without acknowledging his genuine love for the plumbing industry. His enthusiasm and passion were infectious, inspiring many within the industry to follow in his footsteps. Mervyn's presence was not just impactful; it was also characterized by a great sense of humor that endeared him to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In the plumbing industry, Mervyn was more than just a professional; he was a well-known and beloved figure. His reputation as a true gentleman and his ability to bring laughter into even the most challenging situations made him a cherished member of the community.

As we reflect on Mervyn Jordan's remarkable journey, it is abundantly clear that the plumbing industry and IOPSA are immeasurably richer for his unwavering dedication and contributions. It is with the utmost honor and gratitude that we present Mervyn Jordan with a Lifetime Achievement award. This award is a testament to his enduring impact on our industry and organization, a legacy that will continue to inspire and guide us in the years to come.

In celebrating Mervyn's achievements, we also celebrate the values of dedication, unity, education, and passion that he exemplified throughout his career. His story serves as a reminder of the profound difference one person can make when they commit themselves wholeheartedly to a cause they love.

SALGA and IOPSA agree to support the upliftment of local government.

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 06:55:02 GMT

At a glittering gala event held in Mahikeng, North West, IOPSA and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) signed a pledge to construct efficient Local Governments through significant public-private partnerships. IOPSA was represented at this event by Faith Ratshilengo from Plumblink Mahikeng.

These partnerships aim to strengthen, empower, and build the capacity of the sector to effectively address the many challenges faced by local governments. In this regard IOPSA will continue with its efforts to improve the technical knowledge and skills of local Building Control Officers (BCO’s), Water Inspectors (WI) and other relevant municipal officials. Nearly 500 municipal officials have already been trained and the effects can already be seen. It is hoped that by improving the knowledge and skills of BCO’s they will be able to implement their by-laws more effectively especially in regard to unqualified people conducting plumbing works and non-compliant materials.

Further to these activities, SALGA has also identified the urgent need for professionalisation of the plumbers employed in local governments. Not only will this give long overdue recognition to the trade, which is so often neglected, but it will go a long way in ensuring that plumbers in the various municipalities keep up to date with the latest industry trends and ensure compliance with the various laws, regulations and standards.

The official handover of the pledge took place in Kempton Park on 28 September 2023 when Mrs Ledile Sebati, Director of Operations for SALGA handed over the signed pledge to Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director IOPSA. IOPSA would like to applaud SALGA for this bold step, and we look forward to a successful partnership.

An evening dedicated to honoring excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievements within the plumbing industry

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 08:13:24 GMT

The night of September 21st, 2023, was a night covered in elegance and celebration as the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) hosted its prestigious Annual Plumbing Industry Awards at the magnificent Indaba Hotel. This evening was dedicated to honoring excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievements within the plumbing industry, paying tribute to those who have propelled the industry to new heights.

Kethiwe and Xolani: The Masters of Ceremonies

The evening began with a spirited welcome from our two charismatic MC’s, Kethiwe and Xolani. These young compliance auditors and qualified plumbers for IOPSA set the stage for an evening filled with excitement, camaraderie, and the recognition of exceptional contributions to the plumbing industry.

Ubuntu: The Unity of the Industry

Sello Mokawane, Vice President of IOPSA, delivered an inspiring address on the true essence of unity within the industry, embodying the spirit of Ubuntu. He reminded us that when we stand together as one, in all our diversity, the plumbing industry becomes an unbreakable force for good.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Brendan Reynolds took the stage to highlight the indomitable spirit of South Africans and the plumbing industry. In recent years, our nation has faced numerous challenges, from floods and droughts to the COVID-19 pandemic and riots. Despite these trials, both our nation and industry have emerged stronger and more resilient. Brendan's words of encouragement paved the way for the exciting awards ceremony that followed.

Recognition Awards: Honoring Lifelong Dedication

The evening's first set of awards, the Recognition Awards, were presented to individuals and organizations that have demonstrated unwavering dedication to the plumbing industry. Berlesell and Kreishandwerkerschaft were recognized for their steadfast commitment to the plumbing profession. Additionally, Michelle van Rensburg, Nick Joubert, and Kurt Vermaak were honored for their decades of service.

Kwa-Zulu Natal: Region of the Year

A moment of pride and celebration occurred as Kwa-Zulu Natal was named the Region of the Year for the second consecutive year. This achievement underscores the region's dedication, hard work and continuous commitment to their members and the industry.

Auditor of Excellence: Ushen Parsuram

The Auditor of the Year award was bestowed upon Ushen Parsuram, whose diligence and expertise have contributed significantly to maintaining the industry's integrity and compliance standards.

Feast for the Senses

During a delightful interlude, attendees were treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner, offering a delectable array of culinary delights. This break provided a perfect opportunity for networking and connecting with fellow industry professionals.

Champions of Education and Skill Development

The awards continued with categories that recognize the champions of education and skill development within the plumbing industry:

Training Provider of the Year: Flavius Mareka TVET College, a two-time winner for their consistent dedication to nurturing the next generation of plumbers.
Apprentice of the Year: Mbali Buthelezi from Umfolozi TVET College and Chapman Plumbing , exemplifying dedication and excellence among aspiring plumbers.

Industry Excellence Across Sectors

The awards ceremony continued to spotlight excellence across various sectors within the plumbing industry:

Retailer of the Year: Plumblink
Importer of the Year: Harscan Distributors.
Manufacturer of the Year: Advanced Valves
Plumbing Company of the Year
- Industry Lady of the Year: Lesley Jearey, whose remarkable contributions to the industry were celebrated, even though she couldn't join us at the event.

Gratitude and Acknowledgment

The IOPSA Annual Plumbing Industry Awards 2023 would not have been possible without the steadfast support of the plumbing industry and our generous sponsors. We extend heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to making this event a resounding success.

Platinum Sponsors:

Advanced Valves
JoJo

Gold Sponsors:

Ariston
Stiebel-Eltron
Evo Valves

Silver Sponsors:

Harscan Distributors
Plumblink
Geberit
Electrolux
Builders Warehouse
Umfolozi TVET
Allan Gray
Maluti TVET College
Afriplumb Projects

The IOPSA Annual Plumbing Industry Awards 2023 was an evening to cherish, where the plumbing community came together to celebrate its finest and set new standards for excellence. As we reflect on this remarkable event, we eagerly anticipate another year of growth, innovation, and unity within the plumbing industry. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees who continue to inspire us with their unwavering dedication and passion

THE STATE OF THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY AND ITS IMPACT ON CHOLERA.

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 11:00:06 GMT

“… the majority of “plumbers” are not qualified, the majority of materials being used are non-compliant, the majority of plumbing installations are non-compliant, the municipalities are not able to control the situation on their own and the informal, non-compliant, industry is slowly killing the formal trained and qualified plumbers. To say that the situation is dire would be a gross understatement. It is small wonder that South Africa finds itself in the midst of a growing water, sanitation and health crisis.”

With the recent outbreak of cholera in several regions of South Africa the public has, possibly for the 1^st time, become aware that water borne diseases are not just a phenomenon in far flung rural areas. It is extremely sad that it has taken the deaths of so many people to raise the subject with the public and to galvanise authorities into action. The media and most authorities have raised the important issues of the treatment of both wastewater and potable water as being key in protecting public health. These are certainly important and cannot be ignored, but there is another key factor which has largely been ignored in most of the discussions and debates: the state of the plumbing industry.

Whilst building dams, bulk water supply lines, water treatment plants and wastewater treatment works are critical infrastructure which any country needs to function. People often forget that plumbing forms a crucial part of these systems. Potable water needs to get from these big infrastructure projects into homes and businesses, wastewater needs to be disposed of safely and directed to treatment plants and rainwater needs to be disposed of correctly. If this is not done properly the whole system becomes effectively useless. A potable water treatment plant becomes useless if the water is contaminated or lost through leaks before it even gets to homes, a wastewater treatment plant is useless if the sewerage never even gets to it, if large volumes of rainwater enter sewer systems it damages treatment plants and causes huge spillages of raw sewage, not to mention flooding. Getting these systems installed correctly is the role of the plumber.

When most people think of plumbers, they think of someone who repairs a tap or geyser or unblocks a drain but there is much more going on behind the scenes. For these systems to work properly they must be installed, connected, and repaired in particular ways, using the correct material to function properly. If not, they end up causing damages and putting the health of the public at risk. So, what is the state of this important industry? To understand what is happening one needs to look at the research. Sadly, there isn’t a huge amount available but below are the highlights from some of the available research.

According to the Water Research Commission in 2006 as much as 60% of all plumbing materials being sold in South Africa do not comply to legal requirements. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the situation has worsened since then.
TIPS (Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies) conducted research in 2018 where they found that of the 126 000 people who identify their job title as “plumber” only an estimated 15 000 were actually qualified.
n 2019 PEM Consulting found that the plumbing industry is characterised by far more informal activity than formal, with the number of formal enterprises declining every year and the number of informal operators increasing. Most informal enterprises are flying beneath the radar. This gives them a competitive advantage as their costs and commitments to their staff and clients are low.
In successive surveys by the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) from 2018 to 2022 the single biggest factor affecting plumbers’ ability to succeed was the activities of informal, unqualified “plumbers”.
Other research by IOPSA found that most municipalities did not have adequate water services bylaws and that these municipalities where not able to adequately control plumbing work being conducted in their jurisdiction. In related research, IOPSA found that as many as 70% of homes in urban areas have non-compliant plumbing installations.

So, to summarise, the majority of “plumbers” are not qualified, the majority of materials being used are non-compliant, the majority of plumbing installations are non-compliant, the municipalities are not able to control the situation on their own and the informal, non-compliant, industry is slowly killing the formal trained and qualified plumbers. To say that the situation is dire would be a gross understatement. It is small wonder that South Africa finds itself in the midst of a growing water, sanitation and health crisis.

The obvious next question would be “what is being done about it?” Unfortunately, the answer is not straight forward. On the legislative side there are various regulations and standards which are being worked on. Sadly, most of these have been stuck in bureaucratic limbo for years, it seems that there is little political will to get them finalised and implemented. The power to enforce the current and future legislation lies firmly in the hands of local government. As most South Africans know, the majority of municipalities are facing very serious challenges. With the exception of a handful of metros, it is highly doubtful that municipalities will have the funds, technical capacity or political will to reverse the current state of affairs.

In the face of this dire situation, IOPSA, the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB), SA Women in Plumbing (SAWIP), Plumbers Business Forum (PBF) and the Building Construction and Allied Workers Union (BCAWU) have come together to present a plan which would assist greatly. Collectively, these organisations represent the vast majority of formal businesses and workers in the plumbing industry. The idea would require qualified plumbers to register with PIRB, the registered professional body for plumbers, and require the issuing of a certificate of compliance for all plumbing work. Regular proactive auditing is conducted on the plumbers’ work, ensuring compliance, safety, ethics and recourse for the public. Far from impinging on local authorities’ powers, this system will go a long way in assisting them to enforce regulations and protect vital infrastructure and public health. The system has been in operation on a voluntary basis for more than a decade and is working extremely well. Thousands of qualified plumbers are already registered and are subjecting themselves to oversight in the best interests of the industry and public health and safety. What is needed now is the support of government and the broader public.

The situation is indeed dire and if urgent action is not taken very soon, we could see the collapse of a critical trade in South Africa. We do not have the luxury of time and endless debate, for the sake of our nation we need to take action now.

Body corporates and property owners increasingly at risk of civil and criminal action

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:52:50 GMT

South African body corporates and property owners are not doing proper due diligence when appointing service providers and are, therefore, increasingly exposing themselves to potential criminal and civil action. In many instances of late, insurance companies have rejected claims and even endorsed policies due to non-compliant installations.

Service providers are predominantly being appointed based on the price of their services, with scant regard given to their qualifications, skills and experience to perform the work that they are appointed to do. This potentially places the health and safety of occupants of buildings and entire communities at risk. These risks are especially high when dealing with trades such as electrical wiring and plumbing where sub-standard workmanship can lead to injury and even death.

Many body corporates and property owners do not know that they are responsible for injuries and fatalities caused by defective workmanship that has been performed by appointed service providers on their properties.

“For example, if an incorrectly installed plumbing system on your premises causes harm to others, criminal and civil action can be taken against you. This is because you created the hazard by appointing the unqualified service provider who performed the sub-standard work in the first place. There seems to be a lot of confusion around the difference between public and professional liability among body corporates. Public liability refers to claims by members of public for injury, illness, or damage. This is opposed to claims by property owners or tenants for professional mistakes made or negligence by their service providers. There is a significant difference between professional and public indemnity. Professional indemnity does not mitigate your criminal and civil liability in the event of an incident on your premises that causes injury, death or damage to property,” Chris Coetzee, Owner of OHSS Consulting, says.

Coetzee is an occupational health and safety (OH&S) expert. He is a Lead Auditor who holds qualifications in ISO 9000, ISO 14 000 and ISO 45 001 and is currently completing his International Diploma in International Occupational Health & Safety Management.

The OHSS Consulting team has been working closely with the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) since 2017 to significantly raise OH&S protocol across its large membership.

Moreover, the company is working with IOPSA to educate body corporates and property owners as to the importance of always using qualified plumbers and the significant risk associated with non-compliant plumbing workmanship.

This is especially important in these challenging economic conditions in which body corporates are tempted to cut costs.

Another concern is that there is very seldom a clear budget set aside for the appointment of service providers. This is especially in cases where there is uncertainty among body corporates, homeowners, lessees or sub-lessees as to who is responsible for installing, repairing, replacing or maintaining plumbing. Therefore, service providers are appointed haphazardly and mainly based on who is able to provide their services at the most affordable rate when emergency plumbing work is required. In many instances, service providers who are not qualified to install, repair, replace or maintain plumbing installations are appointed. With very little in way of qualification, skills and experience, they can offer their services at very low rates. The fees of licensed plumbers include their qualifications, as well as the training that they invest in their staff to upgrade, hone or refine their skills and the equipment and materials that they use to ensure compliant plumbing workmanship. Not to mention the use of compliant products. This is in addition to the investment that they make into their own OH&S protocols, which is very rarely taken into consideration by body corporates. It is treated as something separate – something that is simply done for just the sake of it as opposed to an important part of business.

All of these efforts are important to ensure the sustainability of the South African plumbing industry. The use of unlicensed service providers, thus, also threatens the wellbeing of the local plumbing industry.

Coetzee believes that body corporates and property owners would be more mindful when appointing plumbers if they were aware of the risks associated with substandard plumbing workmanship and the extent of their liability should something go wrong.

Herman Strauss, Director of SA Watermark, concurs. SA Watermark is a register of plumbing components that comply with the relevant South African National Standard (SANS) standards. It provides IOPSA’s members with a quick means of ensuring that the products or materials that they use are compliant and, therefore, fit-for-purpose.

According to Strauss, the majority of property owners do not understand plumbing. Many are under the impression that it is a simple trade with very little that can go wrong, other than water losses due to a leak and consequent increase in water bills, although an important consideration in a water-stressed country such as South Africa.

“The question that is frequently asked by owners of property is: if incorrect plumbing is so dangerous, why have we not had more incidents that have resulted in a loss of life or serious injury? I have a fairly straightforward answer: we have good plumbing standards in place and

an industry that is among the best in the world. This has helped to safeguard occupants of buildings and the general public. Therefore, there have only been isolated incidents involving plumbing installations thus far. However, with the increase in the number of unqualified plumbers operating in the country, we are starting to see more incidences. In fact, recently we have become aware of several instances where insurance companies have rejected claims and even endorsed policies. This is a clear indication that insurers have recognised the significant risks of non-compliant plumbing installations and are taking very strong steps to mitigate against it,” Strauss says.

The risks associated with non-compliant plumbing can be severe. For example, a hot water system that has been installed incorrectly, can explode. Incorrect water temperatures can promote the growth of bacteria in plumbing installations that cause illness. It can also scald, with vulnerable individuals most at risk. Another hazard of substandard workmanship that is often overlooked by body corporates is the potential of sewer gases to leak from a faulty plumbing system into a building, potentially poisoning occupants. Meanwhile, fire hydrants and hoses that have been incorrectly located and with insufficient water pressure cannot be used effectively to quell a fire on a property. Poor plumbing workmanship is seldom practical or efficient.

Like Coetzee, he reminds that the onus lies with property owners to ensure that their plumbing is fit-for-purpose. If they knowingly use the services of un-qualified plumbers, they could very well be held liable for loss of life or injury, or damage to property that occurs on their premises due to non-compliant plumbing workmanship, irrespective of whether they are aware of relevant laws or not. In order to mitigate such risks, property owners must ensure that they only use the services of suitably qualified professionals.

However, it is the responsibility of all plumbers to ensure that they perform their duties according to clients’ expectations. This is also in line with the requirements of the Consumer Protection Act, which qualified plumbers take very seriously, in addition to the standards, regulations and protocols that regulate this trade.

A qualified plumber has both the hand skills and knowledge of the applicable SANS standards, protocols and plumbing legislation to install, maintain, replace or repair plumbing systems correctly as required by their clients.

Dealing with a plumber that is registered with the professional body for plumbers, the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) is a quick and efficient way for body corporates to ensure that they have appointed a competent service provider. All IOPSA members are registered with PIRB and are, therefore, able to deliver services according to the many standards, regulations and protocols that govern this industry to safeguard building occupants, communities and public and private property.

Ekurhuleni BCOs and IOPSA meet

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:08:52 GMT

In keeping with IOPSA’s objective of engaging with local authorities, they recently met with Ekurhuleni.

The Building Control Officers (BCO) of Ekurhuleni had a training session with IOPSA in the Council Chambers at Edenvale.

Approx. 51 BCOs attended and Gerrie Botha presented the standards and by-laws for discussion. He reinforced that the BCO was vested with great power through these to enforce both compliance and competent people doing the work. In this case it was the qualified plumber. In the case of unqualified people doing plumbing work, the BCO has the power to have him/her removed from site, or preferably not even get as far as the site. The latter would be in discussion with the property owner at the planning stage.

Gerrie emphasised that every BCO must have a set of the compulsory standards. Failure to have this set leaves the BCO open to criticism and besides, it is part of the tools of the BCO profession. He warned of the dangers of using the internet as a point of reference as these are opinions and not the actual standards available only from SABS.

To answer the question of how one knows whether the plumber is qualified or not, Gerrie showed the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) certificate, which is the only certified proof of qualification for a plumber. He did confirm that there are still those holding the original qualification (Red Seal) which was acceptable. More to the point was the ‘plumber’ that had been doing plumbing for several years, without a qualification. While this was wrong and against the law, the aim should be to encourage such people to upgrade to a fully qualified plumber through several options available to them, including funding in some cases.

It was noted that IOPSA could offer to municipalities, at no charge for the first year, verification that the plumber is indeed qualified. A fast and efficient service for BCOs.

IOPSA also confirmed that as an organisation it does not issue a qualification certificate such as is required in the Skills Act. It will provide a certificate for courses/webinars they run which will clearly identify the name of the course and dates.

Executive director, Brendan Reynolds, reinforced that IOPSA was available to support and engage with the BCOs should they require assistance.

Reference was made to the PIRB, a voluntary registration and inspection/audit body, whereby a plumber can register and issue a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for a variety of plumbing jobs, which is left in the hands of the property owner. More details on PIRB can be found on www.pirb.co.za. Regarding the audit part of the PIRB mandate, this has been placed in the hands of IOPSA. Such an auditor will clearly identify themselves with an identity card as 5% of submitted COCs are audited.

Plumbing Africa had a brief chat with Thapelo Mogatusi, Interim Chief Building Control Officer for Ekurhuleni, who is a qualified architect.

He has 47 Building Control Officers for the area that covers some 1 975 square kilometres.

Mogatusi is very keen to encourage skills development and compliance. Such a focus he added was to the benefit of all parties including the Metro itself which would benefit financially as well as providing excellent service delivery – which benefits the public at large.

Stakeholder engagement was critical and he would work to build this up in the Metro.

In other words, “The BCO offers value in all aspects.”

Sadly, time was against us and Plumbing Africa and Mogatusi would meet for a more detailed interview.

Time was up for Plumbing Africa as well so we could not enjoy training manager Steve Van Zyl’s talk, but by the look of all the plumbing fittings around him the BCOs were about to enjoy examples of compliance and non-compliance.

The origional article can be found here

Cholera outbreak shines light on poor plumbing risk

Wed, 03 May 2023 13:52:33 GMT

It is just a matter of time before South Africa experiences a very serious outbreak of cholera and other waterborne pathogens, such as salmonella, typhoid and hepatitis.

This is considering the critical state of the country’s waterborne sanitation system, which is being exacerbated by widespread illegal plumbing practices.

“When assessing the risk of waterborne disease in the country, the focus is usually on the lack of sanitation and water infrastructure in the rural areas, townships and informal settlements. While this may have been the cause of previous and the more recent outbreaks of cholera, illegal plumbing practices in the urban areas have also become a significant contributor to the onset of an imminent crisis. Over the years, there has been a marked increase in the number of illegal interconnections of sewer and rainwater systems across the country. This practice is a major contributor to the rapid deterioration of our waterborne sanitation system and urban water cycle, placing whole communities at risk of exposure to waterborne pathogens,” Steve van Zyl, National Technical Manager of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), says.

IOPSA members are qualified plumbers. They will, therefore, never connect rainwater gutters and gullies to stormwater drainage systems and will advise property owners against this practice when asked to assist them to do so or when they see these types of installations on premises. Many property owners of all sizes do not know that it is illegal to discharge stormwater into the sewer system, although this is not an excuse for breaking the law. In other instances, property owners deliberately choose to ignore warnings against the release of stormwater into the sewer system. They are aided by unqualified plumbers who do not know better or unscrupulous operators.

Illegal house downpipe collection to municipal sewers is among the lead causes of stormwater inflows and groundwater infiltration into sewers in South Africa. It overwhelms entire waterborne sanitation systems, spanning collection and conveyance of sewage through to the actual wastewater treatment component. These were never designed to handle stormwater – and certainly not at the quantities that are currently being dispensed in sewers from the many roofs of houses in South African suburbs. They are already buckling under the strain of a significant growth in demand for sanitation services as cities continue to grow at an unprecedented rate. Certainly, lack of maintenance; inadequate planning and underinvestment in services delivery infrastructure; and poorly constructed systems are compounding the problem.

During heavy rainfall, there are overflows and sewage spills from sewer pipes that are filled beyond capacity and from overwhelmed sewage pumpstations. WWTPs are also flooded, and the effectiveness of the biological process used to treat wastewater vastly reduced. This, ultimately, leads to higher pollution loads being discharged into adjacent river ecosystems.

Eradicating illegal house downpipe connections to municipal sewers will help to alleviate pressure on the country’s waterborne sewage system.

Poor enforcement of plumbing standards and regulations by authorities has provided an ideal environment in which inexperienced plumbers can operate without fear of repercussion, or for property owners to flout the rule of law.

Notably, regulating the industry is also one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways of making an impact. This is compared to upgrading the capacity of existing systems and constructing new infrastructure which involves long lead times and is costly, bearing in mind stretched municipal resources.

The recent Green Drop report, the latest since 2013, reveals the true extent of the sanitation challenge that the country is facing. It has gone from bad to worse, with the need to intervene having never been more urgent.

The report shows that sewage treatment capacity has declined even further since 2013. This has resulted in the release of larger volumes of wastewater of a significantly poorer quality into the environment over the past 10 years.

Of South Africa’s more than 800 municipal WWTPs, almost half obtained a score of 30% or less for their performance. This means that they are in a critical state, while the average Green Drop score across all provinces was 50%. Therefore, half of the country’s raw sewage and industrial waste is not being treated to the required standards. To obtain a Green Drop Certification, WWTPs need to obtain a score of at least 90%.

Meanwhile, aged, as well as poorly maintained and constructed sewer systems are barely coping with the increased demand for sanitation services. This is evidenced by vastly diminished sewer collection and conveyance levels, with large volumes of sewage being discharged into the environment before it even reaches the WWTPs.

“Certainly, the lack appropriate sanitation and drinking water in the rural areas, informal settlements and townships are pressing issues that must receive urgent attention. This is considering the large role that these have already played in cholera outbreaks in the country, including the recent cases from Gauteng. However, in South Africa, waterborne disease is no longer only a ‘infectious disease of poverty’ as it is described in developed countries of the world. It potentially impacts South Africans of all income levels. This real risk of a widespread outbreak of waterborne diseases is also being heightened by the decisions that are being made by suburban dwellers who are far removed from the townships, informal settlements and rural areas,” Van Zyl concludes.

EXTORTION OR TRANSFORMATION? - The construction mafia in South Africa

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 08:07:17 GMT

Since 2015, South Africa has witnessed the emergence of a new kind of criminality in the form of organized groups targeting the construction sector under the banner of ‘radical economic transformation’. Dubbed the ‘construction mafia’ in the media,1 these people have organized themselves into groups known as ‘local business forums’ and invaded construction sites across the country, demanding money or a stake in development projects in what can arguably be described as systemic extortion.

While no country is immune to systemic extortion from criminal groups, the extent and impact of the activity depend on the abilities of state governance to address extortion economies as they arise.3 In South Africa, the activities of the so-called construction mafia have been fuelled by the weak response from the state, allowing them to expand their activities. In 2019, at least 183 infrastructure and construction projects worth more that R63 billion had been affected by these disruptions across the country.4 Since then, invasions have continued at construction sites across South Africa.

In this context, this report by the GI-TOC focuses on understanding how these groups, widely referred to as the construction mafia, operate, their involvement in systemic extortion, and the long-term implications for the construction industry in South Africa and the country as a whole.

Flushing the biggest water hog in the building

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 08:08:57 GMT

Non-sewered sanitation (NSS) technologies are not only a feasible solution for poor areas of the country that lack basic services. It is illogical that South African homes in the urban areas use up to 12l of potable water just to flush their toilets. This is considering South Africa’s severe water crisis, with many areas of the country already experiencing shortages due to severe droughts. The challenge is being compounded by dilapidated infrastructure, mismanagement and load-shedding.

Conventional toilets are extremely water intensive contributing to about 30% of a household’s total water consumption. Certainly, water-saving toilets play an important role in reducing the water footprint of homes and buildings. Some of these technologies consume up to 20% less water than traditional flush toilets. However, with about 63% of the population using flushing toilets, Sello Mokawane, Vice-President of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), says that these technologies are insufficient intervention.

“More will need to be done considering the sheer extent of the water and sanitation challenges with which we grapple. While water shortages are becoming a common occurrence in the urban nodes, many South African citizens who live in the rural areas and informal settlements have had to do without this basic human right for many years. It has long been their norm, while quality drinking water is being flushed down the toilet in the middle- and high-income areas. At the same time, our existing sanitation infrastructure is buckling under the strain of rapid urbanisation and development, compounded by mismanagement of this infrastructure. It is a concern that more than 330 of our 852 wastewater-treatment works (WWTWs) are in a critical state. This is happening while many of the rural areas and informal settlements have never had access to sanitation infrastructure that distances people from harmful pathogens and bacteria. Both situations also compromise the quality of our clean water resources. Only 54% of the population can access clean drinking water and about 33% of South Africans do not have sanitation services for the safe handling and management of waste. Considering this growing backlog, it is questionable whether we will meet Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to provide access to quality water and sanitation to all South Africans by 2030. SDG 6 is also in line with

Vision 2030 of the National Development Plan and Medium-Term Strategic Framework Outcome Targets, as well as a driver of the National Water & Sanitation Master Plan. NSS technologies can be implemented quicker and more cost-effectively than large, centralised systems and are, therefore, a way of achieving our water and sanitation goals,” Mokawane says.

IOPSA members are increasingly expanding their skills to service the growing “green” plumbing market. A case in point is the role that they are playing in helping property owners to safely use greywater for applications such as flushing toilets. They are also equipped with the skills that are needed to install, maintain and repair rainwater harvesting systems. These significantly reduce water footprints of houses and buildings, especially when rainwater is used for water-intensive toilet flushing purposes.

Certainly, IOPSA members are also knowledgeable in the installation, repair and maintenance of non-waterborne sanitation systems. Their skills and experience encompass all the technologies that are currently being used in the country, such as pit latrines, as well as Ventilated Improved Pit and Ventilated Improved Double Pit Toilets. This is in addition to short-cycle alternating double-pit toilets; pour flush latrines; and urine diverting dry toilets. If properly installed, these technologies provide an affordable and practical solution for rural and peri-rural areas where conventional water-borne sanitation systems are not feasible. Certainly, there has also been a growing interest in the technology in urban areas where municipal services are deteriorating at an alarming rate. Property owners are, thus, increasingly exploring ways of reducing their reliance on municipal supplies.

IOPSA members are trained to install, maintain and repair these technologies according to SANS 10400-Part Q. This national standard ensures the healthy handling and treatment of effluent for non-waterborne sewage systems.

However, new and more efficient NSS systems are being introduced to the country that bridge the huge divide that currently exists between conventional pit latrines and waterborne sewage solutions. They are also more socially acceptable alternatives to existing non-waterborne sewage systems. This should help to drive their uptake in the urban areas.

Enterprising plumbers have, therefore, already familiarised themselves with the new SANS 30500 standard which enables the testing and validation of these next-generation NSS technologies.

Notably, IOPSA recently participated in two field studies involving NSS systems. Plumbing students were also invited to participate to expose them to these exciting new “green” plumbing technologies.

The stellar work in mainstreaming these technologies is being driven by the Water Research Commission’s Sanitation Transformational Initiative.

It is being supported by government through impressive legal and policy frameworks. A case in point is the national sanitation policy which focuses on the entire sanitation value chain. In doing so, it recognises the economic value of sanitation and emphasis is given to both urban and rural sanitation, as well as on- and off-site systems.

The previous Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, was very outspoken about the applicability of this technology in the urban areas. She said that government needed to “begin challenging the property development sector through regulation and licensing to invest in developing properties less reliant on water for sanitation”. This would “ensure that we introduce alternative solutions to low-, middle- and high-income areas”.

These NSS systems are prefabricated integrated treatment units. They comprise a toilet at the front end and a treatment facility at the backend. They collect, convey and fully treat the waste that is introduced to the system. Therefore, they are not connected to any sewer or drainage network that sends sewerage to a wastewater-treatment works.

An example of such technology is a toilet that uses a full water cycling process to treat sewage. A rainwater collecting system can also replenish the water to the processor for treatment before it is recycled to the storage tank for flushing. Blackwater from the toilet is pumped up to the sewage processor for treatment and then recycled to the storage tank for flushing. The core of the technology is a sophisticated biofilm membrane reactor treatment process. It produces a stable and clean effluent that is further disinfected to ensure that it is safe for reuse.

“I do believe that these systems will gradually become the norm as opposed to the alternative. This is considering the ease at which they can be implemented and their cost-efficiency versus large, centralised sanitation infrastructure. Between 2015 and 2030, it is estimated that 18,3-million South Africans will require basic sanitation services to end open defecation. This calls for a US$370-million annual investment into sanitation infrastructure. Add to this the need to safely manage faecal sludge from all sources, including WWTWs, which requires a further annual US$970-million investment. In 2019/2020, South Africa only invested R17,5-billion into sanitation, which was nowhere near enough to address existing backlogs and new services. It is a significant challenge that requires ‘out of box’ thinking with the diverse skills and experience of the plumbing fraternity harnessed as part of the solution,” Mokawane concludes.

IOPSA visits ISH, World Plumbing Council and KH in Germany.

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 08:52:42 GMT

In March 2023 a delegation from IOPSA visited Germany to attend the World Plumbing Council (WPC) general meeting which was held as part of the ISH trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Whilst in the country, IOPSA used the opportunity to meet with Kreishandwerkerschaft (KH) in Munster they are an artisan education body. The delegation was made up of Adriaan Myburg (President), Brendan Reynolds (Executive Director) and Steve van Zyl (Technical Manager).

World Plumbing Council meeting.

The WPC general meeting was held as part of the ISH trade fair. Delegates attended from USA, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. Whilst various interesting and enlightening topics were discussed there were two clear themes that emerged from the conference.

Sustainability.

Firstly, sustainability was probably the most discussed topic both in and out of the meeting. In particular energy and water. It is clear that the whole world is desperately trying to find solutions to climate change, global warming and the market demand for more sustainable solutions. Heat pumps were a much discussed solution which is increasingly gaining popularity. For example, Germany requires 600 000 heat pumps to be installed each year for 5 years, that is 1644 heat pumps every single day, a monumental task.

Skilled plumbers.

The second big theme from the meeting was the worldwide shortage of skilled plumbers. It is not so much that there is a shortage of people but rather a shortage of plumbers with the right skills needed to face modern challenges. Many countries are going to extraordinary lengths to attract both young and old to the trade. There was much discussion about the need for the migration of skilled plumbers from country to country, however, the reality is that this could take a long time to change. The bottom line, we all need to do more to encourage young people to join trades, encourage women to see the trades as a good career option and improve the standard of education.

The next World Plumbing Conference will be held in Shanghai 17 -20 October 2023 https://www.wpc-sh.com/

ISH Trade fair.

ISH is the largest plumbing and HVAC trade fair in the world. It is held at Messe in Frankfurt which is a huge trade fair venue. The scale of ISH is simply mind blowing, over 150 000 visitors from 150 countries, 2000 exhibitors in 12 halls totalling over 300 000 square metres. It is almost impossible to get through it all in the 5 days. For South Africans’ in particular the scale is hard to comprehend and the numbers are simply staggering.

Once again there were some themes that came across strongly.

Sustainability.

It should be no surprise that this was a recurring theme and it really was, in almost every single conversation or exhibit sustainability was a theme. From the way products are manufactured, to packaging, to tooling, to installation methods, to the consumption of water and energy, virtually every product is trying to compete to be the most environmentally friendly. Of key importance to the SA market is that ceramics are out due to the high energy demands during production, new composite materials are taking over. 4.5lt flush is the new normal, no longer 6lt. PVC is completely out for waste water. Soldering of potable water pipes is now banned in Europe and many other parts of the world, crimping or pressing is all that is available.

Digital connected electronic plumbing components.

An incredible amount of product on the trade fair was “smart”. The trend from previous years seems to have blossomed and nearly every kind of product has some sort of electronic component and virtually all of them are connected in some way to a smart phone. From tools, to toilets, showers, baths plumbers will need to start improving their knowledge of electronics and the internet of things.

Colour is back!

Yes, believe it or not, every hall with sanitaryware and taps was a rainbow of colour, you could be forgiven for thinking that it was a 1980’s retro party. The move away from ceramics to composite materials has allowed for an incredible range of new colours and variations in design. Taps and mixers seem to be moving in the same direction with all manner of colours and finishes available.

Modern tooling

Tools have also undergone a revolution, there is a definite focus on high quality tools that reduce the time, effort and difficulty of jobs. From lifting heavy objects, to pipe maintenance of every sort, new installation and testing tools the variety is endless. But these tools all have one thing in common, they all reduce the amount of time and labour needed to do a job. The efficiencies that the right tools can bring have been shown again and again.

Heat pumps, heat pumps, everywhere.

The sheer number of heat pump exhibitors and the vast number of people in those stands was hard to comprehend. The worldwide demand for heat pumps is incredible and the pace of technological advancements in heat pumps is phenomenal. It seems as though the whole world has decided that this is the best solution and they are investing in it in a big way. By far the most popular hall and by far the most talked about subject.

Kreishandwerkerschaft (KH)

This visit was specifically to discuss the ongoing partnership between KH and IOPSA, specifically in regards to KH’s new project in Bloemfotein with Motheo College. We also discussed the possibility of skilled worker migration and gained a lot of insight into the German education system and methods of educating plumbers. KH kindly arranged for IOPSA to meet with a local plumber, Willers who have an extremely professional business. Visits to the Bosch Training Centre and Tece were also very useful in understanding how things are done in Germany. Finally a visit to Engergieland2050 and organisation which strives to improve sustainability in the region for some discussions of their success stories and looking for areas of cooperation.

IOPSA would like to thank the following organisations for their assistance in making the trip possible;

Calafrica, Patric Gordon

Caleffi SPA, Fabio Rossi

KH, Frank Tischner and Aika Drescher

IOPSA has some fun with the next generation of Plumbing Heros

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 06:54:07 GMT

On the 2^nd of March 2023, the IOPSA team made up of Steve, Xolani, and Kate brought their expertise and enthusiasm to a technical high school in Polokwane, South Africa, where they taught students about the importance of plumbing and the various types of plumbing work available. The students in the pictures were all interested in pursuing a career in plumbing and were eager to learn from the experts.

During their visit, the trio had fun with the students while also imparting valuable knowledge about the plumbing industry. They discussed the importance of plumbing in our daily lives and the diverse career opportunities available to those who pursue it.

One of the teachers in charge of the program, was thrilled to report that the uptake in plumbing had significantly grown over the past year. The program had only 14 students a year ago, but now has almost 40. This is excellent news for the industry, as it indicates a growing interest in plumbing as a career choice.

The students were not only interested in the various types of plumbing work, but they also asked great questions about the industry. One student, for example, asked how long it would take to become a master plumber. Steve's response was simple but powerful: "work hard, be passionate, and get there quickly because we need you."

The IOPSA team was thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with the next generation of plumbing heroes. They understand the importance of inspiring and educating the younger generation, who will one day be responsible for keeping our water systems functioning and our homes and businesses running smoothly.

In conclusion, Steve, Xolani, and Kate had a fantastic time teaching technical high school students in Polokwane about the importance of plumbing and the various types of plumbing work available. The students' growing interest in the industry is a promising sign for the future of plumbing, and the IOPSA team was privileged to engage with the next generation of plumbing heroes.

Correction of certain social media statements.

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 07:44:59 GMT

Dear Members,

We have been made aware of statements by certain individuals and organisations on social media claiming that IOPSA is involved in legal action to silence certain individuals and organisations. These claims are entirely false, IOPSA is not involved with any legal action against anybody whatsoever.

We have, however, been informed that a social media platform was recently closed down apparently on the advice of that organisation’s own legal counsel. It has nothing whatsoever to do with IOPSA.

IOPSA believes very strongly in freedom of speech and has always been open to robust debate.

Having said this, we will not stand for racism, sexism, incitement to violence, religious intolerance, personal attacks or any other activities which are hurtful or harmful to individuals. Robust and even passionate debate is encouraged but it must be done in a calm, respectful way with the goal of achieving some positive outcomes or resolving disputes. IOPSA’s meetings and social media platforms have often seen such debates.

No member has ever been removed from a meeting or blocked from any of our social media platforms for such debate, nor will we ever support doing so.

To my knowledge, in the last 5 years, 2 people were removed from our social media platforms for racial posts and sadly we have needed to remove a few people from our meetings because they were drunk and unruly. We do not apologise for this and will continue to ensure that IOPSA meetings and social media platforms are safe spaces and are not used for the wrong purposes.

On a positive note, IOPSA has hit the ground running again this year. We have held meetings for the 1st time in Worchester, Modimolle and Middleburg and have plans to get to Tzaneen, Polokwane, Vereeniging, Soweto and Howick in the near future. Meanwhile we have completed training for municipal building inspectors in the Southern Cape and Waterberg districts and will soon be getting to Mopani, Ehlanzeni and Ekurhuleni. Positive engagements have been held with the Departments of Labour, Public Works, Water & Sanitation and SALGA.

100 IOPSA members received bursaries for solar and heat pump training. We are also partnering with SASOL to improve plumbing education at technical high schools and will be attending the World Plumbing Council meeting to be held at ISH in Germany. Whilst there we have arranged to meet colleges and education officials to see where we can improve. All this while dealing with training, the normal complaints, dispute resolution, technical issues and promoting our members and the industry.

Once again, I would like to thank all members for their support and positive engagements.

Kind Regards,

Brendan Reynolds

Executive Director

IOPSA urges prudent water use while this is still possible

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 11:21:45 GMT

South Africa’s already-serious water crisis is being exacerbated by load shedding and this is expected to worsen as the country struggles to bring more electricity generation online. The country will experience at least two more years of persistent blackouts. This is as contingencies are made to maintain its aged coal power fleet which entails taking at least 3 000MW offline at a time.

The situation also brings to the fore the little progress South Africa has made in terms of integrating the planning of water and energy. This is despite the intrinsic connection between water and electricity, also referred to as the “energy-water nexus”. Aligning the planning of energy, water and food have become a major focus for many countries, considering their close relationship. The one cannot do without the other. This is evident in South Africa where power outages now also threaten food security. A case in point is the large impact that load shedding has had on the poultry industry. Factories have been forced to pause continuous operations for as long as half a day at a time.

Eskom on its own uses just over 10 000l of water a second, considering that more than 80% of the country’s electricity is generated from coal-fired power stations. This is equivalent to the amount of water that one South African citizen uses in a year. It also pollutes even more water during its operations. In turn, this electricity is used to extract, convey and deliver water of the appropriate quality for diverse applications. Electricity is then used again to treat wastewater before being returned to the environment. On average, water and wastewater accounts for some 17% of energy consumption in a typical South African metropolitan.

During higher stages of loadshedding, the operation of water treatment plants and pumping stations have been interrupted for extended periods. Without a consistent flow of water, reservoirs, including reserve capacity, run dry leaving areas of the country with limited or no supplies at all.

In particular, Gauteng’s water supply system relies heavily on electricity to operate. This is considering the high elevation difference between the Vaal Dam and the Witwatersrand escarpment. The maximum pump head from the Vereeniging Wastewater Treatment Works over the escarpment is about 320m. For this reason, Rand Water has classified the availability, reliability, reliance and quantity of electricity supply as one of its Top 10 Strategic Risks in an annual report. The extent to which its operations are dependent upon a reliable supply of electricity was already demonstrated in 2018 when a City Power substation exploded and disrupted the operations of Eikenhof Pump Station. This led to widespread water shortages in Gauteng and even parts of the North West, although the problem was solved fairly quickly. However, the more recent rolling blackouts have left areas in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, especially in the high lying areas, without water for extended periods.

The City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality has also warned about the impact of load shedding on its water supply system. Again, communities that are especially at risk of low supplies or none at all are those that are located in high lying and mountainous areas because water cannot be pumped there. Meanwhile, several areas within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, including Durban, experienced crippling water shortages during stage 5 and stage 6 loadshedding in 2022. This persisted for days on end. In Polokwane, Limpopo, strict water restrictions were implemented during high demand periods due to low and empty reservoirs as a result of rolling black outs. Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape was the first city to be beset by water shedding that was implemented by the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality to avert a crisis during this period.

This is on the back of the severe water and sanitation crisis with which the country has been grappling for many years before the recent persistent load shedding schedule that was implemented in the beginning of 2022. There are numerous reasons for this. Among others, they include the dire state of the country’s water infrastructure; pollution of water sources; and lack of planning for future requirements, not least of which is global climate change and rapid urbanisation. Certainly, endemic corruption in the system is also compounding the challenge and, now well entrenched, it will take time to root out.

Rural areas in most provinces of the country have long struggled with erratic supplies or none at all for extended periods. More than 30% of South African households do not have access to a reliable supply of water. A case in point is communities in Giyani in Limpopo who have had to make do without a reliable supply of water for many years with no real relief in sight. In some provinces, the problem is more prevalent. For example, the North West has long been struggling with widespread water shortages that have also impacted urban nodes, such as Brits. Meanwhile, many areas in the Eastern Cape, including Nelson Mandela Bay, were teetering towards a day zero due to a crippling drought and inadequate contingency planning before the onset of the latest energy crisis. Day Zero is when the taps will run dry in these towns. Cape Town narrowly averted such a scenario when the Theewaterskloof Dam ran dry due to the worst recorded drought in its history. However, there are still many areas of the province that are in the throes of a severe drought. For example, Theewaterskloof Local Municipality was recently forced to implement water shedding for six weeks in Grabouw due to an increase in demand.

Sello Mokawane, Vice President of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), warns that water shedding will become even more widespread as the water and energy crises deepen. This is considering the extent of the water and energy challenges that the country is facing. It is estimated that the country needs to invest R90-billion per year in water and sanitation infrastructure over the next decade to ensure reliable water supply and wastewater treatment. This includes refurbishing and upgrading of existing infrastructure and the construction of new such systems to support population and economic growth. Johannesburg Water, alone, needs R20-billion to repair its ageing infrastructure. Pressing repairs will cost the water authority R8-billion, for which it has budgeted.

“Water shedding has largely been localised thus far. However, at a national scale, their impacts will be far more severe than loadshedding. Bear in mind that there may not always be alternative solutions for water shedding. It is not as simple as installing a large generator at the last minute to power operations, although more businesses and homeowners are exploring ways of direct reuse/recycling and water outsourcing. However, implementing these solutions at a large scale takes time. The consequences of frequent and widespread water shedding will, therefore, be devastating, considering the critical role that water plays in the social and economic fabric of the country. Water is required to produce electricity from our many coal-fired coal power stations; to grow food crops; and for daily existence. We cannot do without it. It is, therefore, extremely important that we become more prudent in the way in which we use this important resource while there is still an opportunity to do so which is narrowing at an alarming rate. Demand-side management is the quickest way to make an impact. Considering the water-energy nexus, it will also help to relieve pressure on a strained electricity grid and reduce the carbon footprints of houses and buildings,” Mokawane says.

He points out that officially a single South African uses 234l of water a day. This is higher than the global average. Despite the water crisis that the country is facing, South Africa’s per capita water consumption is higher than the global average of 173l. But this is, in fact, not due to citizens’ consumption. Rather it is due to water that is lost between the water treatment plants and the consumer. This is commonly referred to as “non-revenue water”. In South Africa non-revenue water amounts to as much as 41%, largely due to leaks in municipal infrastructure, illegal connections and theft. This state of affairs is arguably the single biggest immediate challenge facing South Africa’s water sector.

There is a complete lack of regulation and enforcement of water installations, it is not surprising then that the vast majority of plumbing installations in the country are non-compliant, as per recent research undertaken by IOPSA. Research by the Water Research Commission has also shown that 60% of plumbing materials being sold are not compliant. A plumbing system that has been installed, maintained and repaired incorrectly is notoriously inefficient, both in terms of water and energy use.

Informed consumers will also make greater use of water efficiency systems. These include high-efficiency toilets, which only use 4,5l per flush compared to 6l per flush of older toilets. Meanwhile, high-efficiency showerheads use less than 7,5l of water per minute. High-efficiency taps have a flowrate of 5,6l. This is compared to the 8,3l flowrate of inefficient taps. Interventions such as these, combined with rainwater and greywater harvesting, as well as groundwater use, helped Cape Town to avert a looming disaster.

However, IOPSA members also know how to correctly install, maintain and repair tankless/instant water heaters, as well as solar water heater and heat pumps. This is in addition to water-efficient technologies, counting greywater and rainwater harvesting systems.

They are also skilled and experienced in connecting storage tanks to main water supply lines so that they fill automatically when municipal supplies are available.

In areas where there are protracted water interruptions, IOPSA members are even becoming involved in bulk water deliveries to residences and businesses.

“Forecasts indicate that water demand will exceed supply by 10% by 2030, driven by an increase in demand from the municipal, industrial and agricultural sectors. Other drivers include low water tariffs, inefficient use, inadequate cost recovery, leakages and inappropriate infrastructure choices. It is, therefore, imperative that South Africans understand the importance of conserving our water resources. In this way, we can foster a culture of using water efficiently and paying for these services,” Mokawane concludes.

Find out more information: www.iopsa.org/water-solutions

FREE SOLAR AND HEAT PUMP TRAINING PROVIDED TO 100 PLUMBERS.

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:41:15 GMT

Water heating through conventional geysers is one of the largest consumers of domestic electricity supply in South Africa. With the growing challenge of loadshedding it is becoming essential that more homes use alternatives to conventional electric geysers. Moreover, the threat of climate change through global warming due to the unrelenting use of fossil fuels is driving people across the world to seek more sustainable solutions. Technologies such as heat pumps and solar water heaters (geysers) provide an excellent alternative. These technologies are mature and will significantly reduce electricity consumption if installed correctly. Sadly, the current qualification for plumbers does not include any education on these important technologies.

Using alternatives, such as solar water heaters and heat pumps, is a requirement of the National Building Regulations (SANS 10400-XA) on all new buildings. However, there is a lack of properly trained installers which is hampering the full implementation of these requirements. These legal requirements will have long term, sustainable impacts in reducing the country’s carbon footprint and it is important that all plumbers, architects, engineers and developers do their part.

Recognising the need, IOPSA, Skills for Prosperity and Harambee have partnered to provide free education on solar water heating and heat pumps to South African plumbers. At least 100 IOPSA members are currently receiving free training funded by Skills for Prosperity. These plumbers will greatly increase the capacity and skills within industry to take up the challenge and find positive sustainable solutions to many of the problems we face.

In the words of Malebogo Mosimege, Project Manager at IOPSA “The project is running smoothly, and we are proud to be able to deliver such important training to our members. Not only will these skills improve their ability to grow their businesses but it will also have a positive impact on the country and the environment. A real win-win for everyone involved. We are truly grateful for the support we have received from Skills for Prosperity and Harambee, they are great partners and are making a big difference to our industry in so many ways.”

IOPSA encourages all plumbers around the country to upskill themselves on these technologies which are becoming increasingly sought after. The time of the conventional electric geyser is coming to an end and plumbers need to get themselves skilled for the future.

For more information or to find out how you can make a difference please contact www.iopsa.org.

The Benefits of Choosing a Plumber Registered with The Institute of Plumbing SA

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 07:42:56 GMT

When it comes to plumbing services, you want to make sure you're working with a professional who is knowledgeable, experienced, and reliable. That's why you should consider using a plumber who is registered with the Institute of Plumbing SA. Here are some of the key benefits of choosing a registered plumber:

1. Professionalism: Registered plumbers with the Institute of Plumbing SA have made a commitment to their trade and to providing high-quality services to their customers. They have proven their expertise and adhere to a code of ethics that ensures they provide honest and trustworthy services.

2. Expertise: The Institute of Plumbing SA is a well-respected organization that sets the standards for the plumbing industry in South Africa. By choosing a registered plumber, you can be confident that you're working with someone who has the knowledge and experience to tackle any plumbing issue, from routine maintenance to complex installations and repairs.

3. Quality workmanship: Registered plumbers are held to strict standards of quality workmanship, which means that their work is more likely to be done right the first time and to last. This can save you time and money in the long run.

4. Public liability insurance: All registered plumbers with the Institute of Plumbing SA are required to have public liability insurance, which provides financial protection in the event that something goes wrong with the work they do. This gives you peace of mind knowing that you're covered in case of any problems.

5. Peace of mind: When you choose a registered plumber, you can feel confident that you're working with someone who has the skills and experience to get the job done right. This peace of mind can be invaluable, especially when dealing with important plumbing issues.

Choosing a plumber who is registered with the Institute of Plumbing SA is a smart choice for anyone in need of plumbing services. By selecting a professional who has demonstrated their expertise, experience, and commitment to quality workmanship, you can ensure that you receive the best possible plumbing services.

15 plumbing trends to keep an eye on for 2023

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 06:15:38 GMT

Qualified plumbers are navigating a rapidly changing industry that is also fraught with many challenges that, in some instances, are being turned into opportunity with the help of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA).

1. Material shortages and supply chain disruption;
One of the biggest challenges the plumbing industry continues to face is the shortage of plumbing materials due to the disruption of supply chains. Bear in mind that most plumbing materials are imported from other countries with only a small portion of products manufactured locally. However, in 2022, the operations of South African manufacturers were severely disrupted by industrial action, civil unrest, loadshedding and rapidly declining service infrastructure. This trend is expected to continue this year further disrupting already-volatile supply chains. IOPSA has, therefore, advised its member to plan very carefully to avoid shortages of materials.
2. Declining quality of materials
Sello Mokawane, Vice-President of IOPSA, says that with the increase in imports and lack of control at the ports of entry and by municipalities, there has also been a notable decline in the quality of plumbing materials in the country. “We are seeing an increase in premature failure of plumbing installations due to sub-standard materials that do not comply with South African standards. This can result in damage to property and even injury. Therefore, one of IOPSA’s focus areas is to ensure that our members are equipped with the knowledge that they need to make informed purchasing decisions that will enable them to continue delivering excellent workmanship at a fair price.”
3. A skills shortage
Another challenge with which the industry continues to grapple is the dire shortage of qualified plumbers who have the skills that are needed to correctly install, maintain and repair modern plumbing systems. This is not to mention the advanced proficiencies that companies need to service the growing demand for “smart” and “green” plumbing systems. Generally, training institutions have failed to keep pace with the ever-changing skills needs of modern plumbing businesses. This will continue to stifle companies’ ability to respond quickly and efficiently to new opportunities for growth and diversification. IOPSA is, therefore, preparing to take a more central role in training moving forward.
4. A growing DIY market
It is important that plumbing companies diversify and find new growth markets. This is considering that the traditional basic domestic maintenance market has been shrinking for many years and, therefore, cannot possibly sustain all of the plumbers operating in the country. As plumbing products become easier to install, consumers have been able to increasingly bypass the services of professional plumbers. Large retailers are also pushing this agenda and even offer advice and guidance to consumers on how to “do it yourself” (DIY). Considering the financial pressure most South African households are facing, he believes that the DIY plumbing market will continue to grow at the expense of the plumbing profession.
5. Sustainable solutions.
The specialised eco-friendly and off-grid plumbing solutions market is one area that provides immense growth opportunity for plumbers moving forward. This trend is being driven by severe energy and water-supply interruptions in the country. Technologies in high demand include tankless/instant water heaters, as well as solar water heater and heat pumps. This is in addition to water-efficient technologies, counting greywater and rainwater harvesting systems amongst others.
6. Back up water solutions.
More traditional backup water systems are also increasingly being requested by property owners. These include storage tanks that are connected to the main water supply line and fill automatically when municipal supplies are available. Plumbers will also need to become skilled in providing borehole water supplies to properties. Supplementing, augmenting and even replacing water supplies in this manner is also a viable source of business for qualified plumbers. In areas where there are protracted water interruptions, IOPSA members are even becoming involved in bulk water deliveries to residences and businesses. It is a profitable field that provides tremendous growth prospects for plumbers.
7. Water treatment and filtration.
There is also a necessity for plumbers who are skilled in the installation, maintenance and repair of filtration and treatment technologies. This is amid growing concerns around the quality of drinking water in some areas of the country. Certainly, the global move towards tap water from bottled water for environmental reasons is also a major driver of this trend. The fact that South Africans are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious bodes well for plumbers who have the skills and expertise to cater to this need.
8. Smart Plumbing technologies.
Meanwhile, the Internet of Things continues to disrupt the plumbing industry as it is doing to most other sectors throughout the world. Forward-thinking plumbers have already equipped themselves with the skills and knowledge that they need to correctly install sophisticated plumbing technologies, such as touchless toilets, taps and mixers.

These “smart plumbing” technologies cater to the growing demand for convenience, as well as healthy and hygienic living and workspaces. They also help property owners to better manage their water demands; lower the total operating costs of their plumbing installations; and reduce their water footprint. A case in point is the absolute control over water consumption that smart water meters provide property owners. These systems use wireless technology to enable remote monitoring of water use, providing accurate data around the clock. Meanwhile, “smart” water-management systems facilitate early leak detection and water outages, in addition to their ability to report faults automatically.

Mokawane says that the growth in demand for “smart plumbing” systems, such as touchless technology, is also being driven by a growing elderly population. More people are living longer than ever before. In their senior years, they require plumbing solutions that offer convenience, comfort and safety. This is over-and-above other plumbing technologies that are also appropriate for frail people, such as thermostatic mixing valves that protect against scalding and simple to use single-lever taps and mixers.

9. Specialised plumbing equipment.
Meanwhile, plumbing equipment is also becoming more specialised requiring advanced skills and experience to operate. The modern plumber is now expected to know how to work with pipe inspection cameras, in addition to specialised drain cleaning and leak detection equipment. This is over-and-above various types of pipe location technologies, including infrared, thermal and sonar. Pipe freezing machines, as well as various “no-dig” or “trenchless” solutions are also fast becoming a staple of the plumbing profession. This is considering that they provide a faster; more cost-effective; and less intrusive means of installing, repairing and maintaining plumbing systems.
10. New disruptive technologies.
“New ‘disruptive’ technologies are being introduced to the global plumbing industry at an unrelenting pace – so much so that laws, regulations, standards, as well as education and training are struggling to keep pace. Thus, another major focus for IOPSA is to ensure that our members are always at the cutting-edge of industry practice and, therefore, not at risk of being left behind,” Mokawane says.
11. Professionalism
He explains that among the major driving forces behind the widespread uptake of sophisticated technology in the plumbing industry is the growing demand for professionalism. Large corporates are increasingly expecting nothing less than excellence from their supply chain partners to mitigate their liability. Similarly, government is embarking on a drive to significantly raise the quality of services delivered to citizens and other state departments. A case in point is the push by the Department of Public Works to professionalise contractors in its employ. IOPSA is currently training many plumbers on behalf of this department. This is in addition to the plumbing training that the association is providing to municipal workers as part of government’s drive to raise the skills of civil servants.
12. Millennials demand convenience.
Certainly, these technologies are also enabling plumbers to respond to the demand for convenience and service. These are slowly replacing price and quality as the main criteria for buying products or services. This trend is expected to continue indefinitely as more millennials become consumers of plumbing services. Convenience and service are on top of mind for these South Africans aged between 23 and 38 when they buy products and services.

They are also a digitally connected generation that prefers to communicate via apps and social media as opposed to other more traditional methods, such as email and telephone calls.

13. A digital presence is essential
Thus, plumbers will also have to ensure that their businesses are able to respond appropriately to these consumers if they intend servicing this growing market. Among others, this includes having a strong digital presence, as well as providing easy and efficient digital payment methods.
14. More educated consumers.
Considering the wealth of information that is available via the internet, generally most consumers are also more educated than ever before. They are, therefore, not baffled that easily by technical jargon and know exactly what the best solutions are for their needs.
15. Standing out from the crowd.
In the increasingly cluttered landscape it is becoming very difficult for plumbers to differentiate themselves from everyone else. It has therefore become even more important than ever for reputable plumbing businesses to be part of recognised industry bodies such as IOPSA. This helps plumbers to stand out from the crowd and gives consumers a sense of security in dealing with a legitimate organisation.

“It is vitally important that plumbers adapt and respond quickly to these new opportunities for growth which can be described as a silver lining to an otherwise very challenging time for most businesses. We look forward to continuing to assist existing and new IOPSA members navigate change and the many obstacles that lie ahead of their business journey,” Mokawane concludes.

IOPSA gives computer access to young plumbers

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 09:55:03 GMT

World Toilet Day celebrations kicked off on a high note, when the Institute of Plumbers (IOPSA) made computers available to young plumbers, in Midrand, on Friday, 18 November 2022.

Young plumbers from disadvantaged communities face an array of challenges in setting up their own businesses and this includes not having access to transport to go to work sites or for collecting building and work material, as well as a lack of data to communicate with clients. Often, young plumbers cannot prepare professional quotations for their clients, while at other times, they are unable to email their quotations to clients. While these challenges may seem small, it has a major impact on the ability of newly qualified plumbers to interact well with their clients.

IOPSA is very familiar with the challenges and are always finding new ways to support new young entrepreneurs in the plumbing industry. To this end, IOPSA is now working with the Quilder non-profit company (NPC), that is based in Midrand, so that young plumbers can have access to computers and wifi for better interactions with their clients.

Nick Joubert, the National Training Manager from IOPSA notes that “the IOPSA offices in Edenvale remain a hub of support for young plumbers and with the Quilder offices in Midrand, our young plumbers will have access to another facility and location for support.”

“The location of the Quilder NPC offices in Midrand, will enable young plumbers from Tembisa, Ivory Park, the Kyalami Agricultural Holdings and many other areas in the vicinity, to access the computers that IOPSA donated. This in turn will allow those entrepreneurs to network with others, to complete their basic administrative business functions”, comments Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of IOPSA.

Caption for photo: Nick Joubert, Brenden Reynolds with Janine Julies and a few young entrepreneurs from Quilder NPC.

Resuscitating South Africa’s ailing plumbing manufacturing industry

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 07:04:34 GMT

The proposed Water and Sanitation Industrialisation Master Plan aims to arrest years of erosion of South African capacity to design and manufacture competitively priced, quality plumbing products for both the local and international markets.

Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies’ (TIPS) extensive research into the current status of the water and sanitation value chain, as well as the South African plumbing industry form the basis of this Master Plan. This includes TIPS’ most recent findings into South Africa’s ability to design, manufacture and supply competitively priced, quality water and sanitation products. The report has identified many challenges that local manufacturers of water and sanitation products face and suggests solutions to resuscitate the industry. It complements the Department of Water and Sanitation’s National Water and Sanitation Master Plan that was released in 2018. These policy documents are also intended to be used together with master plans that have already been developed for the reindustrialisation of the plastics, steel and chemicals value chains.

The findings of these reports and the proposed drafting of a Water and Sanitation Industrialisation Master Plan have been well received by the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA). “Like so many other South African industries, the plumbing supply chain has undergone significant de-industrialisation over the years. This has resulted in major losses in semi-skilled and skilled jobs, in addition to skills development and training opportunities, exacerbating already-high unemployment in the country. The dire situation also impedes our ability to innovate in a country that needs unique solutions to help better manage our severe water and sanitation crises. As our factories have gradually closed their doors and been replaced with warehouses full of goods that are manufactured in other countries, there has also been a rise in the use of sub-standard products. This places consumers, property and municipal assets at risk, while seriously exacerbating our water and sanitation challenges. We need a robust strategy to arrest the decimation and I believe that this masterplan articulates it very well. Of course, now we need to implement its suggestions. This requires significant effort from all stakeholders in both the private and public sectors,” Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of IOPSA, says.

The biggest threats to local manufacturers of plumbing products are cheap imports as a result of practices such as dumping, under-invoicing, mis-declaration and the general undervaluing of imported goods. It is almost impossible for local manufacturers to compete against these products, and many have, therefore, had to close their doors. For example, only two South African borehole pump manufacturers are still operating under these difficult conditions. The other 10 have closed down because they simply could not compete on this very unlevel playing field. This sector is being devastated in the same way that was done to the country’s taps, as well as copper or brass compression fittings manufacturers. South Africa no longer manufactures any of these products. They are all imported.

A robust South African Revenue Services (SARS) will help to curtail these fraudulent practices. The masterplan, therefore, suggests urgently staffing SARS with the resources and skills that it needs to investigate these cases and verify under-invoicing, mis-declaration, general undervaluing of imported goods and dumping.

There is also a need to address poor monitoring and policing of municipal procurement practices, as well as enforcement of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) codes of good practice. This is considering that many companies are bypassing local content requirements and supplying cheap imported designated and regular goods to municipalities. Worse still, many of these imported products are of a very poor quality. They, therefore, breakdown regularly, leading to downtime that hinders municipal service delivery, while repair and replacement costs place an additional financial burden on already-stretched municipal budgets. These practices also deprive local manufacturers of the support that they need to innovate to develop technologies that will help to improve service delivery in the municipal sector.

The masterplan also encourages retailers and wholesalers to work closely with local manufacturers to identify imported products, especially sanitary ware, as well as tubes and pipes, that could possibly be substituted with locally manufactured goods. There was an earlier call for closer collaboration between merchants and manufacturers to promote locally produced water and sanitation products. However, this is yet to take place.

Another earlier suggestion that has gone unnoticed was to closely monitor the importation of steel products. It was proposed that import rebates only be considered when security of local supply of products could be assured. Security of local supply has not been achieved and rebates on steel products are still in place, undermining local manufacture.

The TIPS report also suggests an urgent review of some of the quality standards for water and sanitation products as they may no longer be fit for purpose. There are concerns that these standards may be too high or low. It is, thus, important to determine if this is, indeed, the case; whether it is hindering the local design and manufacture of water and sanitation products; and, if so, to what extent.

Reynolds agrees with the findings of TIPS that there are gaps and “regulatory incoherence” between the National Water Act, the National Building Standards Act and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act (NRCS Act) that need to be urgently addressed. These loopholes allow the use of sub-standard imported plumbing products with impunity.

He explains, “The National Water Act has a bearing on the supply and quality of water. It, therefore, tasks municipalities with the development of by-laws to regulate water in their jurisdictions. Yet, no legislation or capacity exists for policing the regulation of water in buildings. Therefore, Building Control Officers do not inspect water installations, and their

duties are limited to wastewater and sewer disposal inside buildings. Moreover, not all of the municipalities employ Building Control Officers. Meanwhile, the National Building

Standards Act, which is housed in The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, does not stipulate specifications for water supply to buildings, including for water installations. Yet, it prescribes regulations for sewers. There are also significant regulatory inconsistencies between the National Building Standards Act and the NRCS Act that create further ambiguities. As TIPS notes, we need to have a single regulatory framework or at least coherence between the two acts.”

As no legal requirements for the verification of plumbing compliance exist, enforcement of plumbing products and installations remains very poor. The NRCS Act is not authorised to act against non-compliant products other than geysers. Due to a lack of regulation, some retailers have even admitted to stocking sub-standard imported products for their survival. This is despite the risk that this practice poses to consumers who cannot verify whether products are of a suitable quality.

The masterplan also draws attention to insufficient product testing and certification capacity in the country. This has resulted in delays in testing and certification that have prevented manufacturers from taking their products to market timeously which impedes their ability to compete. Many companies have even closed down because they have not been able to attain the necessary certifications within a reasonable timeframe. It is compulsory for products to comply with some standards. Compliance with a single standard usually consists of many test methods at laboratories that are accredited to undertake them. However, the country’s various laboratories can only offer partially accredited tests for most compulsory standards. For example, South African National Standards (SANS) 226 for metal taps consists of 12 tests. SABS is accredited for eight of these tests; ATL for seven; and OMEGA for 11. TIPS has, therefore, suggested closer collaboration between private and public sector laboratories to increase testing and certification capacity in South Africa.

It is also time-consuming and costly for manufacturers to attain accreditation from the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) for their products. This further frustrates the efforts of local manufacturers and hampers innovation. The introduction of new and amended standards also require large capital outlays for laboratories, equipment and training of staff to test. Regulators are loathe to make this type of investment as there are insufficient manufacturers of new products in the country to justify the expense.

The high cost of attaining and maintaining SANAS accreditation also prevents many manufacturers from entering the market. There is also often a lack of understanding of the total cost involved in certifying products, especially new technology, among manufacturers.

The lengthy testing process can also be a hindrance. A typical certification process takes at least 32 days and field-testing up to 50 days.

Moreover, many water and sanitation goods and services have not been adequately designated or not at all. IOPSA and the Plumbing Industry Registration Board have committed to working with International Trade Administration Commission and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications to review and expand water and sanitation-related product designations.

“The challenges that local designers and manufacturers of water and sanitation products face are extensive and complex and, therefore, cannot be solved overnight. Considering the severity of our water crisis with Gauteng now also facing acute water restrictions on the back of the country’s crumbling sanitation system, we cannot delay any longer. The focus should now be on ensuring that quality water and sanitation products are being used and that we have the local capacity to supply this demand and innovate to find solutions to these challenges. At the same time, a vibrant local plumbing manufacturing industry will help to absorb the many unemployed South Africans, especially the youth. In addition to creating stable employment prospects, the manufacturing industries provide immense opportunity for skills development and training,” Reynolds concludes.

WATER AND SANITATION INDUSTRY MASTER PLAN POLICY REPORT

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 08:07:35 GMT

Water and sanitation are essential for human existence and economic development. There are, however, major challenges (domestically, regionally and globally) in relation to water and sanitation. There are also historical inequalities. Challenges include water security; water access; increased health and environmental regulation; aging infrastructure; and financial sustainability. Systemic responses include demand management; transitions towards more smart and sustainable technologies; sector restructuration; and tariff (as well as wider financing) reforms. Emerging solutions encompass infrastructural, technological and managerial responses.

The global water and sanitation market was estimated to be US$862 billion in 2016. This includes both capital and operational expenditure, the latter accounting for 64%. The market is expected to reach close to US$900 billion by 2022, growing by +3.7% a year over the 2015-2022 period. South Africa, ranked 16th, accounted for 1.3% of the global market. In South Africa, government has committed R115 billion until 2024 to water and sanitation infrastructure. Projects have been designed to “crowd in” private sector investment and private sector initiatives are independently investing in transitioning risk management of their asset base toward smarter and more sustainable solutions. Yet these significant investments (and those projected to follow) fall short of the projected needs. Improving efficiencies is therefore a key focus of many efforts.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT

Inferior thermostatic mixing valves increase chance of scalding

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:01:02 GMT

There has been a concerning increase in the use of inferior thermostatic mixing valves in solar-heating systems. These products are also being installed in the hot water systems and on specific plumbing fixtures in old-age homes, clinics, hospitals and schools.

Quality thermostatic mixing valves protect people from scalding. They achieve this by ensuring a safe water temperature in the bath, shower, basin, bidet and kitchen sink. This is by accurately blending hot and cold water to keep temperature consistent even when the incoming water pressure or flow fluctuates.

Water from solar-water heating systems can reach temperatures that significantly exceed 65°C when they over perform. The ideal temperature of water at the point varies depending on the application but should never exceed 50°C. In baths, basins and showers, the standard water temperature of hot water is at least 38°C. To melt fats in the kitchen sink, hot water must be at least 45°C.

Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), says that the use of these inferior thermostatic mixing valves places many lives at risk, especially the most vulnerable.

“Hot water from a solar water heater can reach temperatures of up to 90°C. A serious burn can occur within three seconds of being exposed to water that is 60°C in temperature. Hot water at 48°C can lead to a serious burn within 10 minutes. Many incapacitated people and children who cannot reach the tap quick enough or do not know how or are unable to close it have been burnt very severely in water of these temperatures. Bear in mind that children and the elderly also have thinner skin that burns quickly,” Reynolds says.

A quality thermostatic valve is manufactured to comply with the SABS 198:2012 standard. The standard enables plumbers and consumers to ascertain that the thermostatic mixing valve will perform as expected.

Reputable South African manufacturers and suppliers of this technology are very familiar with the standard. They also have an intricate understanding of the unique local conditions in which their products operate.

Many of the inferior thermostatic mixing valves that are being used in South Africa are being mass manufactured for an international market by companies in the East. These manufacturers are, therefore, not always aware of the strict standards that govern plumbing installations in the various markets that they supply.

A thermostatic valve that has been manufactured according to the SABS standard will allow the correct quantity of water through the hot water system. Importantly, it also reacts

swiftly in the event of a cold-water supply failure. When this occurs, it automatically shuts down and allows only a small amount of water through the pipe.

The influx of inferior mixing valves in the country over the years has been on the the back of a significant increase in demand for solar-water heating systems. These systems reduce water and energy bills, while also mitigating exposure to an extremely strained electricity system. Certainly, a growing awareness of the importance of sustainable living is also driving the uptake of the technology among large property developers and owners, as well as middle- and upper-income homeowners.

There has also been an alarming increase in the use of inferior thermostatic mixing valves in solar heating systems for large affordable housing developments. Inferior plumbing products, such as thermostatic mixing valves, are sold at a fraction of the cost of quality systems that comply with the relevant standards. They are especially appealing during challenging economic conditions as a short-sighted cost-cutting exercise. This has also been at the expense of local industry which supplies thermostatic valves that comply with strict standards.

Notably, the authorities have established localisation targets for solar water heater installations on many of these affordable housing projects. This is to stimulate the South African manufacturing industry so that it is also able to create more jobs. Yet, there are no such requirements for important plumbing components such as thermostatic mixing valves that are assembled or manufactured in the country according to the relevant quality standards.

For example, Advanced Valves, one of IOPSA’s members, manufactures a high-quality thermostatic mixing valve at its state-of-the-art factory in Johannesburg. The product’s very high local content compliments localisation targets that have been stipulated for other components of solar-water heating systems for affordable housing projects. The only component of the product that is not manufactured in the country by the company is the wax thermostatic element. Essentially the ‘brain’ of the system, it expands and contracts according to the temperature of the water. As temperature rises, the element expands closing the supply of hot water and releasing cold water into the system. When temperature decreases, it contracts to allow hot water into the pipe. The company imports its thermostatic element from France, which is considered a world leader in the field.

It remains a serious concern that burn injuries account for about 180 000 deaths every year throughout the world. “The highest burn-related deaths are in low- and middle-income countries. These burns are usually as a result of an accident at home. Scalding and flames are the most common causes of burn injuries in developed and developing countries, including in South Africa. To what extent poor plumbing contributes to this worrying state of affairs still needs to be investigated. Unlike other countries in the world, we do not keep such statistics. However, I am sure that, if we were to undertake such an investigation, it

would be a real eye-opener. This is considering the extent of substandard plumbing workmanship and the use of poor-quality plumbing products in the country,” Reynolds concludes.

Selecting the right CoC for you.

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 10:19:42 GMT

The status of Certificates of compliance (CoC’s) for electric water heaters (geysers)

Since the change of SANS 10254 on 24 June 2022, there is no longer ANY requirement in any standard, regulation or act for a CoC to be issued for any installation or repair of a geyser. Claims to the contrary are incorrect. There are some municipalities which still require a CoC to be issued in terms of their by-laws, which remains a legal requirement irrespective of the changes to SANS 10254. The majority of these municipalities require a PIRB CoC. If, at some time in the future, there are any amendments to this, we will inform industry immediately.

Clients (e.g. property owners, developers, insurance companies, etc.), are well within their rights to require their service providers to issue a CoC. They may choose to use any form of CoC, from any individual or company, based on their own criteria to ensure quality, safety and accountability. In short, it is entirely voluntary.

Plumbers too have the right to either issue a CoC or not (depending on their client’s requirements). In this regard we strongly recommend that plumbers choose to continue issuing CoC’s as this brings professionalism, traceability and accountability to the industry. The selection of which form of CoC to use is important and is dealt with below.

The status of Certificates of compliance (CoC’s) for solar water heaters and heat pumps.

Although SABS has made it clear that it will be removing all requirements for CoC’s from all standards, for all industries in the near future. The current requirements to issue a PIRB CoC for these types of installations remains a requirement. If these standards are amended, we will notify you immediately.

The status of notifications of pre-existing non-compliances.

It is important to note that, in terms of the Consumer Protection Act, irrespective of any changes to standards, plumbers who are repairing or replacing water heaters MUST still notify the owners/users of any pre-existing non-compliances in writing. Nothing has changed in this regard. It is a very important requirement which allows the owner to make an informed decision whilst protecting the plumber from potential liability for work which they did not complete.

Selecting the right CoC for you.

In choosing which CoC to use, we recommend that plumbers and clients consider the following when making their decision;

a. Is the organisation administering the CoC a not-for-profit company?
b. Is the organisation a registered Professional Body or just a private company?
c. Is the organisation subject to oversight by any government agencies?
d. Does the organisation have a proven track record?
e. How long has the organisation been involved in administering CoC’s?
f. What criteria does the organisation use to vet the qualifications and/or competence of plumbers?
g. Is there a code of conduct in place?
h. What, if any, mechanisms are in place to deal with poor performance?
i. Is there a suitable procedure for handling complaints from the public?
j. Are there suitable checks or audits of plumbers’ workmanship?
k. Does the organisation have procedures in place to ensure that plumbers are kept up to date with the latest industry developments?

In evaluating these criteria it is important to choose a CoC not because it is “easy” or “cheaper” but to choose a CoC which has real meaningful value and substance. A CoC which enhances professionalism, safety and upliftment of the industry.

Vertical outbreak of COVID-19 in high-rise buildings: The role of sewer stacks and prevention measures

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 09:55:15 GMT

Abstract

COVID-19 outbreaks in high-rise buildings suggested the transmission route of fecal-aerosol-inhalation due to the involvement of viral aerosols in sewer stacks. The vertical transmission is likely due to the failure of water traps that allow viral aerosols to spread through sewer stacks. This process can be further facilitated by the chimney effect in vent stack, extract ventilation in bathrooms, or wind-induced air pressure fluctuations. To eliminate the risk of such vertical disease spread, the installation of protective devices is highly encouraged in high-rise buildings. Although the mechanism of vertical pathogen spread through drainage pipeline has been illustrated by tracer gas or microbial experiments and numerical modeling, more research is needed to support the update of regulatory and design standards for sewerage facilities.

Introduction

During the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viruses have been spread around the world causing respiratory symptoms, pneumonia, and deaths [1,2]. Many national governments limited social interactions and restrained economic activities to mitigate COVID-19 transmission, leading to isolation and hardship. The rapidly emerging new variants of concern, such as Delta and Omicron, create new challenges for countries even with a high vaccination rate [3].

The highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 exploited many routes to be transmitted among people, including human-to-human transmission under close contact by sprayed large droplets, or aerosol inhalation, and fomite transmission by touching contaminated surfaces with viral deposition [4]. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 viruses are excreted into the stool of infected individuals and enter sewers after toilet flushing [5,6], as confirmed by the detection of SARS-CoV-2 gene markers in wastewater samples globally [7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]. Many countries have implemented routine wastewater surveillance programs for the presence and concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in different sewer catchments or wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) [14, 15, 16]. Hence, the wastewater in sewers is also a potential transmission vehicle for SARS-CoV-2.

The possibility of fecal-oral transmission has been proposed and discussed widely [17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23], supported by the isolation of viable viruses from human feces [24]. Apart from fecal shedding, other sources containing active SARS-CoV-2 viruses, including sputum, nasal mucus, blood, and saliva, may also enter the wastewater in sewers [25, 26, 27]. Some strains of coronavirus could preserve infectivity in bulk wastewater for a few days [28,29], and in sewers for hours [30], thus potentially making small sewage droplets as a transmission pathway of COVID-19.

High-rise apartment buildings are common residential arrangements in many densely populated cities worldwide. The flats/units of high-rise buildings are usually connected to the same drainage system. This makes it possible that the aerosolized viral particles generated from toilet flushing can be transmitted through sewer stacks, including linked sewage and ventilation pipes [31, 32, 33], causing infections distributed vertically in the building towers linked with the same sewer stacks. This paper reviewed the reported cases of vertical outbreaks of COVID-19 and studies related to the viral transmission mechanisms in sewer stacks of high-rise buildings, most of which are within the last two years. Based on this, some recommendations and research needs were proposed for preventing the transmission of COVID-19 in high-rise buildings.

Vertical outbreaks of COVID-19

The vertical outbreak came into the spotlight as a serious severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak that happened back in 2003 at a private residential apartment in Hong Kong, resulting in 42 deaths and 321 infected cases [34]. For the current COVID-19 pandemic, 15 vertical outbreaks in residential buildings were reported in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China [35,36], and one outbreak in Seoul, South Korea [37] (Table 1). The infected cases were detected along the vertical line in the buildings connected by the same plumbing pipe. Moreover, most of the secondary infections resided on upper floors above the index case (Table 1). Additionally, the high risk of in-building infection is also a considerable concern for quarantine hotels and hospitals, where infected people frequently discharge viruses into the interconnected drainage system [38,39]. Therefore, it is likely that there have been more unrecognized vertical outbreaks as well.

Click here to read the full article

Quality plumbing makes sound business sense

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 08:33:27 GMT

Commercial premises are significant consumers of municipal water. Despite comprising only 10% of municipalities’ total customer base, offices consume almost half of all water supplied by local government. In a water-scarce country such as South Africa, it is imperative that businesses continue to focus on reducing the water footprint of commercial premises. In doing so, they also save in water costs demonstrating that quality plumbing makes sound business sense. This is enough incentive for businesses to use water judiciously.

To help save water, many enterprising businesses are harnessing the wealth of knowledge that resides within the professional plumbing industry, spanning plumbers through to manufacturers and suppliers of innovative plumbing systems.

“Professional plumbers are at the cutting-edge of water efficiency. Considering the high demand for ‘green’ and ‘smart’ plumbing solutions in the country that is also being driven by the increasing costs of water and electricity in some cities, many plumbers have chosen to specialise in the field. They continue to keep pace with new plumbing technologies that are proving to be very effective in reducing water and energy use. These range from simple systems that have a large positive impact on water use through to sophisticated digital technologies that can even alert property owners of leaking hidden pipes on their premises so that they can take timely remedial action. This is not to mention the focus of manufacturers on designing and developing plumbing materials that last significantly longer to reduce potential leaks and maintenance costs for property owners, as well as the carbon footprint of their products. Qualified plumbers know when to recommend the use of these materials and how to correctly install them,” Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of Institute of Plumbing of South Africa, says.

Addressing leaking plumbing is always a sound starting point when working towards reducing the water footprint of a commercial premises. Bear in mind that a leaking tap in the office kitchen or bathroom or toilet, for example, can waste up to 30l of water every hour. A qualified plumber will be able to correctly repair leaks and locate hidden faulty pipes on a commercial premises that can also run into exorbitant costs if left unchecked.

The next point of focus is usually the ablution facilities on a commercial premises. Toilet and urinal flushing, alone, use at least 43% and 20% of office-based water, respectively. When combined with washing in basins, ablution facilities can account for as much as 90% of total office water use.

Possible solutions include installing low flush toilets that only use six litres per flush. This is opposed to older toilets that use between 7,5l and as much as 13l per flush. In some instances, it may only be feasible to install water saving devices in existing cisterns as a

short- to medium-term solution. However, these interventions, alone, can save between one and three litres of water per flush.

Meanwhile, control devices can reduce urinal water use by as much as 70%. They may include timer controls that are set to match the hours that urinals are being used by staff. There are also more advanced solutions available to commercial property owners to help them reduce water demand. Qualified plumbers will be able to advise property owners as to which of these are the most suitable for their sites, as well as correctly install and maintain them. These include systems that use infra-red or ultrasound sensors that detect the presence of people and only then start supplying water. Others are triggered by variations in water pressure or flow when taps are opened in office ablution facilities.

Waterless urinals are also an option for some commercial premises. Such a system that replaces a conventional 3,7l per flush urinal can save about 150 000l of water a year. All waterless urinals work in a similar way. Urine is transferred via gravity from the basin through a seal in a cartridge and into a plumbing drain system. The seal prevents odours and sewer gasses from rising up the pipe and into the ablution facility.

Reynolds notes that a further advantage of these technologies is that they help to reduce the amount of wastewater that is released into the municipal system. This alleviates pressure on already-strained wastewater treatment works and mitigates pollution. As a result, the savings realised in reticulation and wastewater treatment costs can be spent more optimally on maintaining infrastructure and, in doing so, helping to attend to the serious sanitation challenges that the country is also facing.

Meanwhile, the office canteen can account for about 9% of total office water use. One of the contributors to high water use in the kitchen is inefficient taps. Taps used in these applications and ablution facilities for washing purposes can account for up to a third of office water use. Fitting outlet devices, such as sprays and aerators, to taps can reduce water use in these applications by as much as 80%. There are two such systems, namely atomisers and aerators. Atomisers disperse water into tiny droplets to wet larger surface areas with less water. Aerators, on the other hand, control the straightness and diameter of the streamflow and, in doing so, eliminating splash that wastes water. However, some commercial property owners prefer more sophisticated solutions to save water that is used in basins and sinks. Again, qualified plumbers will be able to provide important advice as to which of these will provide the best savings in water use. These systems include electronic sensor and timed turn-off push taps which, if properly installed and maintained by a professional plumber, prevent waste and flooding from taps that are left running.

After reducing water demand by implementing these interventions, many owners of commercial properties will augment water supply by harvesting rainwater. This “green plumbing” system has grown in popularity over the years and is, therefore, an important area of focus for many qualified plumbers in the country.

Rainwater harvesting collects and filters rainfall from the roof of buildings. Considering their size, many offices, large shopping centres, factories and warehouses provide ideal surfaces for harvesting rainwater. This water is stored in tanks and used for applications, such as flushing toilets, irrigation and cleaning, which accounts for about 1% of all office water use. A further spinoff of these systems is that they divert rainwater runoff and, in doing so, relieving pressure on severely strained municipal sewer systems. Rainwater harvesting remains an attractive proposition because of the system’s simple design and components, as well as low operating costs.

“The South African plumbing industry can play an even greater role in helping South Africa to reduce water demand as has been identified in the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Model Water Services Bylaws. Unfortunately, many municipalities are yet to implement them. Meanwhile, in the few jurisdictions where they have been put into effect, their enforcement has been lacking. This has led to an increase in the use of inferior plumbing products and substandard workmanship that has severely exacerbated our water and sanitation challenges,” Reynolds concludes.

Plumbing Industry survey results 2019

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 09:20:25 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) and the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) conducts the Plumbing National Survey annually.

This analysis is an initial review of the responses and some preliminary findings from the Plumbing National Survey 2019. Click here to download the full report

Construction industry, 2020

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 09:50:09 GMT

Media Release

Embargo: Monday 27 June 2022, 11:00

Construction industry, 2020

According to the Construction industry report released by Statistics South Africa today, 11 000 construction jobs were lost between 2011 (484 000) and 2020 (473 000). The biggest losses in jobs were recorded in the construction of civil engineering structures (-31 000) and site preparation (-9 000). However, there was a significant gain in other building completion (+39 000).

This is a periodic large sample survey of construction enterprises conducted every three to five years which reports on the nature and structure of the construction industry.

118 000 jobs losses between end of June 2017 and end of June 2020

The total number of persons employed at the end of June 2020 (473 000) decreased by 20% compared with those employed at the end of June 2017 (592 000). Large decreases in jobs were reported for civil engineering structures (-89 000) and buildings (-18 000).

The total income decreased by 7,1% between 2017 (R470 billion) and 2020 (R437 billion)

Comparing 2017 and 2020, a large decrease was reported for civil engineering structures (-R59 billion). However, large increases were reported for buildings (+R18 billion) and other building completion (+R7 billion) over the same period.

Click here to download the presentation

Changes to SANS 10254 - 2022

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 09:41:07 GMT

Given the confusion and ongoing debate around Certificates of Compliance (CoC’s) in standards and the role of the professional body for plumbers (PIRB) it is important to clarify a few points.

1. Changes to SANS 10254.

The long process of amending SANS 10254 was completed on 24 June 2022 when the revised standard was gazetted. The only changes to the standard from the 2017 version were the removal of the requirement for a certificate of compliance and the removal of the reference to the professional body for plumbers PIRB. All other installation requirements remain the same.

Although SABS has decided that requirements for CoC’s will be removed from all standards for all industries, the requirement for a CoC on Solar water heater, heat pumps and grey water systems still remain in force until such time as these standards are updated. We strongly encourage all plumbers to adhere to the requirements of these standards.

2. IOPSA supports the need for a certificate of compliance (CoC).

In the absence of any other adequate mechanism to ensure compliance to the plumbing laws, regulations and standards the CoC has proved to be the most effective tool available. The reality is that the vast majority of municipalities do not have the capacity, skills or funding to enforce compliance. This includes organs of state as well. The plumbing industry has been flooded by unqualified “plumbers”, non-compliant materials and incorrect, dangerous installations. The impacts on homeowners’ health & safety, the environment, water security and damage to municipal infrastructure has been massive. Not to mention the impact on the formal plumbing sector which has declined every year since 2016, slowly being swallowed by the unregulated informal sector. The only CoC which currently has any meaningful impact is the PIRB CoC. If, in future, another CoC or some other mechanism emerges which is able to protect the public and qualified plumbers, IOPSA would consider supporting it too. For now, there is only one and without it (or something similar) our industry is in serious trouble. Irrespective of changes to SANS 10254, we still encourage all members to continue issuing CoC’s as this brings trust and professionalism to the industry and sets you apart from unqualified people operating in the industry.

Of great importance is that plumbers in the replacement market continue to notify clients of pre-existing non-conformances, in writing. This requirement of the Consumer Protection Act is critical in ensuring that owners are properly informed and can make an informed decision, whilst protecting plumbers from possible liability for work they did not do.

3. IOPSA supports the need for a professional body for plumbers.

If we as an industry want the recognition that plumbers so rightly deserve as a successful professional career, then a professional body is very necessary. A professional body brings more to the table than a voluntary association and are subject to scrutiny by SAQA in terms of the NQF act. Not only does a professional body raise the awareness of professional plumbers but they ensure that those plumbers act professionally and that the public can rely on them. At the moment PIRB is the only SAQA recognised professional body for plumbers, hence IOPSA’s ongoing support. It must be noted that the support is not unconditional and IOPSA regularly challenges PIRB on a range of matters. If, in future, another recognised professional body for plumbers is established IOPSA will certainly consider them too.

4. A certificate of compliance through a government department.

It is important to understand that in all likelihood there will soon be a requirement for a CoC in some or other form, possibly though one or more of the government departments. Several government departments have already recognised the impending crisis that will unfold (and in some cases is already unfolding) if there is no mechanism to enforce the standards. Some of these departments are at an advanced stage in their deliberations and we are hopeful that they will be concluded in the very near future.

5. The PIRB CoC will remain available.

The PIRB CoC has been available for more than a decade. It was only after the benefits of the CoC became known that it was first incorporated in a SANS standard in 2014. The PIRB assured IOPSA that if the requirement for a CoC is removed from SANS 10254 the CoC’s will remain available for use and will be supported by IOPSA. Plumbers, consumers and all other parties will still be able to benefit from the value and more importantly the protection brought by the CoC.

There is ample evidence that South Africa’s water and sanitation situation is in real trouble. Plumbers obviously play a massive role in this sector and ensuring that there is compliance to the regulations and standards is critical. The effects that unqualified “plumbers”, non-compliance, sub-standard materials and poor plumbing practices are having on the country and our industry are well documented and unless we collectively do something to stem the tide we will all face serious consequences. IOPSA is determined to do whatever it can to protect its members and ensure that this situation is not allowed to continue.

Once again, I would like to thank all IOPSA members for their support, we really couldn’t do it without you.

Latest Government Gazette No: 11447 - Face Masks

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 06:51:04 GMT

To IOPSA Employees:

OHSS Consulting (Pty) Ltd has read through the latest government gazette No: 11447 issued 22 June 2022 on the “Regulations relating to the surveillance and the control of notifiable medical conditions: Repeal”, stating that the Regulations 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations relating to the surveillance and the control of notifiable medical conditions are hereby repealed.

Attached are copies of the Repeal as well as the 3 Regulations. Particularly looking at Regulation 16A: “Wearing of face masks to contain the spread of COVID-19”.

Since this is repealed and we no longer require employees to wear masks, we also want to ensure that we stand out as compliant and inclusive of personal opinion. With this in mind it is the suggestion of OHSS Consulting (Pty) Ltd to implement the following:

Keep a cloth mask or disposable masks available while visiting the premises of clients and ask them if they feel ok for employees to enter without a mask or if they feel they would still like a mask to be worn. Many may still feel scared or may still be unaware of the current repeal. Instead of pushing our own rights, we want to always ensure we uphold the rights and feelings of our clients.

That being said, it is only a suggestion, and we wish you to proceed with caution and act in a safe manner at all times while on any site.

To download the formal notice and Gazette, please click the links below:

Formal Letter

Government Notice - May 2022

Government Gazette - June 2022

How the Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning model could redress the challenge of unqualified “plumbers”

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:57:00 GMT

OVERVIEW

The number of unqualified “plumbers”1 working in South Africa’s plumbing industry has increased substantially. About 86.8% or 97 0002 self-identified plumbers in the industry are unqualified, which has had significant implications for business sustainability, the perceived level of skill in the industry, and the effective delivery of water and sanitation systems. The personal-professional development of unqualified plumbers is affected by this. The lack of a plumbing qualification prevents plumbers from gaining new skills in plumbing technology and green plumbing services, and from earning more income, either from increasing prices or switching to better-paying employers.

The aim of this policy brief is to quantify the extent of unqualified plumbers in South Africa and to provide insights into how the Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) model can assist with integrating skilled craftspeople into a recognised trade qualification, which can ultimately lead to career mobility and decent work in formal employment. A focus on ARPL can also be used as a tool to support transformation of the plumbing industry, and the education and training system in general. The brief also makes recommendations around the limitations of the ARPL model and alternatives to improve outcomes for skilled, but unqualified plumbers.

Click here to download the full policy brief

Policy Brief by

Lesego Moshikaro

TIPS Economist

POLICY BRIEF: 7/2022

IOPSA RESEARCH: THE LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE IN PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS.

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 06:16:41 GMT

In an effort to understand the level of plumbing installation compliance throughout South Africa, the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) decided to undertake research in April and May 2022. The research was conducted by 42 experienced plumbing inspectors (auditors) based throughout the country. IOPSA inspectors regularly inspect water heating installations as part of their duties. During these inspections the auditors requested permission from property owners to conduct a visual inspection of other aspects of their plumbing.

Note that inspectors only reported on what they could see externally, in order to fully ascertain compliance a more in-depth inspection would be needed. The purpose of this research was to get a statistically significant indication of the level of compliance. All inspections were done on properties in the formal sector. All reporting for this research was done on a voluntary basis and inspectors were not remunerated for their services. We would like to thank all those inspectors who participated for their efforts.

In total 725 properties were inspected in 8 provinces (no reporting was received from the North West province). Below is the breakdown per province, due to the low numbers from several provinces, this report will only focus on the total results as well as Gauteng and Western Cape.

Region	Number of inspections
Western Cape	365
Gauteng	280
KwaZulu Natal	28
Eastern Cape	13
Freestate	8
Mpumalanga	14
Limpopo	11
Northern Cape	4

Inspectors were not asked to report on the specific nature of a non-compliance, however they were instructed to only report on significant and/or critical safety failures, minor non-compliances were ignored in the reporting. Property owners were informed of these issues in order for them to make an informed decision. In many instances property owners did not give permission for the inspectors to inspect other aspects of the plumbing installations, hence the results are heavily weighted to water heating.

Inspections focused specifically on the installations and did not focus on the compliance of materials per se. Previous research by amongst others, Water Research Commission, have indicated that between 50% - 60% of all plumbing materials sold in South Africa are non-compliant.

In some cases, the inspectors were unable to determine whether the installations were compliant with the standards, regulations and by-laws. In these instances, the results were reported as “unsure”. This was largely due to the inspector being unable to see the entire installation without specialised equipment. For the purposes of this report IOPSA has given the benefit of the doubt to the property owner and recorded the “unsure” results as compliant.

Click here to download our full report to view the results

IOPSA drives quality solar-water heater installations

Mon, 30 May 2022 06:37:50 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is helping to drive quality solar-water heater installations, maintenance and repair in the country. This is as more property owners turn to solar to reduce their reliance on a severely strained national electricity grid, while also benefiting from reduced electricity bills and “greener” living. As the cost of the technology continues to decline, it is anticipated that more South African property owners will replace their conventional geysers with solar-water heaters. This will only place further pressure on the system to produce more skilled installers.

“There is currently a very high demand for suitably qualified installers, a field of specialisation in the plumbing profession,” Brendan Reynolds, Director of IOPSA, says. “As a result, there are many unqualified individuals who are being appointed to install, maintain and repair solar-water heaters in the country. This has led to numerous faulty installations that fuel distrust of the industry and false rumours that solar-water heating is ineffective. If installed correctly, this ‘green’ plumbing technology is much more efficient than conventional water-heating systems. Importantly, it is also safe to use, whereas an incorrectly installed solar-water heater can be downright dangerous,” Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of IOPSA, says.

In response to this demand, IOPSA and the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB), the professional body of plumbers, devised a temporary way of helping more qualified plumbers to attain a recognised qualification in the installation of solar-water heaters.

Qualified plumbers complete their training at a reputable training provider that is accredited by IOPSA. IOPSA assesses the candidates and issues them with a certificate when they have completed the course. Individuals who hold this certificate are recognised as “Solar Installers” by the PIRB. They are, therefore, permitted to install solar geysers and issue a Certificate of Compliance as required by SANS 10106.

They then compile a portfolio of projects for the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) to complete the practical component of their training. As these installers are already qualified plumbers, testing their hand skills is unnecessary. The assessment is, therefore, mainly based on theory and, specifically, their understanding of the SANS Standards requirements. Newly accepted solar installers are subjected to additional audits from PIRB. This ensures the timely detection of mistakes. Continuous failures and refusal to correct errors could lead to disciplinary action which may include the removal of the designation. In this way, the quality of the installation, maintenance and repair of solar-water heaters is ensured and the public protected.

These qualified professionals have completed the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) 244499 Installation and Maintenance of Solar-Water heaters Unit Standard. CETA applied for the revival of the unit standard to help overcome the many logistical challenges that qualified plumbers faced trying to complete the practical component of the stand-alone SAQA 94619 qualification. The request was granted by SAQA until the end of June 2023. By this time, it is intended to have a long-term solution in place that will continue to efficiently develop solar-water heater installation, maintenance and repair skills in the country.

Meanwhile, IOPSA has also made free training available to representatives of all municipalities to improve their understanding of solar-water heater installation, maintenance and repair. This will help them to better regulate workmanship in their jurisdictions. The increase in sub-standard installations, maintenance and repair of solar-water heaters can also be attributed to a lack of knowledge of the technology among many Building Inspectors and municipal officials.

“IOPSA has been in contact with relevant municipal officials so that they take advantage of this opportunity. We have also urged all qualified plumbers who are interested in solar-water heating or those already involved in the industry to undergo this process while it is still available. Meanwhile, property owners and the public must check the qualifications of the plumbers who they appoint to install, maintain or repair a solar geyser to avoid disaster,” Reynolds concludes.

“Green” plumbing drives demand for IOPSA members

Tue, 24 May 2022 08:24:47 GMT

Enterprising South African property developers are increasingly exploring ways of using water more efficiently. This trend has seen an increase in demand for qualified plumbers as they have the necessary skills and experience to help property developers and their professional teams implement water-efficient designs. This understanding transcends only the installation of water efficient taps and appliances, as well as ensuring that plumbing systems are installed, maintained and repaired correctly so that they do not waste water. The skills and experiences of qualified plumbers are also being harnessed in the next step of the water-management hierarchy which entails reusing available water on a property as part of a more holistic “green” plumbing solution.

“Many of our members have been appointed to work on innovative greywater and rainwater harvesting projects alongside consulting and wet services engineers. This is considering the extensive knowledge that Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) members bring to these projects. It spans the correct installation of these systems through to the selection of appropriate materials that have been approved by standards authorities, as well as ensuring compliance with municipal bylaws. A further benefit of working with our members is that they are held accountable by IOPSA and, thus, provide follow-up should any problems arise with the installation of these systems,” Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of IOPSA, says.

There are many examples of how these systems are helping property owners to conserve water and reduce their utility bills. A large industrial premises in the East Rand, for instance, only uses municipal water in the dry winter months. This is to top up rainwater supplies that it harvests and purifies to a drinking quality. Meanwhile, two commercial developments in Sandton have reduced potable water consumption by as much as 90% by harnessing rainwater harvesting technology and other efficient systems, such as air-cooled chillers.

There has also been growing interest in rainwater harvesting in the residential property market. In response to this demand, a large property developer intends implementing rainwater and greywater harvesting systems at all its lifestyle centres. The company has already achieved significant savings in water through effective demand-side management practices, and this development will enable it to further reduce reliance on municipal supplies. This focus on water efficiency is also demonstrated by the many International Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency EDGE Advanced certifications that the company has received for its developments. EDGE Advanced certified developments reduce energy and water consumption by at least 40%.

Meanwhile, many private homeowners are also working with qualified plumbers to help them design and install rainwater-harvesting systems, with the rising cost of water also a major motivator for them pursuing “green” plumbing.

Qualified plumbers know how to correctly install downpipes from roofs to rainwater-storage tanks. This is in addition to the proper way in which to connect the tank overflow to a stormwater system and a pressure pump. Moreover, their knowledge has helped to avoid typical mistakes in the installation of rainwater tanks. These include locating tanks on a base that can erode in the rain or wind; using piping material that reacts with acidity in the rainwater; and specifying the incorrect-sized pump and pipes for an application. Another common mistake is installing pumps at a low outlet because they draw in sediment from the bottom of tanks into the system. Tanks also need to be of water-tight construction; covered with materials that are weather, insect and vermin proof; ventilated; and provide access for regular inspection and cleaning.

Certainly, significant strides have also been made in the country in the field of greywater reuse systems. A case in point is an automated greywater system at one the country’s universities. It collects shower water at campus residences, treats it and sends it back into the system for flushing toilets. This is a significant saving considering that flushing of toilets accounts for about 30% of all indoor water use.

It is often incorrectly assumed that these systems are simple to install. Meanwhile, substandard installations can also sometimes be a legal liability placing homeowners at risk.

Qualified plumbers will know how to correctly isolate the shower and bath greywater in the system for recycling and then route it to bathrooms to flush toilets. The installation will include a plumbed portion of the pipe from the unit as a riser branching off to the toilets. This is in addition to an overflow line that leads from the inflow pipe to the main building drain as a bypass in case the system is overloaded. Moreover, the installation will include a vent pipe overflow outlet that connects to the same drainage line to also prevent excess greywater from backing up into the system. A qualified plumber will also be required to install a vent line and, as this water is non-potable, all lines also need to be marked accordingly. Preventing backflow into the potable water system is also a crucial legal requirement that must be considered to prevent contamination. Certainly, correct maintenance of the system by a qualified plumber is also an important consideration.

“It is encouraging to see the growing interest in ‘green’ plumbing in a country where water is a very scarce resource. However, to realise the full benefits of these systems, which includes a smaller water footprint and savings in utility bills, it is imperative that qualified plumbers are involved in their installation, repair and maintenance,” Reynolds concludes.

IOPSA’s Solar water heater installer program.

Tue, 24 May 2022 07:50:00 GMT

Solar water heaters or geysers are becoming a much more popular method of heating water in South Africa. Over the past few years, the cost of installing these units has come down and with electricity prices continuing to increase at a rapid pace, they have become more financially viable. With Eskom once again implementing loadshedding, more homeowners are turning to solar as an alternative. The growing movement towards more sustainable living has also impacted the industry positively. With this growing demand, the need for suitably qualified installers is becoming urgent.

As most qualified plumbers will know, the installation of solar water heaters does not form part of the curriculum for a plumber. The knowledge needed to install solar water heaters correctly would significantly increase the requirements to complete a plumber qualification and it is not commonly seen as a requirement but rather a specialisation. With this in mind, a qualification was developed to meet the need. Initially a skills program was developed as an elective subject as part of the plumber qualification. This program, 244499, was 10 credits at NQF level 4. However, with the move away from the old learnerships with the unit standards education method this skills programme fell away.

A new qualification was developed and registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). SAQA 94619 is a stand-alone qualification, in other words, there is no requirement for a person to be a qualified plumber in order to enter the program, something which IOPSA has great reservations about. The qualification is a NQF level 4 with 67 credits, which would typically take 6-8 months to complete. The cost of attending this qualification is estimated at around R25 000. It is not hard to see why qualified plumbers have not taken up the challenge; it is expensive and would require them to take a lot of time off work, something that most plumbers cannot afford to do. A few training providers have registered for accreditation in the qualification, but IOPSA was not able to find a single person who has qualified through this route.

With a desperate need for solar installers and no uptake from industry, it seemed that a crisis was unfolding. Fortunately, in the interim, CETA applied for the old skills program (244499) to be revived and this request was granted by QCTO (Quality Control for Trade Occupations) until 30 June 2023. This created space for industry to put in place an interim solution. But there was a stumbling block; the skills program requires practical on the job installations to take place. The conundrum is that plumbers cannot legally install solar water heaters without a qualification, but they cannot get the qualification without doing installations. All good and well for an apprentice working under a qualified plumber but what about the already qualified plumber, especially if they already own their own business.

This is where IOPSA and PIRB stepped in to come up with a temporary solution. An already qualified plumber can do the skills program with any accredited training provider. For quality control purposes, the training provider would need to additionally register for accreditation with IOPSA. The candidates then apply for an assessment by IOPSA. On successfully completing the assessment they receive an IOPSA certificate. This certificate is accepted by the PIRB, the professional body for plumbers, and the individual is granted the designation of Solar Installer. This allows them to install solar geysers and issue the certificate of compliance (CoC) as required by SANS 10106. Thereby allowing the solar installer to put together a portfolio of evidence to submit to CETA in order to complete the practical portion of the qualification.

The fact that these solar installers are already qualified plumbers means that the testing of hand skills is not really necessary. The assessment is therefore based on theory and specifically, the requirements in the SANS Standards. Newly accepted solar installers are subjected to additional audits from PIRB. This ensures that any mistakes are picked up and rectified as soon as possible. Continuous failures and refusal to correct errors could lead to disciplinary action which may include the removal of the designation. In this manner, the quality of installations is ensured, and the public is protected.

Sadly, there are many unqualified individuals in the industry who continue to undertake solar installations without the required skills to the great frustration of everyone, especially homeowners. In many instances, this leads to distrust of the industry and false rumours that solar water heating is not effective. In fact, if solar water heaters are installed correctly, they can be far more effective than electric water heaters, but done incorrectly they can be ineffective and even downright dangerous. There is a lack of knowledge on solar water heaters amongst most Building Inspectors and municipal officials which is allowing this state of affairs to continue. IOPSA has made free training available to any municipality which requests it to assist in this regard. IOPSA encourages municipalities to make use of this service.

The window of opportunity is closing, and the skills program will only be available for one more year. IOPSA urges all qualified plumbers who are interested in solar water heating or those already involved in the industry to take the opportunity while it is still available. In future it could be very costly and time consuming to get qualified. Property owners and the public are urged to check the qualifications of plumbers before having a solar geyser installed or repaired to avoid disaster. The easiest way to do this is to check the individual’s registration with www.pirb.co.za

On Tap Plumbing and Bathrooms moves into Waterfall Ridge Shopping Centre.

Thu, 12 May 2022 13:52:35 GMT

On Tap Plumbing and Bathrooms has recently taken up residence at the Waterfall Ridge Shopping Centre in Midrand. The store has a beautiful and upmarket showroom and will be able to cater for the vast plumbing, bathroom & kitchen development happening in the area.

The Waterfall Ridge Store will also be able to service far outlying areas through eCommerce Purchases or Customised Quotes at www.ontap.co.za for a very marginal delivery fee.

“The thinking behind moving the On Tap Plumbing and Bathrooms Brand into the Waterfall Ridge Precinct was to position our Fast, Friendly & Efficient ethos within an area, that due to its rapid development, is in high demand of high-end, quality products and service,” said Johan Van Wyk, the Managing Director of On Tap Plumbing and Bathrooms.

Get in touch with our On Tap Waterfall Ridge Store on 011 027 5445 or email, waterfall@ontap.co.za

Illegal plumbing installations compound SA’s sewage woes

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 11:06:22 GMT

It is estimated that about 5-billion litres of raw sewage enter our freshwater resources on a daily basis. While a large portion of this sewage is from dysfunctional wastewater-treatment plants (WWTPs) with only 2% of these facilities operating at optimal levels, illegal plumbing installations are exacerbating the situation, which can be described as a national crisis.

“As plumbers, we still see many property owners, including homeowners, businesses and industrial operations, discharging rainwater into sewers. This is despite it being illegal to do so. The National Building Regulations clearly state that no person will allow sewage, effluent or any other objectionable materials to enter the watercourse. Most of the municipal bylaws also prohibit the practice of discharging rainwater into sewer systems so there is no ambiguity around the illegality of this practice,” Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), says. IOPSA is the official mouthpiece of the professional plumbing industry with a strong membership consisting of many qualified plumbers.

As part of ongoing research, IOPSA inspected about 140 houses in an undisclosed Gauteng suburb to determine the extent of illegal discharging of rainwater into sewer systems in the country. Worryingly, between 30% and 40% of the houses examined by IOPSA directed rainwater into the sewer system, with many of the property owners unaware that they were on the wrong side of the law. It is a practice that is especially prevalent in new townhouse complexes where property developers, architects, or contractors lead downpipes into the sewer to remove rainwater from courtyards. This is a lot of rainwater that is being discharged into sewer systems, especially during the recent heavy rains that the country has been experiencing. Gauteng lately received between 50 mm and 100 mm of rain. Under these conditions, a house with a 10m x 10m roof structure will discharge 5 000l to 10 000l of rainwater from its downpipes. Complexes, factories and commercial premises discharge significantly more rainwater. A large building with a 50m x 50m roof structure, for example, is capable of discharging as much as 25 000l of rainwater when there is 10mm of rainfall. This is enough water to fill five 5 000l water tanks in a matter of minutes.

Considering the findings of IOPSA’s research on the percentage of houses that comply with the law, one suburb consisting of about 1 000 houses can potentially discharge more than a million litres of rainwater into our sewer systems.

Raw sewage flowing out of open manholes are a common occurrence in many suburbs of the country during storms. This is because the sewer pipes have been filled to the maximum capacity for extended periods. Never designed to handle these types of loads, they are being placed under extraordinary pressure. This potentially damages the municipal infrastructure, including the manhole covers when they burst open. There have also been many instances where raw sewage has flowed onto properties and into houses causing severe harm.

However, the biggest risk posed by this raw sewage is when it drains into natural watercourses and eventually finds its way into the country’s rivers, dams, WWTPs and oceans. The Hennops and Jukskei Rivers, as well as the Vaal Dam, for example, have been heavily polluted with sewage as a result of the situation. Meanwhile, beaches in KwaZulu-Natal have had to close for extended periods during peak holiday seasons on several occasions due to high levels of E. coli in the oceans. Posing a severe health risk, E. coli is always a strong indication of sewage or animal waste contamination. Having to close the beaches to the public due to high levels of E. coli also has a large negative impact on the province’s tourism industry, in addition to its potential impact on the health of communities that reside within the vicinity of the contaminated water body.

According to a study undertaken in 2013, 18 of the country’s 25 major rivers and one in five dams had undergone a process of eutrophication. This is when freshwater resources are enriched with effluent in the same way that agricultural dams do when they are exposed to nutrients. It can be expected that the situation has worsened over the past decade as most of our freshwater resources are vulnerable to this type of degradation under the current scenario. The Hartbeespoort Dam, which is used as both an irrigation source by farmers in the region and water activities by holidaymakers, is one of the country’s freshwater sources that has undergone eutrophication. With the water being rich in nutrients but low in oxygen, a heavy deep blue and green coloured algae has spread throughout the dam and generating cyanobacterial toxins. They can poison domestic and wild animals that drink the polluted water. Among those who have been impacted the most by the contamination of our freshwater resources in this manner are the many poor and vulnerable South African citizens. They are very reliant on our rivers and dams to sustain themselves. These freshwater sources supply fish, irrigation water for subsistence crops and drinking water for livestock, among other needs. Meanwhile, they are also potentially coming into contact with very harmful toxins.

Cleaning these contaminated freshwater sources is also an expensive and onerous undertaking. These resources could rather be spent surmounting many of the pressing socio-economic challenges that the country is currently facing.

Leading to a significant loss in biodiversity, eutrophication also has a significant negative impact on the environment. “According to the findings of an earlier study undertaken by environmental scientists, a 3km long section of the Hennops River between Irene and

Centurion is devoid of any lifeform because it is contaminated by effluent. However, this degradation is not confined to the water body, alone. It starts to spread from the river system into the surrounding ecology. For example, many trees have died along the banks of the contaminated Vaal River. It also leads to water-borne diseases, such as diarrhoea and cholera, threatening entire communities and resulting in a significant decline in the value of properties located close to the contaminated freshwater systems,” Reynolds says.

Major strain is also placed on the country’s WWTPs, which require additional resources to treat the water to a drinkable standard. At the same time, this contaminated water causes significant harm to the infrastructure and interrupts the entire treatment system. For example, it damages valves and kills natural bacteria that helps to treat the water. South Africa’s service delivery infrastructure is already in a worrying state, and this is only compounding the problem. It is estimated that it will cost R900-billion to repair the country’s ailing critical infrastructure assets, including WWTPs.

Another significant risk is the increased spread of “super bugs”, which are bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi that are resistant to most antibiotics and other medications that are commonly used to treat infections. WWTPs are unable to treat all waste in the water that they receive. While chlorine eliminates the weaker bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, the stronger variety survive and strengthen. They are usually spread in hospitals and clinics. At present, partially metabolised medications, chemicals and detergents, among others, are being flushed down toilets and then mixing with human sewage and industrial effluent to create deadly cocktails. Leading scientists have expressed concern about the yet unknown risk of pathogens mixing with many different types of chemicals, industrial waste and other elements that are supposed to be contained in the sewer system, but are now ending up in rivers, streams and dams.

“Professional plumbers can help arrest the situation. This is by ensuring that we are always complying with laws and regulations on all of our projects to safeguard against raw sewage entering the country’s natural water courses. When we see downpipes being directed into sewers on premises, we should have the strength and conviction to speak up and propose alternatives, such as rainwater harvesting and subsoil drainage, to property owners. As professionals, we need to be willing to do the right thing for the community, ourselves and our families. We strongly encourage all homeowners to use the services of a properly qualified plumber to ensure that you stay on the right side of the law and help protect our vulnerable fresh water resources.” Reynolds concludes.

Plumbing is a key component of WASH

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:23:16 GMT

A vital component of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), plumbing systems have helped to curtail outbreaks of, among other diseases, dysentery, cholera and typhoid in communities. Outbreaks of these diseases are still a common occurrence in areas where there is insufficient sanitation and hygiene facilities, including plumbing systems.

Considering the important role that the plumbing profession continues to fulfil in South African society, it is governed by many laws, regulations, by-laws and national standards. Moreover, the profession is adequately represented by robust industry bodies, such as the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA). One of IOPSA’s mandates is to uphold very high standards in the profession to help safeguard against substandard workmanship in the industry. Its strong membership comprises of qualified plumbers who have completed a minimum of three years of theoretical and practical training, before registering with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board to ply their trade.

“Despite the potential health risks involved, many property owners still entrust the installation and maintenance of their plumbing systems with individuals who are not trained in the field. They are lured by the very low rates that these so-called ‘plumbers’ charge for their services, which are especially enticing in this very challenging economic climate. These individuals are able to supply their services at cut-throat rates because they take short cuts – either deliberately or due to a lack of understanding of standard protocol as they have not been trained in the field. They will also often use inferior components that do not comply with quality standards when installing, maintaining and repairing plumbing systems, further driving down the costs of their services,” Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of IOPSA, says.

A correctly installed and maintained drainage system distances humans from waste, over-and-above the role it plays in protecting property, including the structure of a building, from damage. It also protects the environment from the serious hazards present in raw sewage.

Diseases associated with sewage can be spread directly or indirectly by people who have come into contact with them. For example, individuals may inadvertently step into waste that is leaking out of poorly manufactured, installed or maintained pipes. Germs and bacteria associated with sewage are also transferred to people and objects by insects, vermin and small animals which have come into contact with the waste.

Another significant risk is that broken sewerage pipes leak into damaged water mains and, in doing so, contaminating drinking water. Contaminated water is estimated to cause more than 400 000 diarrhoeal deaths every year.

One of the many diseases associated with a leaking drainage system is Campylobacteriosis. Children and people with weaker immune systems are especially vulnerable to this disease which causes, cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches and fever.

Typhoid fever is another disease that is transferred in this manner. Its symptoms include headache, weakness, abdominal pain and rashes. The media has widely reported on recent Typhoid cases in South Africa.

Hepatitis A is commonly spread when leaking drainage systems are left unattended for protracted periods. More frequent among adults, this disease stays in the body for up to nine months causing fevers, nausea, diarrhoea, body pain and jaundice.

Qualified plumbers are very aware of the health risks posed by the poor maintenance and installation of drainage systems. This is in addition to the use of inferior components that have not been certified by relevant standards authorities for use on properties.

They will also ensure that drainage systems are adequately sized and can be cleaned easily via manholes that have been appropriately spaced. This ensures that these systems are able to convey wastewater quickly from the building without fouling, depositing solids or blocking .

Each fixture or group thereof that is connected to the drainage system will also feature a liquid seal trap of a sufficient depth so as to prevent the emission of gasses. Importantly, this also prevents rodents and insects from accessing the premises via the sewer and spreading disease.

Drainage systems must also be designed and constructed in a manner that allows air to circulate through all of the pipes to ensure effective functioning and protect the seal of the traps from syphoning. The uppermost portion will be connected to an adequately sized ventilating pipe that discharges above roof level and is positioned in such a way that foul air cannot return to a building.

IOPSA’s members also know that they need to take precautions to ensure that the drainage system is free of any substance that may corrode and block pipes. Some substances may even produce explosive mixtures, as well as damage pipes or their joints. In extenuating circumstances, they may even interfere with the effective functioning of sewage treatment plants or cannot be removed by these facilities, contaminating receiving water.

Backflow from public sewers is another important consideration when designing drainage systems. A correctly designed system will ensure that sewage cannot enter buildings that are connected to it when there are floods and blockages in public sewers.

“We have made immense strides in professionalising the plumbing industry over many years, and this is helping to keep communities safe. While some may take plumbing for granted, it is important to remember that there are still many South African citizens who do not have access to proper sanitation services – one of the most basic human rights, together with drinking water. This places many lives at risk and deprives citizens of their dignity,” Reynolds concludes.

Donated equipment and tools (Mphohadi Campus)

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 11:30:27 GMT

When Malcolm Harris from Harscan recently decided to upgrade their showroom in Randburg, he realised that there was a lot of sanitaryware and plumbing fittings in perfectly good order that could still be used. Being passionate about plumber development Harris contacted IOPSA to find out if there were any colleges which might need assistance. According to Harris “I was rebuilding my showroom and had some old display stock which I mentioned to IOPSA. Gerrie Botha put me in touch with Flavius Mareka College. They arranged collection of the display stock and then I added a selection of new products; bottle traps, shower drains, channels and a 110mm check valve. All items that I think they will encounter in the industry. Our intention in the next few months is to go and demonstrate Hep2o piping systems, HDPE welding and roof drains to the apprentices. Items that they will be unlikely to be exposed to in the normal curriculum as learner plumbers but products that are needed and popular in the industry.”

Harscan Distributors was founded in 2007 and started out as being distributors of Hep2O pipe and fittings in Southern Africa. Since then the company has gone from strength to strength and has an impressive product offering being imported from various regions in Europe. They are proud IOPSA members and Harris serves as Treasurer on the IOPSA Gauteng committee.

Flavius Mareka TVET College in Kroonstad was formed when Sasolburg Technical College, Kroonstad Technical College and Mphohadi College of Education merged in 2000 to form Flavius Mareka TVET College. The College was named after a prominent figure in educational, cultural and political circles i.e. Mr. Flavius Mareka. He lived in Kroonstad and passed away in 1965. The college is active in training plumbers and is IOPSA accredited. The materials will be put to good use in training the next generation of professional plumbers.

Respect the Value You Provide as a Plumber

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:39:01 GMT

The public will always take for granted a little the important work that plumbers do. Don’t do the same, and take a moment to reflect on the vital role you play for society.

The public sometimes has a hard time understanding what we do for a living.

People will wake up in a warm house, take a shower, shave, use the toilet, make some coffee, commute to work, eat lunch, gossip with co-workers, go home, water the garden, give the kids a bath, and repeat. We all do some variation of that for the most part, day in and day out.

Eventually, something happens to their plumbing system — maybe a drain clog or a water leak of some kind. You give them the bill and the cost is surprising to them. They complain about how you are committing highway robbery — $200 for a one-hour repair?

I once heard a news anchor say, “There is no profession which gets less credit for what they do than the CIA. They do so much to keep us safe, and when one dies, they get an un-named star on the headquarters’ wall.” I thought to myself, “We are the first and foremost line of defense for humanity as a whole, and when we die, nothing happens at all!”

There is no question that the public has decreased understanding of what we do for a living. But many newcomers to our industry also don’t fully understand the value of what we provide. They show up to work, do their jobs well, earn a great living for their family, and flow on with life as it comes. Let’s take a step back for a second and reflect.

The plumber is a cog in the system that provides clean, safe drinking water, as well as the treatment of sewage, returning it to the environment in the most responsible manner possible. Without water, life cannot exist on this planet. Nature, in itself, has its system of recycling water throughout its ecosystems, and if humans didn’t exist, the world would not need plumbers. Humanity is what ruins Mother Nature’s perfect system because we desire things like big industry to feed our infrastructure and way of life. Since humans are interrupting and corrupting Mother Nature’s cycle, we must fix the problem that we’ve created, and that’s where plumbers come in. We are, whether we want to be or not, the purest and most authentic environmentalists. We take what humankind is doing to the Earth and its water systems and make it right.

If you are relatively new to the plumbing trade, you should stop and think for a moment about the lineage and proud tradition you are a part of. Without people like you, there would be no morning shower, morning coffee, heat in the house, drinking water, toilet that conveniently makes waste disappear, hot water, water for the garden when it hasn’t rained in a few weeks, clean water to feed the chickens or the cows, water to brew the beer you have after work. Honestly, life simply wouldn’t exist at all.

Plumbers have prevented a considerable amount of illness and disease. Humanity left alone without plumbers has proven disastrous too many times throughout history; do the research. It wasn’t that long ago when people would defecate in chamber pots and throw it out of the window of their home. Streets became lined with urine and waste, people dying from things like infectious disease and waterborne pathogens.

Does the public have a lack of understanding about our profession? Absolutely. But sometimes we do, too. We forget how important what we do is. Keep your head down and do the “work of the just” as I call it. Do the right things, not the easy things. Next time you run into that iffy situation where you brought a roll of 3/4-inch but you know the house should get a 1-inch line, make the extra trip and do it right. When your instructor is watching, do the right things. When co-workers or a foreman is watching, do the right thing. But when you are all alone, and you have to decide to put in what you have on the truck or make a trip and do it the right way, that is the true test of a real plumber. Our recognition comes from within. If you don’t take pride in the details, find another job.

About the Author

Anthony Pacilla is a registered master plumber for McVehil Plumbing in Washington, Pennsylvania. He has 23 years' experience in the plumbing and HVAC trades, and has a bachelor’s in business and economics from Thiel College.

Original article: https://www.plumbermag.com/how-to-articles/industry-involvement-plumbing/respect-the-value-you-provide-as-a-plumber

Qualified plumbers help property owners realise full benefit of heat pumps

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 06:29:12 GMT

Heat pumps have become extremely popular considering the significant savings in electricity that they provide property owners – whether for industrial, commercial or residential applications. However, there are many important factors that need to be considered when installing and maintaining this equipment to ensure that it continues to provide maximum benefit over its between 15- and 20-year life span. High quality heat pumps that have been correctly installed and maintained have even significantly exceeded their design life, with property owners usually seeing a return on their investment within three to 10 years. This pay-back period is becoming shorter when considering the rising cost of electricity.

“This technology can heat the same amount of water as a conventional electric water-heating system using just a third or a quarter of the electricity required by the latter, saving property owners between 30% and 70% on their monthly utility bill. The technology is also 50% more cost-effective than gas and oil boilers to operate. Unlike solar water heaters, they also operate efficiently at any time of day as they are only slightly affected by variations in temperature. Moreover, heat pumps can be easier to install and because they only require minor servicing, they are very cost-effective to own. However, when they have not been installed and maintained correctly, they can actually cost the property owner a lot of money, undoing their intended benefits, which is to reduce electricity bills and the carbon footprint of a premises. It is, therefore, imperative to always use a professional plumber to install and service this equipment,” Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), says. IOPSA is the official voice of the local professional plumbing industry and comprises a strong membership of plumbers who are committed to quality workmanship. Many of these members also specialise in the installation of heat pumps for a variety of applications. They have installed and are maintaining heat pumps for hotels, hostels, hospitals, schools, office blocks and universities, as well as for a host of industrial applications, including change houses and laundromats. This is in addition to the many systems that have been installed and are being serviced for homeowners. Bear in mind that it is a legal requirement for a Certificate of Compliance to be issued by a Licensed plumber for any heat pump installed.

The majority of heat pumps work on the same principle as a domestic refrigerator. They use a vapour compression cycle that transfers heat from a low temperature to a high temperature body. Refrigerant is used as a transfer medium. Heat is moved from the outside air to the refrigerant in the evaporator at a low temperature and pressure. A compressor compresses the fluid and heat is transferred from the refrigerant at a high temperature and pressure to the water in the condenser. The fluid then flows through the

expansion valve where the temperature and pressure drop before it enters the evaporator again and, in doing so, repeating the cycle.

Well-maintained heat pumps consume between 10% and 20% less energy than those units that have not been correctly maintained. In fact, an important sign that a heat pump is faulty can be a sudden rise in electricity costs. This may be because the heat pump is overworking and, therefore, drawing more energy as important components and parts have worn out.

Poor maintenance can even lead to major repairs having to be undertaken to the heat pump. Compressors, reversing valves and coils, for example, can become damaged, and their replacement an expensive and an extensive process. In severe circumstances, worn out components can also cause the heat pump to break prematurely resulting in major unwanted repair and even replacement costs. Many heat pump manufacturers recommend that their products be maintained at least once a year by the owner to validate their warranties. Bear in mind that this equipment works round the clock and is, therefore, subject to wear and tear.

When servicing a heat pump, professional plumbers will verify the correct thermostat communication, as well as controls and safety switches; inspect belts; and lubricate motors. Among others, they will also check refrigerant levels, as well as the electrical terminals, in addition to cleaning and tightening them if necessary.

Meanwhile, there are many problems that can occur with heat pumps if they have been installed incorrectly.

A common mistake made during the installation of heat pumps is insufficient refrigerant use. If refrigerant levels are too low, performance issues may arise, and the heat pump may become damaged.

Leaking ductwork is also another outcome of poor workmanship. Experts usually seal or rebuild the ductwork system to ensure an airtight fit.

Incorrectly sized heat pumps can also eventually cause problems for owners. Heat pumps that are too large for an application will short cycle and, if too small, they will work overtime to reach the desired temperature. In both instances, more energy will be required to operate the heat pump, and this will reflect on owners’ monthly energy bills.

“Savings on utility bills aside, heat pumps help reduce our carbon footprint. This technology, therefore, has a critical role to play in helping South Africa to achieve its carbon emission reduction targets. The fact that there continues to be a marked uptake of this technology in

the country means that South Africans are opting for ‘greener” living. However, it is important that they deal with specialists who are trained in the correct installation and maintenance of heat pumps to avoid buyers’ remorse,” Reynolds concludes.

CPD is a money-making racket – or is it?

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 08:59:48 GMT

89% of the 3955 enrolments on IOPSA’s e-learning platform were free CPD accredited courses. The top 10 CPD accredited courses offered are for free.

“CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain both formally and informally as you work, beyond any initial training. It’s a record of what you experience, learn and then apply”. (https://career-advice.jobs.ac.uk/career-development/what-is-continuing-professional-development-cpd/). In other words, CPD is the continuing life-long learning that you do after your qualification.

But why is it necessary? In the modern world, the only constant is change. New technology, methods and products emerge on an almost daily basis. Likewise, new or revised laws, regulations and standards are introduced regularly. This all means that, more than ever before, it is important for plumbers to stay abreast of the changes. CPD is a method to do this and more importantly, a method to prove to the market that you are up to date. CPD is fairly new to the South African plumbing industry but for many other industries it has been a normal requirement for many years.

We often hear comments like “CPD is just a money-making racket” from certain sectors of the industry. The Institute of Plumbing, IOPSA (www.iopsa.org) has provided an e-learning platform to the industry. Having completed its first full year of operation (Feb 2021-Jan 2022) we decided to take a close look at the facts and you may be interested to see what we found;

1. There were 3955 enrolments for the year.
2. 43 courses are available on the e-learning platform, of these 40% are completely free.
3. 89% of enrolments were for Free CPD accredited courses.
4. The top 10 most popular courses are all for free.
5. 81% of users are repeat customers.
6. 5 Training providers have listed courses for sale.
7. The average cost of a paid for CPD course is R1 226.71
8. Total sales for the year between all 5 training providers amounted to R460 000, an average of R92 000 per training provider per year or R7 600 per month.
9. IOPSA earned around R45 000 for the year, about R3 750 per month from the e-learning platform which does not come close to covering the running costs.
10. The Top 3 free topics were: General plumbing technical, Health & safety and business acumen.
11. The top 3 paid for topics were: Point of use geysers, earthing & bonding, debtor management.
12. Audiences in 9 different countries use the e-learning platform.
13. The PIRB’s CPD requirement is 20 points per year, the free courses on offer on IOPSA’s e-learning platform amount to 34 points per year (yes, you read that correctly! And that excludes other free CPD activities like meetings and community work).
14. During the year IOPSA has placed 140 free CPD training courses on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Ujv9HU9DJz5XvVS6vL3gg/videos) where we have 1841 subscribers and growing.
15. Youtube advertising revenue amounted to a whopping R892 for the year.

Admittedly, some plumbers may spend thousands of Rands on CPD courses, but this is their choice, there are plenty of opportunities available to achieve all the CPD points needed at absolutely no cost. Plumbers who leave their CPD to the last minute, often end up scrambling to participate in any course available to make up their points, with some planning, that is completely unnecessary. It is interesting to note that of all the industries we have looked at, the plumbing industry is the only one which has such options available. Most industries require a minimum spend of around R20 000 per year in order to achieve their points. The plumber does need to invest some time and for small businesses that can be a challenge but in the end, they are gaining valuable knowledge which will ultimately benefit them massively.

I have heard people say that “they are making millions on CPD” and “its just a money-making scheme” and various other similar comments. The truth is vastly different, there is NO other industry which makes its CPD more affordable or accessible to its stakeholders. CPD is by no means a cash cow for any of those involved. What it is, is an opportunity for plumbers to uplift and improve themselves. Knowledge is the one thing that can never be taken away from you, embrace it!!

Plumbers bring dignity to Place of Hope

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 08:03:05 GMT

A week’s work for a team of Nelson Mandela Bay plumbers helped restore dignity and basic sanitary conditions to a destitute community living on a plot of land on the outskirts of Gqeberha.

Now, the dozens of residents at Place of Hope in Greenbushes do not have to worry about raw sewage running down their streets, and their children’s health will improve along with their cleaner living conditions. Each year, the Eastern Cape branch of the Institute of Plumbers of SA identifies a project where its members band together to help the less f o r t u n at e. The initiative usually coincides with World Plumbing Day on March 11, but the institute’s regional chair, Adriaan Myburgh, said Covid-19 had forced them to delay their project last year, to the benefit of Place of Hope residents.

The team is now looking for a new project to tackle on March 11. “We couldn’t do our project in March [2021], but we refused to skip a year and started asking among our members if they had any suggestions where we could help the less f o r t u n at e. “Pieter Rademeyer [of Pieter Rademeyer Plumbers] took us to Place of Hope and within days we knew what had to be done and work began.” The owner of Place of Hope, who asked not to be named, started the shelter decades ago with her husband on a piece of land adjacent to Cape Road. They opened their gates to a handful of destitute people looking for a safe place to start over, and when they sold their land in 2007 they provided shelter for five families. They relocated the shelter to the piece of land it now occupies, and the community has grown to 26 families, comprising about 90 people.

Myburgh said when the plumbing team arrived at the property early last month, raw sewage was running down the streets between the makeshift houses on the smallholding. Children were playing in the dirty water, not realising the dangers and possible health risks involved. It turned out that the existing French drain system on the plot was inadequate for the number of people using it, and it was not emptied and treated as regularly as it should have been. Within days, more than 15 companies, consisting of members and non-members of the plumbers’ institute, volunteered materials and services to alleviate the problems at Place of Hope and contributed to building a longer-lasting solution for the community.

“We often underestimate people’s willingness to become involved in a worthy cause and we were blown away by the support this project received from the local business community,” Myb u r g h said. “Some people gave equipment, others brought materials, and then there were teams giving their time to oversee the project.” Within a week, the plumbers had cleaned out the existing drainage systems, increased their capacity and installed plumbing that would allow the shelter’s residents to expand their homes.

Myburgh said there was still a lot of work to be done to improve the community’s conditions and that it would be an ongoing project. However, the residents’ quality of life had already improved immeasurably. Rademeyer said he came across Place of Hope 10 years ago and had assisted with smaller projects at the property from time to time, but when he heard the institute was looking for a bigger project to tackle, he immediately knew the plumbers could make a real difference. “What the landowners have created here is a chance for people to start over and improve their lives, and that needs to be applauded and supported . “I am happy we could make an impact on these people’s lives , ” Rademeyer said. Resident and community leader Judith Benzies said they were grateful and humbled by the generosity.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in co-ordinating the project, including the managers, supervisors, workers and suppliers, for their selfless act to improve the lives of those in need. “We do not have the words to fully express our gratitude,” she said. Myburgh said the regional branch of the institute wanted to challenge its counterparts in other regions, as well as the broader business community, to identify projects where they could make a difference in people’s lives. “We don’t do this for the publicity, ” he said. “We do it to make a difference. “Why can’t others do the same?

IOPSA Industry Survey Results 2021

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 11:17:08 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) and the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) conducts the Plumbing National Survey annually.

This analysis is an initial review of the responses and some preliminary findings from the Plumbing National Survey 2021. According to 2020 data, there are approximately 95 626 people who self -identify as plumbers (including apprentices) in South Africa, down from previously 113 232 in 2019 (StatsSA, 2020), and 125 000 in 2018 (TIPS/SD4GE 2019) an approximate decrease of 15,5 percentage points and 9.4 percentage points respectively. The 2021 survey received a total of 1074 responses. The respondents represent only approximately 1,1% of those who self-identify as plumbers in the industry. In comparison to 2020, there were 50 more responses to the 2021 survey, however, a handful of participants failed to respond to two questions.

Click here to download the full report

IOPSA Introduces new digital certificates!

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 07:04:26 GMT

We are excited to announce that we have subscribed to the PrivySeal Digital Accreditation Service to provide you with real-time digital credentials, to showcase your IOPSA membership. We believe this will benefit IOPSA and our members by helping us to protect our Brand, Membership and Intellectual Property.

More importantly, it will help you as a member showcase your membership with us to consumers with just the click of a button. Your PrivySeal and linked digital Certificate can be displayed in your invoices, email footers, vans, marketing materials, social media profiles, websites, basically everywhere you can! This will help promote consumer confidence in your company!

PrivySeal makes key information visible, showcasing your expertise and building trust.

PrivySeals are already being used by Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Mechanical Engineers, Landscape Architects and many other SAQA recognised Professional and Regulatory bodies. It’s all about promoting people with genuine and current skills by making them visible.

Key Benefits

Your IOPSA PrivySeal helps your clients spot the difference between a genuine IOPSA member who meets our requirements and can be trusted and potentially risky service providers, at a glance. It builds trust in your expertise and professionalism, helping you get and retain clients.

All IOPSA PrivySeal and linked digital Certificate are automatically revoked and do not appear if a member is not currently in good standing. So, the days of pretending to be a paid-up IOPSA member, when they are not, are over!

Professionals

Assists plumbing professionals to be recognised as accredited, adding a competitive advantage.

Distinguish between different levels of membership.

Rewards the trade knowledge and regulatory compliance.

Avoid the time consuming delays associated with the receipt via post of physical certificates as well as the related inconvenience of having to obtain and deliver certified copies.

The Public

Assists the Public to identify compliant professionals at a glance.

Assists the Public to make informed decisions in choosing a service provider.

Click here to find out how to register for your FREE IOPSA Membership PrivySeal

Please find Membership PrivySeal & Certificate Examples below.

We really hope that all the IOPSA PrivySeals are widely used and seen everywhere and help you build upon your already professional reputation by assisting you to prove you are a trusted Service Provider and Professional.

Should you require any assistance in claiming your PrivySeal please feel free to contact us on 011 454 0025 or marketing@iopsa.org

VR AND MIXED REALITY ASSESSMENT FOR PLUMBERS

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 08:42:34 GMT

The primary focus National Development Plan (NDP) of South is to eliminate income poverty and inequality, as well as to increase employment.

The NDP accordingly calls for the annual entry of 30 000 qualified artisans into the industry. The plumbing industry is however characterised by far more informal activity than formal, with the number of formal enterprises declining every year and the number of informal operators increasing.

It is estimated that there are more than 125 000 self-identified plumbers in South Africa. In this dataset that is produced by Statistics South Africa, 10 359 employed one or more people and 12 860 are own-account workers.

An analysis by race of the owners shows that there are increasing numbers of formal black, Indian and coloured plumbers. Most plumbing business, whether formal or informal, are dominated by men. Female business owners are most likely to be operating in the informal sector.

Click here to download the formal report

IOPSA's response to Looting and Riots in South Africa

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 10:25:04 GMT

It is with great sadness that we, at IOPSA, have observed the outbreaks of social unrest, rioting and looting over the past few days. These actions have seriously affected the ability of plumbers and plumbing suppliers in KZN and Gauteng to provide services to their communities. Plumbing is an essential service and these actions mean that not only are many plumbers unable to earn a living but communities are being left without water and adequate sanitation – a serious health concern. In a water scarce country, we can ill afford to lose vital water to leaks which are now going unrepaired. Material supplies are also being severely constrained and if the situation continues this will lead to further delays in the future.

We condemn the wanton destruction of property and the threat posed to innocent civilians by riotous mobs, in the strongest possible terms. Several plumbing suppliers’ stores have been looted and at least 1 plumbers’ vehicle was torched. In these difficult times these illegal actions could very well lead to further job losses.

The National government has commissioned the South African Police Services and the South African National Defence Force to calm the situation, to urgently quell the unrest, and to return law and order to our affected cities, towns, and communities.

Our immediate focus is on ensuring the safety of all those in the plumbing industry, while working with law enforcement agencies to ensure that everything is being done to restore calm and order in the affected areas. It must be noted that service delivery continues without disruption in most other areas of the country.

We appreciate the anxiety and stress that this causes, and the extreme disruption to clients. We implore all those working in the industry to take extra precautions in protecting themselves and their staff and call on the affected communities for calm. Whatever the grievances, violence and criminality are not the answer.

To all IOPSA members, the plumbing community, and the public, please remain calm and allow law enforcement to do their work. Look after yourselves and your families, we will get through this!

Change to Constitution - Gender specific wording

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 09:44:04 GMT

NOTICE TO UPDATE THE IOPSA CONSTITUTION

In keeping with our transformation policy IOPSA have done an exercise to update our constitution to remove all gender specific wording.

Please view the proposed changes here

Should you have any concerns in regards to these changes or would like to object to any of them please contact us directly on marketing@iopsa.org

REPORT: COVID-19 IMPACT ON IOPSA MEMBERSHIP.

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 13:38:08 GMT

05 July 2021

REPORT: COVID-19 IMPACT ON IOPSA MEMBERSHIP.

COVID-19 arrived in South Africa in March 2020 to devastating effect. We are currently experiencing the 3^rd wave which is once again impacting the country severely. SA has been in various stages of lockdown for nearly 16 months now and the impact on businesses has been severe. The plumbing industry has not been immune, but the impacts have been mixed. Plumbing businesses which operate in the construction/new build industry were extremely hard hit by hard lockdown, since then there has been a slow but steady recovery, it will take some time before these businesses get back to pre-COVID levels, but there is movement. Plumbers who focused mainly on commercial and industrial maintenance have arguably faired the worst, business closures, work-from-home and lockdowns have seen their business dwindle. It remains to be seen what the long-term impacts will be but for now these businesses are struggling to survive. Conversely plumbing businesses which focus on domestic maintenance and renovations have been doing quite well, this is largely due to two factors, firstly more people are working from home and wanting to renovate or upgrade their homes, secondly with more people at home for longer periods, plumbing equipment tends to get used more often which leads to higher maintenance. Essentially a lot of the commercial/industrial maintenance market has shifted to the domestic market due to people working from home.

On average IOPSA membership has grown by around 10% per year for the past 7 years, however over the last 3 years membership has grown by 12-14%. This year looks set to be even better. This is not necessarily an indicator of market growth but more, we believe, due to renewed confidence in the services that IOPSA offers its members. Whilst cancellations have been relatively low, around 5% for the years leading up to 2020, we have seen an increase to around 7% since March 2020. Since March 2020, IOPSA has been carefully monitoring the reasons for cancellations of memberships to gauge the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. The below graph illustrates the reasons given by members for cancellations from March 2020 to June 2021.

COVID Financial difficulties due to COVID-19

Closed Business closure – no reason given.

Unpaid unpaid fees – no reasons given.

Unwanted No longer want to be IOPSA members.

Restructure Cancellation due to business restructure/no longer do plumbing work.

Liquidation Business currently in liquidation

Emigrate Business owner emigrated.

Retire Business owner retired.

Sold Business sold

PIRB 1 member cancelled due to IOPSA’s association with PIRB.

Deceased Business owner deceased.

Prior to 2019 IOPSA did not capture data on reasons for cancellations therefore accurate comparisons against previous years is difficult. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that in the period 2017-2019 the main reasons for cancellations were;

1. Unpaid fees
2. Emigration
3. No longer want to be members.
4. Business closure
5. Retirement

A full quarter of cancellations were directly attributable to financial difficulties experienced due to COVID-19, many of these members have indicated that they would like to continue as IOPSA members if their financial position improves. It is also reasonable to assume that many of the businesses that closed without providing reasons or went into liquidation may very well have been due to the effects of COVID-19. IOPSA staff have also reported that several older members decided to bring their retirement dates forward due to the health risks posed by COVID-19. Of interest, is the reduction in emigrations. South African plumbers are still in demand internationally but due to travel restrictions emigration has been difficult. From these statistics there is little doubt that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on plumbing businesses. The extent to which it has and is affecting current members will be assessed in the annual industry survey in August 2021.

The below graph indicates cancellations by region. The graph closely tracks IOPSA’s membership per region, with one exception. The Western Cape makes up roughly 13% of IOPSA’s total membership, however this region only accounted for 7% of cancellations since March 2020. This was arguably the most surprising finding from the report since IOPSA has faced some stiff opposition in the province. We are not sure if the reason for this anomaly is due to plumbers in the Western Cape weathering the COVID-19 storm better than other provinces or for some other reason, but it makes for an interesting anomaly. We are currently trying to source other data sets to compare this to and hope to find more answers during the upcoming annual industry survey.

As the 3^rd wave reaches its peak we are once again receiving more reports from members who are finding trading conditions increasingly challenging especially in the new build and commercial/industrial maintenance markets. Many of these businesses are now pivoting into domestic maintenance, the effects of this change are yet to be seen but it will likely create stiff competition for those already in the domestic market. Whilst plumbing, being an essential service, is certainly more resilient than many other sectors, the impacts are definitely being felt. There is a distinct lack of larger construction projects and government tenders, releasing projects that are currently on hold would go a long way in stimulating the sector and creating much needed employment opportunities.

IOPSA would like to remind its members and everyone in the plumbing industry to wear masks at all times, regularly wash or sanitise hands and practice social distancing. We encourage everyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine to do so as soon as possible. Together we can overcome this pandemic.

Should you have any queries on this or any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact us on 011 454 0025.

Plumbing sector leads a new approach to apprenticeships, increasing youth employment and enhancing the sector

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 10:10:21 GMT

SKILLING INNOVATIONS FOR TRADE OCCUPATIONS

July 2021 - Plumbing sector leads a new approach to apprenticeships, increasing youth employment and enhancing the sector

When a sector organises itself into an engine of inclusive growth, it can focus on the mutual interests of all stakeholders, including industry bodies, employers and educators. Working together enables them to identify sector needs, create jobs, and fill those jobs with young people who would otherwise be locked out of the economy. Setting these young people up for success with transformative training enables them to play a vital role in enhancing the sector and the economy.

Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of IOPSA (Institute of Plumbing South Africa), says the realisation that construction and plumbing companies had stopped taking on apprentices was a wake-up call.

“Plumbing offers great opportunities. It features on the 2020 National List of Occupations in High Demand and is part of the government’s target to have 30,000 trained artisans in place annually to fulfil strategic infrastructure projects and Covid recovery plans,” he says. “If we can change employers’ perceptions of apprentices, we will see significant growth in apprenticeships and new employment opportunities to meet the government’s target.”

According to Reynolds, many young people arbitrarily choose trade jobs because they offer a faster route to earning a stipend. However, if a young person is not suited to the work, they will not succeed regardless of how desperate they are to make a living.

“A poor match between a young person and their chosen vocation is one of the reasons that our TVET colleges show low pass rates and aren’t producing the candidates our industry wants.”

Through collaboration and an enabling partnership between Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator and IOPSA, the plumbing sector has identified its challenges in appropriately sourcing and skilling young people as artisans, ready to tackle their apprenticeships with willing and supportive employers. In response, it has now introduced two game-changing education models for plumbing.

BluLever Education - an apprenticeship that takes itself seriously

BluLever Education, an organisation that develops artisans through holistic vocational education and skills training, offers a Red Seal plumbing qualification after a 3-year practical apprenticeship.

BluLever has designed a unique approach to apprenticeships that feature three months on campus and nine months of job shadowing and on-the-job training in the workplace every year. However, it starts with an intense 8-week induction leadership camp that equips candidates with the attitudes they need to succeed.

Harambee sources candidates for the programme through the sayouth.mobi platform, based on the attitudes and aptitudes most valued in successful plumbers. They are interviewed in one-on-one sessions with the BluLever team and attend a class-based session where problem-solving, teachability and hand skills are assessed before they are invited to the leadership camp.

Adam Collier, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at BluLever, says that they want candidates who will succeed as apprentices. “We want young people who are passionate about their work, interested in it, and willing to put three years into it.” Of the 509 applications received by Harambee, 47 youth were offered to join the programme, 45 signed acceptance letters, and 42 attended the leadership camp to begin their plumbing training.

Collier, who is recognised as one of Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in 2021 for his response to the new and unique challenges of the past year, says the BluLever apprenticeship takes itself seriously. Combining the focus on candidates’ personal qualities while enhancing their life skills through work-readiness training, technology skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and understanding the ever-essential ‘soft skills’, makes all the difference to the candidates’ future success.

BluLever attributes much of the success of its programme to the support of Harambee and IOPSA, particularly the relationships IOPSA develops with willing employers in the sector. Success depends on all stakeholders' involvement, and BluLever has formed good relationships with over 80 companies at which trainees will be apprenticed. These range from small plumbing businesses to larger construction and maintenance companies. They have a vested interest in their apprentices because they contractually commit to them for the full three years, which includes paying their stipends for that period.

The ultimate goal is for the partnership to share programme learnings and successes with TVET colleges, with scale in mind, to develop more young people employers want to hire.

National Business Initiative introduces a new qualification

In 2019, IOPSA led a process to register the Plumbing Hand skills programme, which has created a new entry-level pathway for young people into the plumbing industry. The entry-level qualification offers a short, high-impact route to employment. It comprises 13 weeks in the classroom hosted by select TVET colleges identified by the National Business Initiative (NBI) in partnership with IOPSA. Harambee is responsible for recruiting, selecting, and matching trainees based on their likelihood of success, taking their attributes and interests into account. The host employer makes the final selection in many cases. Their plumbing hand works under the supervision of a qualified plumber to learn a vital role in offices, hotels, or any building with plumbing where small things often go wrong, like leaking toilets or dripping taps.

Alongside an intensive focus on plumbing skills, the curriculum includes an effective work readiness programme developed by Harambee, providing a range of modules such as behaviours and socialisation for work. In addition, the Allan Gray Makers programme introduces the opportunities and possibilities for business ownership and entrepreneurship.

This is followed by 6-9 months of structured workplace learning in a company under the supervision of a qualified, experienced plumber who acts as a mentor for the candidates, providing them with regular ongoing support and check-ins.

This much-needed intervention supplies the industry with the skills it needs while pathwaying young people into work as quickly as possible, especially those who don’t have the funding to study for three years on a stipend. It also increases their chances of progressing to a Red Seal plumbing qualification as they achieve an accredited qualification that places them on the road to apprenticeship, and they can work while studying.

“The Plumbing Hand programme provides a basis to shift the mindset of TVET colleges towards more employment-oriented programmes,” says Anthony Gewer, a programme manager at NBI. “The programme addresses the gap between theory and workplace application, laying the foundation for meaningful career pathways.”

To date, 66 TVET college students have enrolled in the plumbing programme, with 32 successfully completing it in 2020 and the remaining due to finish in November 2021. The current 86% pass rate shows a significant increase to what TVET programmes have previously achieved. The first cohort of Plumbing Hand graduates have been registered with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) as Technical Operator Practitioners and are now on their way to becoming qualified plumbers.

Not just a man’s job

A Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) strategy has been developed to assist and enable an element of IOPSA’s transformation strategy for the plumbing sector. The plan provides a framework to identify where and how additional support can be provided to individuals and employers to create an environment conducive to the participation of diverse groups, particularly women, who have previously struggled to access the sector.

Areas where the GESI work has made strides include a review of the plumbing curriculum with gender equity and social inclusion lens, enabling greater access to plumbing training and work opportunities, channels to support candidates and employers, and the development of social inclusion workshops to generate awareness on equity and social inclusion. A simple, yet very significant example of this is the awareness of the need for women's bathrooms and changing areas in the workplace, which has not always been available until now, therefore creating a feeling of exclusion for women on plumbing teams.

Both programmes have a particular focus on gender inclusion. Neither BluLever nor NBI battle to attract women to a career in plumbing, with female participation in both programmes being well over 50%.

Kaela Wilson, marketing director for Women in Plumbing, an organisation that advocates plumbing as a viable career for females, says some gender-specific traits give women an added advantage in the job.

“Women have an eye for detail and patience for challenging situations,” she says. “They are also less threatening when coming into your private property or business, and women are better at communicating with the customer in an understandable and comfortable manner.”

Feedback from trainers and employers on the current female candidates is that they perform at the same, or better, levels than their male colleagues.

In their own words

Mothusi, BluLever apprentice: “The person I was before the boot camp is very much different from the person that I am right now. Now I am able to confidently interact with people, I’m able to confidently voice my concerns and stand my ground.”

Zanele, BluLever apprentice: "What attracted me is that there are not so many women that are doing plumbing. We all had the stigma of saying that it's a man's job. So I want to be that role model that tells other women that you can do it. I want to go into water and sanitation because water is a scarce resource in South Africa."

Lulama, BluLever apprentice: "I believe that women have the drive and they have that energy and that motivation to keep on learning new things and to keep on upskilling themselves because we want to climb the ladder. Eventually, I want to upskill myself to be a master plumber."

IOPSA research conducted two years ago found that of the 125,000 people who identified themselves as plumbers, fewer than 20,000 were actually qualified. The earning potential for unqualified or informal plumbers is lower (roughly 50% less) than their qualified counterparts. Their work is also less secure and offers fewer opportunities for career advancement. The result of this is a significant bottleneck that constrains inclusive industry growth. This new industry-wide approach to plumber training not only gives young people a pathway into vocational work but will also bolster the number of qualified plumbers in South Africa, who will not only earn more and advance further but can start their own businesses, which unlocks employment opportunities for entry-level youth, catalyses employment and has a multiplier effect on the increase in earnings for plumbers and growth for the sector.

What is IOPSA doing for the Plumbing Industry?

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 13:55:20 GMT

As you will clearly see IOPSA has been remarkably busy in the industry. We are extremely grateful to all our members, staff, stakeholders, funders and supporters for their assistance in achieving these goals, we could not do it without them. We acknowledge that there is much more that needs to be done and we will continue our best efforts to improve the industry and to make the trade of plumbing great again.

Herewith a list of our activities;

OHS

Free weekly health & safety webinars open to everyone in the industry. (CPD accredited)
Free COVID safety training for the workplace to anyone in the industry. (CPD accredited)
Nearly 100 IOPSA members received free first aid training. (CPD accredited)
Around 60 IOPSA members received free fire fighting training. (CPD accredited)
500 masks given to IOPSA members at no charge.
Free health & safety files available to all members
Free basic health & safety advice for members.
IOPSA developed a COVID workplace safety plan which is freely available.

Technical Schools. (all at no charge)

Technical support
Guest lecturing
Career days
Donated text books and literature to 9 schools
Promotion of the trade of plumbing
Assisted with donations of materials needed for practical tasks.
Currently working with funding partners to identify gaps and challenges which could be solved.

TVET Colleges.

Nearly 400 young unemployed people placed in fully funded apprenticeship programs.
Around 150 of these are women.
This translates to over R30 million in value for participating IOPSA members over 3 years.
120 unqualified but experienced plumbers placed in fully funded ARPL programs.
Established a training forum for colleges and educators to discuss plumbing related matters.
Guest lecturing, especially on standards.
Promoting the trade of plumbing
Assistance in the design and set up of centres of specialisation for plumbing training.
Inspections and quality assurance.
Development of various plumbing curricula and trade tests.
Free mentorship programs

Industry.

Free weekly technical webinars open to anyone. (CPD accredited)
Free weekly business webinars open to anyone. (CPD accredited)
Free training for Building Control Officers
Free training for insurance claims staff, managing agents and architects.
Free on-site training given to over 100 IOPSA members.
Free to register e-learning platform.
Free Youtube channel with a huge amount of informative content. (CPD accredited)
Free technical advice
Resolved around 120 consumer complaints.
Mediation in disputes between IOPSA members and on warranty claims.
Mediation in disputes between IOPSA members and their clients.
Plumbing audits.
Plumbing inspections for home and property owners.
Promoting professionalism in the industry.
Promoting the use of Qualified Plumbers and informing consumers of the risk of using unqualified “plumbers”
Supporting Proudly South African and the Buy Local campaign.
Numerous research papers on the industry.
Providing information on new products, methods and changes to legislation.
Free plumbers’ meetings. (CPD accredited)
Established an insurance forum to discuss matters related to plumbing.
Established a building control forum to discuss matters related to plumbing.
Representation to various government, municipal and private sector bodies, and forums.
Participation in development/review of virtually all plumbing standards and regulations.
Currently assisting several municipalities in drafting and implementing water by-laws.
Participation in various meetings, conferences and workshops related to the construction and plumbing industries.

COVID-19 Response.

Free webinars on COVID-19 to anyone in the industry. (CPD accredited)
Free COVID safety training for the workplace to anyone in the industry. (CPD accredited)
500 masks given to IOPSA members at no charge.
IOPSA developed a COVID workplace safety plan which is freely available.
Assistance in getting permits during hard lockdown.
Assistance in claiming UIF TERS funding.
Assistance in sourcing PPE and sanitisers during hard lockdown.
Established the Plumbers Support Fund to assist plumbers in need during hard lockdown.
Provided legal support to those members who fell foul of law enforcement during hard lockdown.
Free mental health webinars during hard lockdown. (CPD accredited)
Free COVID-19 prevention posters to anyone in the industry.
Provided regular updates, analysis and guidance on COVID regulations.
Virtual meeting platform for plumbers’ meetings.
Payment holiday for member who were struggling to pay fees.

Transformation.

Established an industry transformation committee.
Created an IOPSA Transformation policy.
Instituted regular free township plumbers’ meetings, COVID dependant. (CPD accredited)
Employed 7 unemployed black staff members, 6 female, 1 male.
Instituted a requirement for BBBEE certificates for members.
Instituted a preferential employment and procurement policy.
Currently undergoing a BBBEE rating exercise for IOPSA.
Grew black representation on committees from 11 to 22. Female from 0 to 7.
Grew black representation on the NEC from 0 to 3. Female from 1 to 3.
The Office Bearers of IOPSA are now 1 Black male, 1 coloured female and 1 white male.
Free BBBEE training videos uploaded to our Youtube channel.
Free gender equity and social inclusion workshops. (CPD accredited)
Assisted in the establishment of South African Women in Plumbing (SAWIP).
Signed the SAWIP pledge against sexual harassment in the workplace.
Undertook a review of all IOPSA documentation, the plumbing curricula, and the National Building Regulations for any racial or gender bias.
Took disciplinary action against members who transgressed the Transformation Policy.
Assisted in creating nearly 400 job opportunities for young unemployed mainly black people. Around 150 are women.

Community. (All free of charge, CPD points were allocated to participants)

Installation, repairs and maintenance of the following;

o An old age home in KZN

o A police station in KZN

o A childrens’ home in Western Cape

o A school in Southern Cape

o Numerous public toilets in informal settlements in Gauteng

o A care centre in Gauteng

o A community centre in Gauteng

o An old age home in Free State

o A frail care in North West

o Sanitation services at an informal settlement in Eastern Cape.

Community clean ups

o 2 parks in Gauteng

o City clean up in Free State

o A river in Western Cape

o A Beach in KZN

Donations of various plumbing materials, text books, literature, COVID paraphernalia etc to colleges and schools.

Commercial. (for members only)

Discounts from Health & Safety consultant
Discounts on legal services
Discounts on material purchases
Discounts on tyres, shocks and exhaust purchases.
Discounts on motor vehicles
Discounts on LPG Gas installers training
Discounts on waterproofing training
Free listing on “Find a Plumber” which gets around 200 enquiries per day.

(this is over and above those member benefits listed above)

Expanding Inclusive Pathways into the Green Economy

Mon, 31 May 2021 09:25:46 GMT

Persistent and increasingly high levels of youth unemployment in South

Africa present one of the greatest obstacles to achieving equitable and

inclusive economic growth. Many young people today find it impossible to

successfully transition to the labour market, thus joining a growing proportion of people in our society who remain marginalised, and trapped in a negative cycle of exclusion from economic participation.

One major obstacle to successful transition is the profound disconnect between the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system and the workplace.

While significant numbers of school leavers enter the TVET sector every year, there are few pathways from the system into workplaces. In fact, the TVET system does not necessarily increase employment prospects, which further contributes to sustained youth marginalisation.

The Green Skills TVET programme, implemented by the National Business Initiative (NBI) together with a range of partners, seeks to intervene at the interface between the supply and demand for skills. This approach unlocks opportunities for dual training (integrated institutional and workplace training) and employment in the industrial economy, while addressing the disconnect between TVET provision and skills demands in the workplace. The programme forms part of the broader Installation, Repair and Maintenance (IRM) Initiative.1

Click here to download the full report

Municipality and Local authority plumbing survey & research paper March 2021

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 11:49:10 GMT

DO MUNICIPALITIES HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ADEQUATELY CONTROL PLUMBING WORK CONDUCTED IN THEIR AREAS.

Background

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is a NPO which represents the interests of approximately 1000 companies active in the plumbing industry in South Africa. Around 80% of our members are plumbing companies and 75% of those are SMME’s.

In 2018 IOPSA recognised that there was a lack of research in the industry and as such we embarked upon an ongoing research program to gain better insights into the industry. In the research to date there has emerged a common theme; the plumbing industry is under threat from non-compliance to legal requirements.

Download the full report here

It’s a brave thing to start a plumbing business: a tax guide for your first year in business

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 08:20:27 GMT

The following is an article by Yolandi Esterhuizen, who is responsible for the interpretation and implementation of tax and labour law requirements for Sage HR & Payroll’s products in South Africa and Africa. It is not directly aimed at plumbers, but any small business.

“Developing a product or service that people need, want, and are willing to pay for takes skill, hard work, and of course, some luck. And in your first year of business, working on what you sell can be all-consuming. But there are other areas of your business that, if left unattended, can derail your hard work – tax compliance is among the most important.

By understanding your business’s tax responsibilities and putting the right systems in place to meet those requirements, you’ll avoid costly mistakes and frustration and, most crucially, improve your chances of running a successful business.

We’ve put together a guide to help you navigate the tax during your first year in business.

To register or not?

The type of business structure you choose will impact how you pay tax. The simplest is to run your business as a sole proprietorship, which comes with the following tax-related benefits:

Less paperwork – you are not required to legally register your business because a sole proprietorship is not a legal entity, i.e., there’s no separation between the business and the owner/proprietor. However, you will still be required to register with SARS, as an individual, for the relevant taxes.

Easier tax returns – your business’s taxable income is simply included in your personal tax return, though you will be required to make provisional tax payments (more on this in the next section).

Lower effective tax rate – the profits your business makes will be taxed at your individual marginal tax rate, whereas profits in a registered company are subject to corporate income tax (CIT) of 28% (27% from next year). Below a certain revenue threshold, you’ll pay less tax as a sole proprietor.

Of course, there are some good reasons to register your company: it adds an element of credibility to your business; it allows your business to access funding and creates a separate legal entity that protects your personal assets from creditors.

If you decide to register your business, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has an easy-to-follow online registration process. Once registered, SARS will automatically generate an Income Tax number for your business that you’ll use as a reference when submitting your tax returns and payments.

Welcome to provisional tax

So that you aren’t lumped with one large tax bill every year, businesses are required to pay their annual income tax in three separate instalments, known as provisional tax, as per the below schedule:

First: six months from the start of your financial year

Second: at your financial year end

Third: six months after your financial year end

The first two payments are based on estimated taxable income because you are required to submit before the end of each period so you can’t know the exact amount. The third payment exists in case you underestimated your income and, as a result, paid too little tax.

Similarly, if you overestimated your income, the third submission may lead to a tax refund. The form that substantiates your calculations for each period – detailing your income and deductible expenditure – is called an IRP6. You will need to submit three of these forms in every tax year.

Within 12 months of your financial year end, you are also required to submit an ITR12 (if you’re running your business as a sole proprietor) or an ITR14 (if you’ve registered your business). In this form, you are required to declare your total income and deductible expenses for your financial year so that SARS can calculate whether you’ve paid the correct amount of tax, or if an additional payment or refund is due.

Deductible expenses

In calculating your taxable income for your provisional payments, you are permitted to deduct certain business-related expenses from your turnover. Here are some examples of the expenses you may be allowed to deduct from your revenue to reduce your taxable income and, by extension, the taxes you pay:

· Day-to-day business expenses (rent, salaries, equipment, office supplies, etc.)
· Capital expenses (business vehicles, renovations, hardware, etc.)
· Entertainment expenses
· Business start-up expenses
· Education expenses
· Losses accrued in previous periods

If you run your business from home, you’ll be able to deduct a portion of certain expenses when calculating your taxable income.

What you’re permitted to deduct is often nuanced so involving a tax practitioner to remain compliant is advisable.

What’s the deal with VAT?

You are only required to register for VAT once your business generates or is expected to generate taxable supplies in excess of R1 million over any rolling 12-month period. Once that threshold is crossed, you have 21 days to submit your VAT registration either via eFiling or by completing a VAT101 registration form and handing it in at a SARS branch. If your business has made more than R50,000 in the last 12 months but remains under the R1 million threshold, you may still register for VAT voluntarily – in some cases this makes sense.

Once you’re a registered VAT vendor, you’ll need to add 15% to invoices you send to your customers, making sure to collect (and not spend) those monies. Then, you are required to submit a VAT 201 form, accompanied by a payment to SARS for the VAT you’ve charged and collected on behalf of the government.

As a VAT vendor, you are entitled to offset the amount of VAT you owe to SARS (known as output tax) against your business-related expenses on which you were required to pay VAT (known as input tax). If the latter is in excess of the former, SARS will need to refund you the difference within 21 days of you submitting your VAT return.

The frequency of your VAT submissions and payments depends on the ‘taxable period’ your business qualifies for. As a general rule, businesses with less than R30 million in annual turnover will be required to submit every second month, while businesses with revenue above that threshold must submit monthly.

Manual VAT payments – via post and SARS branches – must be made no later than the 25th of each month, while electronic VAT payments can be made on the last day of the month.

How to handle PAYE, SDL, and UIF

You may need to hire people in your new business. As soon as you employ someone, you become responsible for certain deductions from that employee’s remuneration and/or contributions, which are subsequently paid to SARS.

These include:

· PAYE (pay-as-you-earn): This is the personal income tax, owed to the government by the employee on their remuneration, that you as their employer must withhold and then pay over to SARS. You have 21 days from hiring your first employee to register for PAYE, unless their level of income exempts them from paying taxes.
· UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund): An amount equal to 2% of your employee’s remuneration must be paid to SARS on a monthly basis. 1% is deducted from the portion of your employee’s remuneration that is subject to UIF, while the other 1% is contributed by your business. You are required to register for and pay UIF if you are registered at SARS for PAYE. You can register directly at the UIF if you are not required to register for PAYE, and make direct payments to them.
· SDL (Skills Development Levy): If your total employee remuneration is expected to exceed R500,000 over the next 12 months, your business will need to register and pay the SDL. An amount equal to 1% of your employee’s remuneration, subject to SDL, must be contributed by you as the employer. This levy is paid to SARS which is then allocated to a SETA (sector education and training authority) for learning and development initiatives within South Africa. As the employer, you can claim back some of your SDL contributions by submitting your Annual Training Report (ATR) and Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) to the SETA you are registered with before the end of April each year.

These provisions, and the payment thereof, are handled in a single form. An EMP201 must be submitted on a monthly basis, no later than the 7th day of the following month, or the Friday before that day if the 7th falls on a weekend or public holiday declaring the total amounts due for PAYE, UIF, and SDL. A payment to SARS for that amount must be made within the same timeframe.

In addition, you’ll be required to submit an EMP501 twice a year. This form essentially reconciles the EMP201’s you’ve already submitted with the payments you’ve made, and the employee tax certificates (known as IRP5’s, the document your employees need for their own tax submissions) you’ve generated. Here’s a SARS guide to accessing the new features for Monthly Employer Declaration (EMP201) on eFiling.

Registering for PAYE, SDL, and UIF can be done simultaneously on the eFiling website.

One step at a time

We know this looks daunting. But registrations are once-off events, and many of the submissions discussed above can be simplified with the right software. Take small steps. Breathe. Check things off your to-do-list. You will get there.

If you need help, speak to a registered tax practitioner and/or a payroll specialist. There are many cost-effective, time-saving solutions that will give you the comfort of tax compliance, and the energy and motivation to tackle your next business challenge.”

WRITTEN BY Eamonn Ryan

“Yes, I would not sleep in that house with that installation. It is potentially a bomb.

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 08:12:28 GMT

Unqualified people doing plumbing work may come cheap and one will end up paying more in the long run. If you have money to throw away carry on!

But an unqualified person installing a geyser is irresponsible on the part of the homeowner as this can be a potential bomb. As the homeowner the law is clear, any installation done in ones home is the homeowner’s responsibility. Sure, one cannot do the installation but you must ensure, and this includes insurance company plumbers, that the installer is qualified. Qualified, being he/she has completed an apprenticeship/learnership and passed a trade test.

Confirmation of this can be done on the PIRB.CO.ZA website. No one may install a geyser if they are not registered with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB). They will supply a certificate of compliance (CoC) to you or to the insurer. Best you have a copy as well as the insurance company. A certificate from the local authority is a certificate of completion between plumber and municipality, not compliance as provided by PIRB which is between plumber and homeowner.

Here is an example of a recent installation and the comments from the manufacturer. NB it is the installation that is the problem not the geyser!

Gives an idea of how one can be placing the lives of one’s family at risk, never mind the fact that the insurer will not pay out.

Here are the comments from a manufacturer:

“Yes, I would not sleep in that house with that installation. It is potentially a bomb.

The following is very dangerous:

The safety valve that is in the top of this geyser should be plumbed out with a 22mm metallic pipe directly to the outside of the building with no obstruction. SANS 10254 allows for 2 x 45 degree bends on such installation. In this example it is clearly a 15mm copper pipe that goes into a 90 degree bend and then t’s into a pex pipe in conjunction with the relief valve – very illegal and dangerous.
The most scary part of this installation is the fact that there is a shut off valve that has been closed. Should this geyser overheat or over pressurise, the shut off valve would prevent the safety valve to function
The vacuum breakers are not at least 300mm above the tank. This is not dangerous, but will possibly case damage to the tank and shorten its lifespan.

In this installation – should the thermostat fail, the geyser will boil, over-pressurise and ultimately burst. At least there is a thermal cut off fuse inside the thermostat that will cut electricity to the element should the tank start boiling.

If the pressure reducing valve fails, the geyser’s safety valve would also not be able to de-pressurise through the safety valve as it is blocked by the shut off valve.

The illegal shut off valve is also restricting the Cobra Masterflo 2 valve from relieving excess pressure from the tank. As the tank heats the water inside it expands and the valve drips out up to 1 litre per day to make sure the geyser stays within operational pressure.

This installation is extremely dangerous and entirely to blame on the very poor installation. The safety aspects is completely bypassed.

Have a look at this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbreKn4PoAc

In this clip both the safety valve was blanked off, as is the case here and they bypassed the thermal fuse. Luckily the thermal fuse in SA geysers will prevent boiling. “

JUST REMEMBER GOEDKOOP IS DEURKOOP – ESPECIALLY IF YOUR FAMILY IS PART OF CHEAP!!!!!!!!

SUMMARY OF IOPSA PROJECTS

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:20:46 GMT

Unemployment is a critical issue for South Africa as a developing country, with an unemployment rate projected at 36.495% at the end of December 2021 and the current youth unemployment rate of 55.75% . The lack of skilled artisans is a major barrier to job creation and economic growth hence the need to facilitate the training and upskilling of youth in artisanal trades in order to encourage job creation and economic growth locally rather than looking outside of the country for the correct skillset.

IOPSA is involved in a multitude of private and public plumbing training projects such as Appenticeships, Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning, Centres of Specialisation and Installation, repair an maintenance to name a few.

Click here to download our formal report

Tracer study of learners and graduates in the Dual System Pilot Project (DSPP) as well as the COS (Centres of Specialisation) apprenticeship programmes.

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 09:29:39 GMT

This report offers an overview of the findings of the analysis obtained from the tracer study of the Dual System Pilot Project (DSPP) as well as the COS (Centres of Specialisation) apprenticeship programmes. The respondents within this tracer are as follows: Of the 141

DSPP respondents, 79,4% are undertaking their training to become electricians whilst 19,2% are undertaking training to become plumbers. In COS, there was a more even distribution across various trades; the majority of the respondents were spread across respondents training to become electricians, Carpenters/Joiners and Mechanical Fitters. The tracer study found that within this respondent group the DSPP programme respondents were typically older (between 26 and 30 years of age). had higher qualifications (almost half have N5‐6) and were more evenly balanced in terms of gender than the COS respondents.

The report also found that the expectations of the COS respondents were focused on both the acquisition of knowledge and skills and accessing employment, whilst DSPP respondents

– possibly because they are older and have higher qualifications – were primarily focused on accessing employment. These varied expectations may explain their views on the programme and the extent to which their expectations have been met.

A concern that emerged, with respect to the selection of participants, is that whilst almost all respondents were made aware of the opportunity through the college the selection processes appear to have varied between the DSPP and COS programme: while 158 COS respondents said they were interviewed by the employer before being selected to the programme and only 11 of the DSPP respondents said they were interviewed by the employer before being selected for the programme.

Click here to download the formal notice

National Plumbing Survey Results 2020

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 13:27:39 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) and the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) conducts the Plumbing National Survey annually.

The survey is sent out digitally through the main IOPSA and PIRB communication channels including emails, social media, the IOPSA website and Plumbing Africa online. The aim of the analysis is as follows: (i) to understand IOPSA’s market and the plumbing industry better, (ii) to track progress and assess whether there have been any significant changes from the previous survey, and (iii) to get guidance for future strategic direction. This analysis, reported and evaluated by Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS)1 is an initial review of the responses and some preliminary findings from the Plumbing National Survey 2020.

According to Statistics South Africa (StatsSA, 2019), there are approximately 126 000 self-identify as plumbers and apprentices operating in South Africa of these it is estimated that 10 000 – 15 000 are Qualified Plumbers. In total, 1024 respondents completed the Plumbing National Survey 2020 accounting for 0,8% of all plumbers and apprentices in the country or an estimated 6-8% of Qualified Plumbers. Compared to the previous survey, the 2020 analysis indicates that participation in the survey increased by an additional 85 respondents from 2019.

Click here to view the full report

IOPSA and EmpowerBEE partner to assist members on BBBEE requirements.

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 07:53:50 GMT

IOPSA and EmpowerBEE are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement to partner on all Transformation and BBBEE matters. EmpowerBEE will assist IOPSA in managing its own internal BBBEE scorecard and at the same time will provide free training to members on all things BBBEE related. IOPSA members will have access to EmpowerBEE’s services at preferential rates.

According to Brendan Reynolds, Executive Director of IOPSA “IOPSA is fully committed to the ideals of Transformation under the guidance of our Transformation Committee. This agreement is important both for IOPSA and for our members. BBBEE is a reality in South Africa and the fact is that we don’t have good knowledge and experience in the field. Partnering with EmpowerBEE fills an important gap both for IOPSA and our members.”

We asked Morosha Govender the Verification Manager at EmpowerBEE a few questions regarding the partnership;

Why is transformation important for SA?

Transformation in South Africa benefits us all.
South Africa is one of the world’s most unequal societies, the top 10% earn about six times as much as the bottom 10%. In South Africa, the top 10% earn 110 times more than the bottom 10%.
Transformation is imperative to ensure that it not only empowers individuals but also communities and employees
Transformation can improve the business environment, especially for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).
SMEs can be job generators and help create an environment for entrepreneurs to flourish
Transformation can create an environment that provides SMEs with opportunity and with support to participate in local supply chains

Why did you choose to partner with IOPSA?

The values of IOPSA are consistent with the values of Empowerbee. Empowerbee is passionate about transformation strategies that benefit everyone in South Africa.
Our objectives are to create a BBBEE strategy that does not split the exciting economic pie, but increases the economic pie so that everyone in South Africa can benefit.

How can Empowerbee/BBBEE compliance benefit IOPSA members?

Empowerbee can assist all members with compliance in terms of the BBBEE Legislation as a SANAS Accredited verification agency.

Without BBBEE compliance:

Non-compliant businesses will find it difficult to grow or maintain their level of business success within South Africa.
On the other hand, private companies will also need to apply the Codes if they want to do business with any government enterprise – in order to tender for business, apply for licences , etc
Private companies are now starting to focus on other private companies (suppliers) with the best possible BEE score, which will count towards their Procurement recognition

BBBEE compliance is not a tickbox exercise, applied strategically it can contribute to alleviating some of the ills faced by South Africans today

Small and medium sized business are critical in addressing unemployment in South Africa
The plumbing and related construction industries are critical in educating the next generation of artisans if it is to thrive in the future
We believe that this can give school leavers and the young unemployed the ability to contribute to society.

IOPSA members should keep their ears open for upcoming BBBEE training and other initiatives that will benefit them.

NRCS issues a stern warning against the illegal trade practice of Geysers

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 12:12:32 GMT

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: 24 June 2020

RE: NRCS issues a stern warning against the illegal trade practice of Geysers

The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) has been inundated with complaints on the sale and advertisement of second hand/refurbished geysers that do not comply with the applicable technical regulation (VC 9006) for hot water storage tanks for domestic use. In response, the Regulator conducted inspections and discovered a surge in the illegal selling of refurbished geysers.

All geysers, new and modified, must conform with the safety and labeling requirements as outlined in the technical regulation before being offered for sale. It is therefore required of any business trading in these products to submit an application for approval of sale to the NRCS.

Through this process, an applicant, importer or manufacturer of a regulated products is required to submit a sample of a product and a full test report acquired from an accredited testing facility for examination, testing or evaluation to determine compliance with the relevant compulsory specifications that are in force before the Letter of Authority Certificate (LOA) is issued.

The Regulator assesses the evidence of conformity supplied by the applicant and grant approval when the mandatory requirements have been met. This is rigorous administrative and technical process which is followed to ensure that no LOA Certificates are issued to unscrupulous traders, manufactures or importers.

All industry players, contractors, insurance companies and other interested parties are therefore warned not to manufacture or sell non-compliant second hand or refurbished geysers if not approved by the NRCS.

Non-compliant products are hazardous and can cause harm to consumers. Similarly, faulty geysers can easily explode or cause an electric shock when used and are also not energy efficient.

Research has indicated that geysers account for up to 39% of household electricity bills and it is hoped that the enforcement of the regulation by the NRCS will decrease the energy demand and bring much needed relief to consumers who are feeling the effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Suppliers and manufacturers shall ensure that the product’s energy consumption information is provided on the label and dealers must ensure that they affix the supplied label on the outside of displayed products and ensure that potential end-users are provided with product energy efficiency class and energy consumption data before purchase.

The NRCS would also like to urge South African consumers to be alert and request sellers to produce proof of compliance (LOA) for products before they purchase them.

Enforcing VC 9006 is in line with the NRCS’s mandate of protecting human health, safety, the environment and ensuring fair trade as well as rooting out non-compliant products in the market.

For media interviews, please contact Mirriam Moswaane on 012 482 8826 / 083 364 2007 and for technical queries please contact Bongani Khanyile on 012 482 8886

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL REGULATOR FOR COMPULSORY SPECIFICATIONS (NRCS).

A South African First – Digital Plumber Training Programme

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 11:35:09 GMT

SqwidNet partners with the Institute of Plumbing South Africa to transform plumber training in the industry. The Digital Plumber Training Program provides 4IR skills to future proof the business of plumbers and drive water-saving behaviour across the country.

SqwidNet, the only licensed Sigfox operator in South Africa, has partnered with the country’s leading plumbing body, the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), to launch a South African first: the Digital Plumber Training Programme. This unique training programme was developed in collaboration with Macrocomm, an IoT (Internet of Things) company, and Ontec (a leading utility services provider) to provide plumbers with the digital skills and practical know-how required to embrace the digital era, advance their customer offering and grow their business.

“Plumbers sit at the forefront of the water challenges currently facing South Africa, but only a few know how digital solutions can eradicate many of these challenges,” says Phathizwe Malinga, managing director of SqwidNet. “This training programme is designed to empower plumbers so they can digitise their current service to their customers, commercially evolve their offerings, and drive adoption of smart water solutions.”

The Digital Plumber Training Programme designed by Macrocomm’s Smart Academy consists of two modules: a Technical and Installation Module, and a Personal Selling Module. The Personal Selling module adds uniqueness and depth to the programme by focussing on the propositioning and business acumen aspects needed by plumbers to develop their business model, and confidently articulate the digital-solution value to customers.

IOPSA and the Plumbing Industry Registration Body (PIRB) have accredited the programme and awarded four CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points to the Technical and Installation module, and three CPD points to the Personal Selling Module. Plumbers require 25 CPD points per year to maintain their professional registration with PIRB. This programme supports and promotes the continuous development of the plumber’s skills and knowledge; offering plumbers a novel way to remain relevant and compliant with registration requirements. This training programme was originally developed as a hands-on, in-class programme, has subsequently been adapted to an online programme to suit the new regulations put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We crafted a specialised offering for plumbers that is designed to give them the skills, understanding, and expertise they need to expand their market share and offer their customers new and inventive solutions,” says Nick Joubert, National Training Manager at IOPSA. “They can use the skills that they learn in the programme to create consumer-friendly solutions, that they can easily sell. Certified Digital Plumbers have the flexibility to bundle the offering as their own or develop it into more advanced solutions for the business market through partnerships.”

“The training programme itself is delivered by IOPSA and Macrocomm, both companies providing essential expertise and support to those attending the course,” says Joubert. “It is focused on upskilling plumbers and assisting them with the transition to the IoT based smart water solutions. It also introduces them to SABS approved smart water solutions that leverage IoT to meet the pressing water scarcity issues in the country.”

Complimentary to the Digital Plumber training is an off-the-shelf Sigfox enabled smart water solution, designed, and built with SqwidNet partners, Macrocomm and Ontec. The solution is intuitive, simple, and cost-effective – ideally suited for certified digital plumbers to take to market.

SqwidNet Chief Solution Officer, Ushal Moonsamy adds that bringing together expert partners was crucial in designing the ground-breaking Digital Plumber initiative. This has resulted in the crafting of a holistic solution for plumbers that includes IoT technical and sales skills development, an easy to use smart water product, nationwide availability, and support. “It’s this type of trust and collaboration that shifts industries forward, changes behaviours and achieves exponential outcomes.”

The smart water meter solution allows certified digital plumbers to convert their customers’ ordinary water meters quickly and easily into smart water meters. The solution enables the plumber to advance their offering by providing a service to proactively manage leak detection, effect necessary repairs and maintenance repairs, and systematic ways in which to reduce water consumption. When the solution detects water leaks, it instantaneously notifies the homeowner or business owner, and the plumber who can quickly and proactively fix the problem. The solution not only offers immense financial value to the user in terms of preventing bill shock – sudden astronomical bill due to undetected leaks - but also provides everyone with real-time awareness of their water usage and consumption patterns over time. The smart water solution is app-enabled - using their mobile device, users can set goals, monitor their usage, and constructively challenge themselves to change their water-using habits.

“Understanding how and when water is used not only saves money for the customer, but it also goes a long way towards managing the current water crisis,” concludes Malinga. “Every part of this solution, from the training course to the tools and solutions on offer, has been designed to support one of the very real challenges that our country faces today.”

The Digital Plumber Training Programme, developed by SqwidNet, Macrocomm, Ontec, and IOPSA, is the first accredited training programme of its kind in South Africa and the local industry. It creates new opportunities for plumbers in the country and ensures that they gain highly relevant skills while completing their mandatory CPD training and simultaneously changing the game in water conservation.

Mananging Legionella risks in building water systems with reduced or no or occupancy during COVID-19 lockdown

Thu, 28 May 2020 06:41:32 GMT

Dear Rory,

Thank you for your request for advice for plumbers to flush out pipes impacted by water stagnation during the COVID-19 lockdown. The information provided here is intended to raise awareness and provide guidance on water quality issues pertinent to stagnation resulting from the COVID-19 lockdowns with specific reference to Legionella risks. The information is based on literature currently available. As more research is done information may change.

Guidance to managing Legionella risks in building water systems with no or reduced occupancy during COVID-19 lockdown

In compliance to the government COVID-19 lockdown regulations, many buildings including offices, retail outlets, restaurants, hotels, factories, schools, gyms, community centres among others were left unused or sub-operational with no or low occupancy for a significant amount of time. This leads to potential water stagnation in water pipes, fixtures, and storage tanks as water usage was reduced significantly or brought to a halt in some instances. Another possible consequence of the lockdown is the inability to monitor and maintain cold or hot water systems as required. These conditions can create hazards due to deterioration of water quality with possible adverse health risks to returning occupants.

Building water quality concerns during lockdown

As the government begins to ease lockdown restrictions and more companies prepare to re-open, it is important that building owners and operators are aware of concerns that could threaten the quality and safety of the water in their premises. An unintended health risk that could result from the fight against COVID-19 is legionellosis. Legionella infections can cause Legionnaires’ disease (a severe type of pneumonia) and Pontiac fever (a mild form), collectively known as legionellosis. Persons with compromised immune systems are at risk of contracting the disease, similar to COVID-19.

A conducive environment for Legionella growth

A stagnant water system provides the ‘right’ conditions and a potential breeding ground for bacteria such as Legionella to proliferate due to several reasons.
- Hot and cold water temperatures can stabilise into a range that favours Legionella growth (25–40°C)
- The chlorine disinfectant added to the water supplied to a building can drop to ineffective levels
- Stagnation can promote biofilms to develop in pipes and fixtures
Once established in a building’s plumbing, Legionella can be dispersed by aerosol generating activities, potentially exposing individuals through inhalation of aerosols

Building water systems and devices impacted by stagnation

Systems and devices that are prone to water stagnation during a lockdown include:

Toilets and showers
Sink faucets
Eye wash stations
Emergency showers
Irrigation and fire hoses
Cooling towers
Evaporative condensers
Decorative fountains
Hot tubs and spas
Misters, atomisers and humidifiers

Recommendations to safe re-opening of buildings during or after the risk-adjusted easing of COVID-19 lockdown

Building owners and operators must take all reasonably practicable precautions to control any water hygiene-related risks that may have arisen during the lockdown such as Legionella growth. Professional assistance is recommended to evaluate these factors so that appropriate measures can be taken. Given the variability and complexity of plumbing, generalizations are not possible. The main concern is whether the water poses unacceptable health risks to building occupants, which can differ drastically in terms of building size and complexity, length of shutdown, likely integrity of the system, vulnerability of occupants, and water uses. All procedures implemented should be documented.

Risk assessment

Purpose

Risk assessments are done to check system integrity and should inform measures to be followed to restore water quality to pre-COVID conditions.

Considerations

Review water hygiene and Legionella risk assessment to reflect current usage and consider whether there is a heightened risk of Legionella as a result of the lockdown.
Risk assessment should be carried out by a trained and competent person.
Where risk is identified, appropriate steps (such as interim control measures such as flushing or water testing and/or treatments) should be determined and actioned in a timely manner.

Flushing

Purpose

Flushing replaces low quality water with high quality ‘fresh water’ from the municipal supply thereby removing contaminants and biofilms that accumulated during stagnation. Repeated flushing maybe required to bring the building water system back to baseline conditions

Considerations

· Consider flushing the entire building water system including hot and cold water through all points of use (showers, faucets etc.)

It may need to occur in segments due to facility size and water pressure issues
Flushing order also matters and professional assistants might be required to help understand plumbing configurations and flushing volumes

· Flushing should proceed in one direction and zone-by zone, starting from the point of entry going progressively to the distal points of the plumbing system

It is advisable to flush cold water first followed by hot water

· Consider removing some plumbing components (aerators, showerheads, filters) that restrict flow rates but remember to clean and disinfect bypassed components

Flushing requirements are site-specific but run the water until a constant cold water temperature is maintained and disinfectant is detected

Clean and disinfect fixtures

Purpose

Some components of the water system need additional measures because they can generate aerosols. Cleaning of fixtures removes contaminants and biofilms from the complex internal structures at the point of discharge.

Considerations

Remove aerators, faucets, shower heads etc. and clean and disinfect with bleach before returning to service

Shock disinfection

Purpose

Disinfection is particularly important when the facility serves a vulnerable population, such as immune-compromised individuals or the building is a large system with a history of contamination with Legionella or other harmful microorganisms

Considerations

Facility staff can send a high dose of disinfectant such as chlorine through the building or raise temperatures to kill the microbes
Disinfectants such as chlorine are dangerous to handle and can cause serious damage to plumbing system components if not properly used
In most cases, flushing buildings with water that has normal amounts of chlorine as supplied by the municipality is sufficient for cleaning the water system
Get professional assistance regarding methods and chemicals compatible with plumbing material
Thoroughly flush the system before and after shock-disinfection to improve results and remove disinfectants

How do you know if your procedure has been effective and water is now safe for use?

Consider collecting water samples for Legionella and portability tests at a qualified and reputable laboratory
Verify potable water disinfectant residuals
- Chlorine residuals should be monitored at the point of entry to verify sufficient disinfectant levels are provided to the building
- Chlorine residuals should also be monitored at locations throughout the building to ensure flushing minimizes degradation of disinfectant residuals at the points of use
- Free chlorine residuals should be monitored if the building is supplied with chlorinated water, and total chlorine residuals monitored if supplied with chloramine treated water

Worker protection

Ensure safety of workers during the flushing, cleaning and disinfection procedures

Workers should be competent and appropriately trained for the work they will be doing

Appropriate PPE e.g. gloves, N95 masks (fit-tested), and face shields, should be worn to prevent exposure from disinfection chemicals, and potentially contaminated splashes and aerosols
Avoid splashing and creating aerosols during flushing by using hoses to connect taps or shower head ends directly to drains, or by opening outlets slowly
Prevent exposure of workers to chemicals or high temperature water by using signage or access control
Social distancing protocols should be observed during risk assessments, cleaning and disinfection procedures

The information provided here is intended to raise awareness and provide guidance on water quality issues pertinent to stagnation resulting from the COVID-19 lockdowns with specific reference to Legionella risks. The information is based on literature currently available. As more research is done information may change.

Author:

Noncy Gomba, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

National Health Laboratory Service

National Institute for Occupational Health

Immunology and Microbiology Department

PO Box 4788, Johannesburg, 2000, RSA

Office: +27 (0) 11 712 6404

Email: NoncyG@nioh.ac.za | Website: http://www.nhls.ac.za; http://www.nioh.ac.za

References

CDC Guidance for Building Water Systems: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html

CDC Guidance for Building Water Systems: Ensure the safety of your building water system and devices after a prolonged shutdown (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html)

Proctor, C., Rhoads, W., Keane, T., Salehi, M., Hamilton, K., Pieper, K. J., … Whelton, A. (2020, April 8). Considerations for Large Building Water Quality after Extended Stagnation. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/qvj3b

Rhoads, William, and Caitlin Proctor. “Frequently Asked Questions - Building Water Safety in Response to COVID-19.” Center for Plumbing Safety - Purdue University, Purdue University, engineering.purdue.edu/PlumbingSafety/covid19/faq-building-water-safety.

DOWNLOAD THE FORMAL LETTER HERE

Harscan Sanitary Products

Thu, 21 May 2020 07:38:17 GMT

SANITIZING AND HANDS-FREE EQUIPMENT

Harscan has developed a range of products and solutions to assist with the regulated requirements in terms of sanitation and general safety.

Click here to download the product list!

Webinars this week - 28/04/2020

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 07:55:00 GMT

Date	Time	Field	Presenter	Topic
28-Apr	Tuesday	07h00 - 07h30	OHS	Chris Coetzee	OHS
		11h00 - 12h00	Compliance Auditor	Steve B	CA SLA Requirements
		13h00 - 14h00	Plumber Training	Annie	Social Media
		16h00 - 17h00	Bus Development	Brad Boertje	DOING BUSINESS WITH THE IOPSA CONTRACT FOR MINOR PLUMBING WORKS: Module 5: Default and dispute resolution
29-Apr	Wednesday	07h00 - 07h30	Motivational	Debbie	TBA
		11h00 - 12h00	Plumber Training	Robbie Webb	Lixil
		13h00 - 14h00	Plumber Training	Annie	Reading a Balance Sheet, the lay-man’s guide
		16h00 - 17h00	Bus Development	Brad Boertje	DOING BUSINESS WITH THE IOPSA CONTRACT FOR MINOR PLUMBING WORKS: Module 6: Balancing contractual astuteness and business relationships
30-Apr	Thursday	07h00 - 07h30	Tech Talks	Adriaan, Maruis, Richard, Herman, Steve	Q&A Session
		11h00 - 12h00	Compliance Auditor	Steve B, Lea, Brendan, Herman	Covid return and New Auditing system principles
		13h00 - 14h00	Plumber Training	Debbie Donaldson	Returning to work after Lockdown
		16h00 - 17h00	Bus Development	Henk	Vermont - Anchors/ Rawl bolts

To register to attend these webinars please click here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/200441375732992524

Tuesday morning English ToolBox Talk: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8343009958858875907

Thursday morning Tech Talks: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7749421017492711171

Rehabilitating Stagnant Water Systems

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 07:21:51 GMT

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Rehabilitating Stagnant Water Systems

Post SA Lockdown COVID 19

Dear valued members

As soon as the South African Lockdown COVID-19 period ends, people will start heading back to their work premises that have for weeks now been unoccupied or sparsely used as a result of the lockdown.

We point out that that water not drawn through a plumbing system within a building over an extended period of time will become stagnant.

Stagnation of water within building pipes and other water systems may contain excessive amounts of heavy metals. As a result this may support the accelerated growth of many microorganisms and pathogens, such as Legionella Pneumophila https://www.who.int/ that can cause great harm to building occupants. Just as with the COVID-19, those that are at the greatest risk of becoming ill from such pathogens are the elderly and those who are immunocompromised.

Plumbing systems will therefore have to be prepared for regular use again and IOPSA urges all its members to please place high importance on protecting the public’s health and safety. Therefore, attention should be given to the rehabilitation of such water systems within 5-7 days before the building is re-occupied. Please note that this period may vary from the periods given by local authorities and this would also need to be taken into consideration.

Below are some guidelines and best practices to be considered to rehabilitate a stagnant water line for regular use again:

Flushing of all water systems

· All water systems in buildings will need to be thoroughly flushed prior to being put back into service.
· Flushing includes the opening of all water outlet taps, mixers, showers including toilets and urinals.
· Flushing the system will purge the stagnant water and improve water quality.
· Remember to flush all drinking water fountains. Water coolers need to be emptied, cleaned as per the manufacturer’s requirements, and refilled with fresh potable water.
· All hot water storage heaters (geyser) including point of use geysers would need to be adequate flushed and heated to a minimum of 60 degrees Celsius for at least 1 hour wherever possible.

PLEASE NOTE:

The flushing of the water system will depend and differ from building to building. Factors such as building reticulation design and distance from service connection will be one of many factors to consider when trying to determine the time per terminal point to be flushed.

Taking the above into account, IOPSA cannot give an exact time to allow such purging of stagnant water from each point.
The licenced plumber will have to evaluate each case on merit and also take into account means to try reduce unnecessary water wastage such as the testing of water quality.

IOPSA encourages good health practices and we urge our members and their staff attending to such rehabilitation of stagnant water systems to please take care and wear the correct PPE. Remember to open taps slowly to avoid splashing and before flushing toilets to close the toilet lids to prevent aerosols filling or splashing from the toilet.

Other building water systems

All other water systems in a building, such as water re-use systems (storage tanks), water features such as fountains, and irrigation systems will need to be flushed. Please remember to follow the manufacturer recommendations for disinfecting such water systems. Please refer to SANS 10252-1 ref 6.5.2 and 9.3.2 for more guidance.

Floor drains and grease traps

In respect of buildings that have floor drains - be sure to clean and flush the drain and to make sure that the trap is fully restored in order to keep sewer gases from entering the building.

Grease traps and gulleys need to be cleared, cleaned, and flushed.

Additional considerations

Removal and cleaning of end-point devices such as faucet aerators, drinking fountain, water filtration systems, point of use water heaters and filtration systems would be a good practice.
(Please consult the manufacturer on specific procedures to be followed)

We recommend that should the occupants need to drink water that they either use bottled water or boil the water first and allow it to cool down before consuming it. This should be implemented for at least the first week of re-occupying the building to allow the water lines to be sufficiently flushed.

IOPSA Management and staff take this opportunity to thank each and every IOPSA member for their role and contribution to the plumbing industry and especially to the health and safety of our nation.

Steve van Zyl
National Technical Manager

This document may be amended as we identify new or better remedial procedures and recommendations that can be made in protecting our potable water.

To download the formal statement click here

IOPSA Essential Services Members

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 06:40:54 GMT

Organization	Phone	Membership Region
3G Plumbing CC	+27 824796463	Gauteng
A B T Plumbers CC	083 445 8022	Kwazulu Natal
A.R.M Electrical & Plumbing (Pty) Ltd	011 615 4310	Gauteng
AA1 Stop Plumbing	0119296230	Gauteng
AAA-BA Best Plumbers	+27 119753307	Gauteng
AB Plumbing Specialist	+27 333942491	Kwazulu Natal
Abafazi Bayasebenza Construction & Projects	011 680 6798	Gauteng
Absolute Geyser Solutions cc	011 663 2300	Gauteng
Active Blue Plumbing	+27 728502183	Gauteng
Adeo South Africa T/A Leroy Merlin	0104935171	Gauteng
AdHoc Plumbers CC	+27 123315440	Gauteng
AdHoc Plumbers East (Pty) Ltd.	013 692 8396	Gauteng
Africa International Training Facilities	011 9679940	Gauteng
Africa Skills Village Training & Management Services (Pty) Ltd (Start date confirmed)	044 884 0791	Southern Cape
Agnor Plumbing	+27 437485975	Border
Ahead in Plumbing	071 063 4983	Limpopo
AJC Plumbing CC	011 4523368	Gauteng
Alexander Maintenance & Electrical Services cc	041 453 6020	Eastern Cape
All Plumbing and Drainage	+27 217824400	Western Cape
Alleys Industrial Services CC (Start date confirmed)	035 789 8981	Kwazulu Natal
Alliance Plumbers	+27 414515570	Eastern Cape
Alpha Plumbing	011 794 2431	Gauteng
Andion Plumbing CC	+27 436433907	Border
Andries Van Zyl Plumbing	0722001025	Southern Cape
Apache Telecoms and Electrical (Pty) Ltd	010 880 2424	Gauteng
APN Maintenance	072 020 0755	Free State
Aqua Plumbing	+27 217904786	Western Cape
Aquadream Construction	072 285 3124	Gauteng
Aquality Plumbers	011 706 0131	Gauteng
Aquality Wolseley (Start date confirmed)	+27 232310281	Western Cape
Aqua-Tap Plumbing	+27 357891800	Kwazulu Natal
Aquatech Plumbing	0215574645	Western Cape
Armani Maintenance	+27 129917564	Gauteng
Aspro Maintenance (Pty) Ltd.	011 472 4486	Gauteng
Atlanta Plumbing and Drain Services (Pty) Ltd.	081 462 4464	Gauteng
Audaxis Civils (Pty) Ltd.	083 388 4538	Gauteng
Autoplumb Suppliers CC T/A APS Plumbing Supplies	012 653 1991	Gauteng
Avanti Plumbers (Start date confirmed)	086 091 8918	Kwazulu Natal
Bakgat Plumbing	+27 573529882	Free State
Barlands Plumbing	076 250 5475	Southern Cape
Barleda 108CC t/a Derwent Plumbing	039 684 5140	Kwazulu Natal
BC Plumbing T/A Progressive Plumbers	043 721 1373	Border
Bennett Plumbers	041 3673919	Eastern Cape
Berea Plumbers CC	+27 315613356	Kwazulu Natal
Bettafix Plumbing (Pty) Ltd	031 914 0179	Kwazulu Natal
Biggs and Co	061 444 8597	Eastern Cape
Billson Plumbers	041 373 1827	Eastern Cape
Blockbusters and Partners	011 728 2016	Gauteng
Bluespec Contractors Group	010 205 9285	Gauteng
Bonties Plumbing	041 3675327	Eastern Cape
BQ Electrical and Plumbing Services	072 728 8000	Southern Cape
Brett's Plumbers	011 465 7342	Gauteng
Brightserve (PTY) Ltd	071 351 9625	Gauteng
Bububa Holdings (Pty) Ltd	086 148 8849	Gauteng
Bulumko Group (Pty) Ltd	011 050 0622	Gauteng
Burgess and Partners (Pty) Ltd	+27 114542266	Gauteng
Buys Plumbers CC	+27 413650775	Eastern Cape
Calafrica (Pty) Ltd	011 795 1519	Gauteng
Cape's Pride Plumbing		Western Cape
CASA Plumbing & Drains - Durban (Water Berry Trading)	031 5641807	Kwazulu Natal
CF Thompson Plumbers cc	+27 333452386	Kwazulu Natal
Churchill Plumbing, Heat Pumps and Solar Water Heating	072 945 3605	Gauteng
Cj Doffay Plumbing T/A Coastline Plumbing	035 550 0104	Kwazulu Natal
Coalition Cabling & Electrical	021 699 0190	Western Cape
Corn Africa Plumbing (Pty) Ltd.	011 987 1064	Gauteng
Currie Plumbers	+27 41581378	Eastern Cape
D&D Maintenance	+27 834483401	Border
Dave Miller Plumbers	0118875719	Gauteng
Dave Raw Plumbing	039 727 2999	Kwazulu Natal
Davico Plumbing	+27 515223565	Free State
David Stuthard Plumbing & Electrical	041 364 0025	Eastern Cape
Davnic Plumbing	0100203218	Gauteng
De Wet Projects T/A Buildview	076 148 1974	Gauteng
Del Electrical Group (Pty) Ltd	051 101 1660	Free State
Deniel's Plumbing	041 371 5132	Eastern Cape
Denis Plumbers cc	044 874 4408	Southern Cape
Detecta Leak cc (Start date confirmed)	+27 861005325	Kwazulu Natal
Dikose Trading	073 126 1993	Kwazulu Natal
DMS Plumbing	0114322825	Gauteng
Drain Away (Start date confirmed)	+27 396952307	Kwazulu Natal
Drain Meister CC	031 700 6040	Kwazulu Natal
Drainmen Services Group (Pty) Ltd	0215574645	Western Cape
Drips Plumbing	+27 214342262	Western Cape
Du Preez Loodgieters (Start date confirmed)	+27 422960994	Eastern Cape
East Cape Plumbing (Pty) Ltd.	041 450 0055	Eastern Cape
ER Plumbing	012 377 0454	Gauteng
ESL Plumbing (Pty) Ltd	051 430 0323	Free State
Euro Aquatech	021 8828739	Western Cape
Everstream Trading 450	011 041 6190	Gauteng
F&P Contracts CC t/a Ferro Plumbing (Start date confirmed)	+27 114350754	Gauteng
Fluschwell Plumbers cc	031 205 2132	Kwazulu Natal
Fouche Plumbers	057 3531600	Free State
Ganga Plumbers	+27 312626871	Kwazulu Natal
GDM Plumbing & Projects (Pty) Ltd	0835557973	Gauteng
Geezers Plumbing	+27 114310327	Gauteng
Gerald Schmidt Plumbers cc	041 365 4634	Eastern Cape
Gert Fraser Loodgieters	+27 514302994	Free State
Geyser Guy Plumbers	+27 448841336	Southern Cape
Global Plumbers	+27 437221386	Border
HB Plumbing CC	+27 219870160	Western Cape
Helderberg Fusion Plumbing	087 822 1557	Western Cape
Hi-Flo Plumbing	+27 215575043	Western Cape
HMS Plumbers	0659692597	Kwazulu Natal
Home Plumbing Services CC	021 852 2815	Western Cape
I.L. Fraser Plumbers CC	+27114026360	Gauteng
Independent Plumbing Suppliers	011 444 0893	Gauteng
Industrial Plumbers t/a DA Richardson Plumbing	083 284 6135	Border
Infallible Trading	0415823202	Eastern Cape
Ionic Gas, Plumbing,Electrical & Construction	0838900989	Gauteng
J and Z Sprinkler Systems	011 888 4965	Gauteng
Jacks Konstruksie	+27 178197733	Mpumulanga
Jadas Plumbing Works (Pty) Ltd	079 648 4077	Gauteng
Jama Jamela Holdings (Pty) Ltd	011 888 7217	Gauteng
Jannie Van Graaff Loodgieters	018 297 8168	North West
JAW Plumbing	0764001003	Free State
Jazzman Sanitary Engineers CC (Start date confirmed)	0861 728 337	Gauteng
JNT Engineering Services (Pty) Ltd. (Start date confirmed)	+27 413695046	Eastern Cape
Just Domestic T/A Domestic Industries	+27 315770770	Kwazulu Natal
Just Plumbing and Flooring Supplies 123 CC	824,111,432	Border
Karl Witthuhn Plumbers	+27 413671898	Eastern Cape
KD Plumbing	+27 763708059	Western Cape
Ken Harrison Reliable Plumbers	081 282 7765	Gauteng
Kufenim Plumbing and Projects (Pty) Ltd	083 508 8808	Gauteng
KZN HEALTH DEPARTMENT	073 415 3810
L.J.R. Plumbing Supplies	+27 123330910	Gauteng
Langenhovenpark Loodgieters	+27 514333656	Free State
Leakfind CC	+27 215514894	Western Cape
Leakfinda East London	+27 437482173	Border
Leano Construction Solutions (Pty) Ltd	011 027 1541	Gauteng
Leon Abelson Plumbers	+27 118853009	Gauteng
Lifetime Plumbing (Pty) Ltd.	+27 117943870	Gauteng
Lixil Africa	+27 119515000	Gauteng
L-K Plumbing Services Western Cape (Pty) Ltd	0796812949	Western Cape
Logos Plumbing Maintenance CC	012 665 1149	Gauteng
Loots Loodgieters (Start date confirmed)	083 688 7174	Free State
LVR Construction CC	031 536 2345	Kwazulu Natal
M&J Distrubution t/a Elnino Solar	041 365 0498	Eastern Cape
Macneil Distributors Eastern Cape	041 4510400	Eastern Cape
Makhanya's Plumbing	+27 832830995	Kwazulu Natal
Mamba Plumbing Projects and Services cc	+27 313124528	Kwazulu Natal
Mapa Cleaning Technologies	011 608 3290	Gauteng
Matriarch Contractors CC	035 474 1936	Kwazulu Natal
Mike's Plumbing	+27 437227671	Border
Mobile Leak Detection And Plumbing (Start date confirmed)	011 862 1017	Gauteng
Modl Plumbers	083 504 8640	Kwazulu Natal
Monster Plumbing CC (CONFIRMED START DATE)	0861 666 783	Western Cape
Mr. Fix-It	031 261 1978	Kwazulu Natal
Mr. Plumb	+27 219768234	Western Cape
MSM Plumbing (Pty) Ltd	083 751 3443	Gauteng
Muller Mokoena CC (M&M Plumbing)(Start date confirmed)	+27 583034681	Free State
Mzunku Trading & Distribution	057 352 1629	Free State
National Leak Detection (Pty) Ltd	081 372 6156	Gauteng
Nembwe Plumbing & Maintenance Projects	011 675 3967	Gauteng
New Era Plumbers	+27 315643814	Kwazulu Natal
New-Era Construction	+27 828254598	Kwazulu Natal
NM Plumbing & Electrical CC	0826938848	Gauteng
Nu-Gen Plumbing & Leak Detection	031 923 3173	Kwazulu Natal
On Tap East London	+27 437437606	Border
On Tap Jeffrey's Bay	+27 422960017	Eastern Cape
On Tap King Williams Town	0436421859	Border
On Tap Mthatha	+27 475310631	Border
On Tap Queenstown	0458381491	Border
Optimus Plumbing	012 546 0415	Gauteng
Owen P (PTY) Ltd	+27 414843671	Eastern Cape
Panorama Plumbers	082 828 4648	Gauteng
Patrick's Plumbing & Maintenance	+27 726361367	Border
PCR Contractors	+27 538611899	Free State
PDK Plumbing	0790962439	Free State
Penny Wise Plumbing	079 909 9320	Free State
Phuzanawe Plumbers CC	076 671 6614	Kwazulu Natal
Piet Naude Loodgieters	0514302496	Free State
Pieter Rademeyer Plumbers	041 365 0115	Eastern Cape
Pipe Cleaning and Drains CC	011 789 3838	Gauteng
PJS Plumbers (Pty) Ltd	031 462 1413	Kwazulu Natal
PJ's Plumbing & Guttering	011 640 6180	Gauteng
Plumb It Plumbing Repairs Installations (Pty) Ltd	039 976 0903	Kwazulu Natal
Plumb Venture CC	+27 215598084	Western Cape
PlumbCare	+27 317643674	Kwazulu Natal
Plumber Boyz (Start date confirmed)	+27 349800734	Kwazulu Natal
Plumbers on Call	+27 860555555	Gauteng
Plumbglo Plumbers (Pty) Ltd	010 900 4003	Gauteng
Plumbing Kzn	0325254123	Kwazulu Natal
Plumbing Solutions Western Cape (Confirmed start date)	021 903 2911	Western Cape
Plumbing Unlimited	+27 514487170	Free State
Plumbleak Cape	021 949 9393	Western Cape
Plumblink East London (Reg Office)	+27 437222531	Border
Plumblink Mthatha	+27 475322175	Border
Plumblink Newton Park	041 365 0031	Eastern Cape
Plumbwave CC	031 332 4042	Kwazulu Natal
Plumston CC	072 820 5473	Gauteng
Plumvac Projects and Services (Pty) Ltd	021 556 5564	Western Cape
Popeye's Plumbers	+27 515252935	Free State
Potties Plumbers (Pty) Ltd	079 356 0036	Southern Cape
PP Construction	+27 366314825	Kwazulu Natal
Prince Plumbers and Leak Detectors	0739671738	Western Cape
PT Dillon Plumb-Tech (Pty) Ltd	084 698 7417	Free State
Pure Plumbing	082 372 5960	Western Cape
R & M Plumbers CC	0413635233	Eastern Cape
R Du Toit Building Contractors CC	+27 117920583	Gauteng
R&S Plumbing	083 963 4479	Free State
Radinthe Plumbing Steelworks Valves Services	012 756 4546	Gauteng
Res-Q Plumbers CC	+27 110288198	Gauteng
Rho-Aqua Services CC t/a Beach Plumbing Services	0393173040	Kwazulu Natal
Robert G Plumbing t/a The Plumbery	+27 219762058	Western Cape
Rossouw Loodgieters	+27 51 011 6938	Free State
Rubiflo (Pty) Ltd trading as Lloyd's Plumbers	041 581 2292	Eastern Cape
S60 Rapid Plumbing	011 762 8860	Gauteng
Sanaqua Plumbing Supplies (Pty) Ltd	011 794 4828	Gauteng
Sarba Loodgieters	+27 827703520	Free State
Savvy Civils & Plumbing (Pty) Ltd	011 894 3942	Gauteng
SDT Plumbers	031 708 5303	Kwazulu Natal
SE Industries	041 372 1164	Eastern Cape
Sea Point Plumbing (Start date confirmed)	021 434 9132	Western Cape
Shones Plumbing (Pty) Ltd	072 226 8321	Border
Shurflow Plumbing	057 353 1348	Free State
Silver Obelisk t/a CRK Maintenance	010 599 2441	Gauteng
Silver Solutions 1273cc T/A KZN Plumbing	081 301 4803	Kwazulu Natal
Siyazama Property Maintenance	011 453 3459	Gauteng
SKN Plumbing Solutions CC (Start date confirmed)	+27 314661446	Kwazulu Natal
SNS Plumbing and Projects Specialist CC (Start date confirmed)	+27 119433854	Gauteng
Southern Cape Solar Solutions	044 523 7583	Southern Cape
Speedfit Africa	+27 31 569 3073	Kwazulu Natal
Splash Leak Detection Services CC	0215573743	Western Cape
Splashworks	+27 117082676	Gauteng
Square Circle international	0315009889	Kwazulu Natal
Stefmar Construction & Plumbing	+27 446981141	Southern Cape
Steve's Plumbers	+27 414510071	Eastern Cape
Steyns Plumbing	072 271 8874	Gauteng
Stiles Plumbing & Sanware	044 8713222	Southern Cape
Stonley's Plumbing Services	082 324 7778	Gauteng
Strydom Loodgieters cc	015 590 7236	Gauteng
Sunridge Importers and Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd	086 134 4434	Kwazulu Natal
Supadrain	+27 113145054	Gauteng
T and G Associates	083 377 2043	Gauteng
t/a RPS Builders & Plumbers (Brenmon Business Trust)	041 360 2440	Eastern Cape
THBO Trading & Projects	0861 00 885	Gauteng
The Plumber Border	+27 437400220	Border
The Ubuntu Construction Company	031 811 7084	Kwazulu Natal
Thembridge Support Services	0113630044	Gauteng
TJS Maintenance	0113167771	Gauteng
Top Class Plumbing (Pty) Ltd	076 621 3063	Western Cape
Trio Plumbers & Civil Contractors CC	+27 119741559	Gauteng
Tyrone's Plumbing Services (Confirmed start date)	+27 836026792	Border
Umfula Plumbing Services (Pty) Ltd	011 900 7062	Gauteng
UPP Group	011 792 6222	Gauteng
Watt's Plumbing	+27 217881114	Western Cape
Waynes Plumbing	082 416 5335	Gauteng
WayWes Plumbing Services	0217882348	Western Cape
Werthwhile Plumbers	+27 415812949	Eastern Cape
Williamson Plumbers CC (Start date confirmed)	031 563 3520	Kwazulu Natal
Willie Hallaby Plumbers	056 811 4217	Free State
Woolwick Investments (Pty) Ltd t/a Thermowise	032 947 0377	Kwazulu Natal
Wynberg Plumbing	+27 217611861	Western Cape
Ya Mampela Glass and Projects	012 772 4321	Gauteng
YSF Building Plumbing and Electrical (Pty) Ltd	060 489 9144	Gauteng
Z Macz (Pty) Ltd	034 981 0374	Kwazulu Natal
Zero 2 One Plumbing	082 789 1076	Western Cape
Zipp Plumbers CC	031 2661396	Kwazulu Natal

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT PLUMBERS?

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 07:08:49 GMT

Without modern plumbing in our homes – proper pipework, running water, flushing toilets and the ability to shower, we would find life challenging to say the least as well as somewhat unhygienic! Water is THE most essential constituent for life on earth, in so far as plumbing has evolved to being one of the cornerstones on which modern society has evolved. Plumbing – so important, fundamental and central to civilization in general, that even the great Roman empire recognized how a knowledge and understanding of plumbing, sewerage and waterworks was essential to the advancement of society.

With an ever-increasing population in high density urban areas life as we currently know it wouldn't be possible without plumbers – working hard in a profession of which they can be justifiably proud!

According to a British Medical Journal reader survey - Sanitation was the single most important medical advance since 1840 and South Africans can be proud of the fact that due to their excellent sanitation systems they have one of the best public health records in the Western world.

So, who takes responsibility for South Africa’s sanitary systems?

It’s you the Proud South African Plumber; who, continues to uphold, encourage and monitor a consistent, efficient and reliable plumbing environment, so as to safe guard and serve the public of this proud nation – South Africa.

So when you as a Proud and registered Plumber comes to repair a burst geyser, a water leak, a blocked drain, or an interrupted water supply the public can be confident and secure in the knowledge that the tradesperson who answers their call is a skilled Professional known as a Plumber!

In its response to the coronavirus pandemic the South African government has identified that the plumbing industry is indispensable and that PLUMBERS are ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

If ever South Africa needed it’s Plumbers - it is NOW!

During this time of Lock-Down due to the Corona-virus we NEED the services of you as our Proud Plumbers because who else is going to keep the Nation’s water running in our homes, our hotels, our HOSPITALS and wherever we need water to WASH OUR HANDS and a myriad of surfaces in hot soapy water in order to help beat this virus? We NEED professional PLUMBERS, Tradespersons that know how to keep vital services running. It’s the Plumbing profession that keeps this country CLEAN, who not only fix the leaks and keep the water running through the Nation’s taps but who keeps the whole waste-water system functioning, the sewers working and many of the nation’s appliances securely plumbed in!

We honour the Doctors, the Nurses all the staff that work in hospitals and medical centres. We applaud those that keep our telecommunications open and working, we admire those who keep our information technology systems up and running. We even have a sneaking admiration for our bin-men, our defence force and for those that work in transportation and logistics, the food and agriculture sectors – but so often we forget how important our Plumbers AND the Plumbing Industry are.

But NO MORE!

South African PLUMBERS – we not only respect and appreciate your contribution towards your community – we SALUTE YOU and we THANK you for your valuable and vital contribution towards our nation!

Be Plumber Proud!

Deceleration by buyer of Hardware Products template

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 08:24:15 GMT

IOPSA Market Outreach Member survey - Outcomes

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 06:44:41 GMT

IOPSA and PIRB set out in partnership with Harambee to find out how our industry is currently coping with the Lockdown and if they are trading as an essential service.

To view the full report and findings please click below to view the full report.

FREE - Lockdown Webinars 2020

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:09:47 GMT

21-Apr	Tuesday	07h00 - 07h30	OHS
		11h00 - 12h00	Compliance Auditor
		13h00 - 14h00	Plumber Training
		16h00 - 17h00	Bus Development
22-Apr	Wednesday	07h00 - 07h30	Motivational
		13h00 - 14h00	Plumber Training
		16h00 - 17h00	Bus Development
23-Apr	Thursday	07h00 - 07h30	Tech Talks
		11h00 - 12h00	Compliance Auditor
		13h00 - 14h00	Plumber Training
		16h00 - 17h00	Bus Development
24-Apr	Friday	07h00 - 07h30	HR
		13h00 - 14h00	Plumber Training

To register to attend these webinars please click here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/200441375732992524

Tuesday morning English ToolBox Talk: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8343009958858875907

Thursday morning Tech Talks: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7749421017492711171

HERE’S HOW TO APPLY FOR COVID-19 BUSINESS FUNDING

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 09:22:14 GMT

Positioned to provide widespread and sustainable support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are financially impacted by COVID-19, the newly-established Sukuma Relief Programme comprises two distinct and separate relief offerings – one for formal sole proprietors and another for other business entities, namely close corporations, companies, and trusts.

This is according to Ben Bierman, Managing Director at Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS) – one of Africa’s leading risk finance companies for SMEs and the appointed Administrator of the fund – who explains that the financial aid and assistance will comprise grants and low-interest-bearing loans with a 12-month repayment holiday.

“The Sukuma Relief Programme is structured to provide relief against the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, while leveraging further support as far as possible. Qualifying formal sole proprietors will receive a non-repayable grant of R25 000. Formal close corporations, companies and trusts will be eligible for an unsecured loan ranging between R250 000 and R1 000 000, with no repayment obligations or interest incurred for the first 12 months, in addition to a R25 000 grant,” says Bierman.

In terms of necessary criteria, he says that close corporations, companies or trusts must be registered, tax- and regulatory-compliant South African businesses that can prove viability prior to the arrival of the pandemic. “When applying, these entities will therefore be required to submit documents and supporting evidence to corroborate that it is a viable business that was impacted by COVID-19. This proof can be a demonstration of a decrease in turnover, erosion of working capital, or inability to pay salaries.

“Similarly, formal sole proprietors will need to provide proof of an active bank account to show business activity prior to the outbreak of the pandemic and provide evidence of tax compliance,” he adds

Given the gravity of the unprecedented COVID-19 disruption, Bierman says there will be a focus on swift application, approval and disbursement processing to ensure the relief is made available to qualifying SMEs as quickly as possible. “We understand that many businesses are currently in need of immediate financial relief. Disbursements will therefore be made within seven days after applying for the assistance, provided the supporting evidence is supplied and verified.”

For business owners wishing to apply, Bierman says applications will open today, Friday, 3 April 2020, on the BUSINESS/PARTNERS website (www.businesspartners.co.za). “To apply, all you need to do is visit the website and follow the simple steps to fill in an application and upload the required supporting documents.”

When asked about what their role as Administrator entails, Bierman says that BUSINESS/PARTNERS is responsible for ensuring that every cent contributed to the fund ends up in the hands of business owners. “This is a permanent vehicle to support South African SMEs in distress, and we intend to help support as many businesses as possible.

“It should be noted, in this regard, that BUSINESS/PARTNERS will not be profiting from the funding in any way, and no fees will be charged in relation to the Sukuma Relief Programme. The donors will also not be paid back at any point,” he adds.

Bierman explains that the repayment of the loan portion is an appeal to the beneficiaries of the Programme to “pay it forward” once their businesses are back on their feet, in order to allow for the continuing support of other SMEs into the future. “While the fund has been originated to provide SMEs with financial aid to assist them in weathering the COVID-19 storm, the plan is for it to run on a sustainable basis over the long term and continue to help SMEs during challenging times like this in the future,” he concludes.

About the Sukuma Relief Programme

The Sukuma Relief Programme is positioned to provide widespread and sustainable support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are financially impacted by COVID-19. The initiative is in response to the call by President Ramaphosa to all social partners to support SMEs in sustaining their business operations and preserve jobs. The Rupert Family and Remgro Limited pledged R1 billion towards this financial aid. The Sukuma Relief Programme offers distinct and separate financial aid to formal sole proprietors and other business entities, namely, close corporations, companies and trusts.

About Business Partners Ltd.

Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS) is a specialist risk finance company for formal small and medium owner-managed businesses in South Africa, and selected African countries. The company actively supports entrepreneurial growth by providing financing from R500, 000 to R50 million, specialist sectoral knowledge, business premises and added-value services for viable small and medium businesses. Since establishment in 1981, BUSINESS/PARTNERS has provided business finance worth over R19.5 billion in over 71 600 transactions facilitating over 651 000 jobs. BUSINESS/PARTNERS was named the Gold winner in the SME Bank of the Year – Africa category at the 2019 Global SME Finance Awards. Visit www.businesspartners.co.za for more information.

Article taken from: https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/heres-how-to-apply-for-covid19-business-funding--b

STEP BY STEP GUID TO CLAIM FROM COVID-19 UIF TER SCHEME

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 06:40:58 GMT

Much confusion has arisen with the introduction of the Covid -19 temporary employee / employer relief scheme (C19 TERS), previously referred to as a “National Disaster Benefit”, in terms of a directive that was gazetted on 26 March 2020.

C19 TERS is not the only UIF relief option available in the case of temporary lay-offs. Many employers have already laid off their employees without pay and submitted claims under the UIF ‘Reduced working time’ option.

[NOTE: The confusion has by and large been caused by a more recent Easy- Aid Guide for Employers to access UIF benefits that seems to confuse C19 TERS document requirements with that of the UIF ‘Reduced working time’ option. To avoid confusion, we have made available the previous version of the UIF Easy-Aid Guide.

TEMPORARY LAY-OFF OPTIONS

1. UIF ‘Reduced working time’ option

Although indications are that the C19 TERS is likely to receive priority and seems to be preferred by Department of Labour and Employment, the ‘reduced working time’ option is still available to employers and employees.

The ‘reduced working time’ was originally intended for employees who have to work short time. This benefit was introduced fairly recently (2018) in the following terms:
“A contributor employed in any sector who loses his or her income due to reduced working time, despite being employed, is entitled to benefits if the contributor’s total income falls below the benefit level that the contributor would have received if he or she had become wholly unemployed, subject to that contributor having enough credits.”

Although not expressly stated, this scheme should also be available to employees that are on temporary lay-off without pay during the Covid-19 crisis. The following documents need to be submitted:

· UI 19 and UI 2.7 (completed by employer)

· UI 2.1 (application form)

· UI 2.8 (bank form completed by bank)

· Letter from employer confirming reduced work time (or lay-off) is due to the Coronavirus

· Copy of ID document

An “UIF Easy-Aid Guide”, as well as the relevant forms, has been send to all.

Features of the ‘reduced working time’ option:

· The claim is subject to the employee having enough credits.

· The claim is by the employee (with the assistance of the employer).

· The employee has to obtain a UI-19 form and then get a bank authorisation in respect of the account into which the benefit is to be paid, which will be a challenge, especially during the lock-down.

· Submission can be made online to the relevant processing centre (See list of processing centres at the end of UIF Easy-Aid Guide available at the link below).

· It is possible that lower earning employees may get out less than the minimum wage under this dispensation.

· Payment is made by the UIF directly into the employee’s bank account.

· Subject to available credits the employee can (theoretically) receive this benefit for up to 12 months.

2. Covid-19 temporary employee / employer relief scheme (C19 TERS)

This scheme is intended to provide emergency relief to enable employers to pay employees who are temporarily laid off due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The directive appears in the Government Gazette (No. 43161) on 26 March 2020, sets the C19 TERS out the basis of the scheme as follows:

“Should an employer as a direct result of Covid-19 pandemic close its operations for a 3 (three) months or lesser period and suffer financial distress, the company shall qualify for a Covid19 Temporary Relief Benefit.”

(The Government Gazette is available at the link below.)

Features of the COVID-19 TERS option:

· It is a separate benefit scheme (separate from normal UIF benefits with its own set of forms and requirements) which cannot be claimed at the same time as the UIF ‘reduced working time’ benefit.

· It applies where the company has closed its operations as a direct result of Covid-19 (at this stage this option does not seem to apply if the company doesn’t close entirely, but lays off only some of its employees)

· Claims are not dependent on an employee having any UIF credits and will be entitled to benefits irrespective of how long they have contributed.

· The company (rather than the employee) submits a claim for UIF and the company then pays over the money to employees.

· Online process: Send blank email to Covid19ters@labour.gov.za and you receive an automated response with the relevant forms and other requirements.

· The UIF will be prepared to “top up” any payment made by the employer (by prior arrangement with the UIF).

· The benefit will be calculated in terms of the income replacement rate sliding scale of 38 % (for high earners) up to 60 % (for low earners) as provided in the Unemployment Insurance Act, subject to the maximum threshold which is currently R17712. Despite conflicting reports, our understanding is that the maximum benefit for a high earner would be 38 % of R17 712 a month, which amounts to about R6 730 a month.

· For the duration of the shutdown or a maximum period of three months, the benefit will be not less than the minimum wage (referred to as a ‘flat rate’ of R3500 per month). After the expiry of this 3-month period, the employee might receive less than the minimum wage based on the above sliding scale.

· There is supposed to be a faster turnaround time with processing (According to the agreement to be signed with the UIF the benefit should be paid out to the company within 30 days of a valid submission).

· The company has to enter into a written agreement with the UIF if it has 10 or more employees (updated in the latest “COVID 19 TERS EASY AID).

· The company has to fulfil a number of administrative requirements, e.g. proof of payroll for the last three months.

· The company has to open a dedicated UIF bank account, or clear an existing account, so that Covid-19 benefits can be tracked.

(A Covid-19 TERS Easy Aid is available at the link below.)

Which lay-off option do I choose?

There are several considerations. The Covid-19 TERS seems to be intended for as emergency relief with a relatively quick turnaround time. Some bargaining councils and large consortia of employers have been encouraged to make use of this scheme. They would make bulk submissions and, once the benefits are paid over to them, they would pay the benefits to the employees. This should ease the administrative burden on the UIF.

Covid-TERS also seems well suited for employers who foresee that they will not be able to pay their employees in full for a significant period (up to 3 months). The UIF intends to help ‘top up’ salaries to the extent allowed by the income replacement rate sliding scale (but only if this has been agreed upfront with the UIF). This type of relief seems to be in sharp focus by the UIF.

Smaller companies may also make use of the benefit. They would have to decide based on their prospects of recovery, and whether it is worth their while to comply with the Covid-19 TERS requirements. They also need to consider the practical difficulties that their employees may experience in obtaining their benefits, especially during the lock-down period (which may be extended). The UIF Commissioner has indicated that employers with less than ten employees do not have to enter into the prescribed agreement (MOA) with the UIF. Small employers may be accommodated in other ways, but it is not clear to what extent. Each company will be judged on its own individual merits. We have our doubts about the capacity of the UIF to give much individual attention in the current circumstances.

Employers must make a choice. They cannot claim under both systems at the same time. It is not clear whether an employer who has already submitted under the ‘reduced working time’ option can withdraw that submission and claim under Covid-19 TERS. In our view this should be possible, though. The UIF Commissioner has indicated that companies that want to make use of Covid-19 TERS should do so before the end of the current lock-down.

While Covid-19 TERS appears to have unique and helpful features, it is a new system and there are likely to be teething problems.

There is no clear right or wrong way. Each company should make a choice based on its own circumstances.

ANNUAL LEAVE

There have been conflicting reports on what employers are entitled to do with regard to leave.

In our view the point of departure is this: The 21-day lock-down has been imposed by Government. Neither employers nor employees are to blame. Employees who have to stay at home are unable to tender their services due to the lock-down. They are not entitled to be paid. So, what measures are available to mitigate the financial deprivation suffered by employees during the lock-down?

There seem to be the following options:

1. Employees take the annual leave that is due to them.

2. UIF benefits (UIF ‘reduced working time’ benefit or Coivid-19 TERS benefit).

3. Employers pay their employees in part or in full, if they have the resources to do so (even though they have no obligation).

4. Employers grant their employees loans.

On 26 March 2020, a directive was issued by the SA Government acknowledging an employer’s right to insist that employees take annual leave. However, the directive encourages employers to make use of the Covid-19 TERS relief instead (The directive is available at the link below). Until such time that this directive is replaced with a new directive, statements by politicians and others that are in conflict with the directive do not have to be taken seriously.

Employers may already have an arrangement in place that employees use their annual leave credits during the lock-down. It has the advantage of providing immediate financial relief during the lock-down. In such cases employers may decide to apply for the Covid-19 TERS relief. If the claim is successful, the leave granted can be formally reversed. If the Covid-19 TERS benefit is not granted, it would be in order to maintain the original leave arrangement.

Employers can only be expected to do what is reasonable in the light of their unique circumstances and the resources they have available to them.

COIDA AND SICK LEAVE

Covid-19 has been declared an occupational disease. If an employee is absent due to contracting the Coronavirus out of and in the course of his or her employment, it will not be regarded as sick leave. Instead it would be covered in terms of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act of 1993 (COIDA). The employee must as soon as possible after the commencement of a disease give written notice thereof to his or her employer or to the employer where he or she was last employed, and he or she may also give written notice of the said disease in the prescribed manner to the compensation commissioner. Thereafter, a further process needs to be followed by the employer and a medical practitioner. If, however, it cannot be shown that the Coronavirus was contracted in the course of the employee’s employment, any period of absence as a result of being infected will be regarded as sick leave.

OTHER UIF OPTIONS

Illness benefits for 14-day quarantine period

This UIF benefit is available to employees who are quarantined for 14 days due the Coronavirus (i.e. “special leave”), irrespective whether the employee has contracted the virus or not. No medical certificate is needed for the first 14 days but the employer and employee have to submit a letter of proof that they have agreed to “special leave”. In addition to the letter referred to above, there is certain other documentation that has to be submitted (See “UIF Easy-Aid Guide” which is available at the link below).

While this option is available in principle, it is not available during the 21-day lock-down, except for employees who are able to work due to being part of essential services. At this stage it seems that it may be used after the lock-down, though.

Death benefits

In the unfortunate event that an employee passes away, certain beneficiaries may apply for benefits (See “UIF Easy-Aid Guide” at the link below). The following documents need to be submitted:

· UI 19 and UI 53 (completed by employer)

· UI 2.5 or UI 2.6

· Death certificate

· UI 2.8 (bank form completed by bank)

· Copies of ID documents of applicant and the deceased

OTHER ‘TERS’ BENEFITS (NON COVID-19 RELATED)

There is another temporary relief benefit scheme (TERS) that was originally introduced towards the end of 2019. It was introduced to assist employers in distress, in order to avoid retrenchments. This scheme – which is overseen by the CCMA – is not to be confused with the Covid-19 TERS scheme.

This scheme does not envisage normal lay-offs. Instead employees are laid off work for period while they receive training, along with a training allowance. It involves a rather cumbersome process (e.g. requires the submission of annual financial statements, turnaround plan, etc.). While employers should still be able to submit an application for relief in terms of this scheme, it is unlikely to enjoy priority during the current Covid-19 crisis

Click here to download the Step by Step Guide to claim UIF TERS Fund

Click here to download the National Lockdown Deceleration by Employers

Safe work place procedure documents

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 08:33:42 GMT

Safe work place procedure document

Emergency call out sheet

The impact of the Coronavirus in the workplace

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 10:17:27 GMT

The impact of the Coronavirus in the workplace: Part 1
by Jan du Toit, SA Labour Guide

This is the first article in a series on the implications of the Coronavirus in the workplace.

In addition to the publications, we will also introduce a series of free webinars.

We have been inundated with enquiries pertaining to the president's announcement of a state of emergency pertaining to the Coronavirus in South Africa. As our president indicated, the virus is now spreading internally, and the possibility thereof is in all workplaces in South Africa is now a reality.

The purpose of this short message is not to repeat everything already known about the virus and precautionary measures that may be taken, but instead to answer a couple of questions pertaining to absence from work during the next couple of weeks, possibly months.

Leave

Labour legislation does not make provision for emergency sick or annual leave for instances such as the present. Any absence from the workplace without permission must however still be justified by the employee by means of a medical certificate in the event that the employee has been absent from work for more than two consecutive working days or on the third occasion during an eight week cycle.

Employees should however be encouraged to disclose general symptoms of a cold or flu to the HR Department without delay. Such employees will be required to stay at home until such time they are fit to return to work. They will however still be required to justify their absence by means of a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner. Should the employee be able to justify absence from work by means of such a certificate, the period of absence will be paid from the employee’s sick leave entitlement. Should the employee not have sufficient sick leave available, such absence will unfortunately be without any remuneration or benefits, unless annual leave is available for payment purposes or if otherwise decided by the employer.

School Closure

Employers should also take note of the fact that schools will close this Wednesday until after Easter weekend. The aforementioned comes as a surprise to employees that have school going children below the age of 18 that will now have to be accommodated during the extended school holiday. Again, no special leave is applicable for the aforementioned, but employers will be required to reasonably accommodate the absence of parents whose children must be looked after during this period, especially applicable for young children.

Uncompleted Disciplinary Incapacity Proceedings

Where disciplinary action or incapacity proceedings are interrupted as a result of the presence of the virus in a workplace or due to the absence of the employee or witnesses; employers are advised to notify the employee in writing of its intent to continue with such disciplinary action or incapacity proceedings when circumstances have normalised.

Incapacity proceedings for employees that are infected by the virus is not recommended. The Coronavirus is a temporary medical condition with the employee most probably being able to return to the workplace later, fit for normal duty.

Temporary Layoff

Where it is impossible to continue with normal business activities, employers will be required to temporarily lay-off employees. Due consideration must however be given to relevant Bargaining Council Main Agreements where the business falls under the scope of such council. Such layoff is normally unpaid and as alternative to retrenchment.

CCMA

We are still awaiting guidance from the CCMA pertaining to matters that are currently on the roll and that are to be determined in a place where more than hundred people will gather. It is our opinion that the CCMA will have to introduce drastic measures in this regard.

We wish you all the best during this trying period and pray that you, your loved ones and employees remain unaffected.

Jan du Toit can be contacted at jand@labourguide.co.za.

Coronavirus & Plumbers

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 07:50:25 GMT

What are Coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

What is COVID-19?

A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a coronavirus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China.

How can you get COVID-19?

Since this novel coronavirus was only recently identified, there is currently limited information regarding the modes of transmission, clinical features and severity of disease. Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:

 The air by coughing and sneezing

 Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands

 Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands

 Faecal contamination.

What are the signs and symptoms?

There is limited information regarding clinical features, and severity of disease at this stage. For confirmed COVID-19 infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.

Symptoms can include:

 Fever

 Cough

 Shortness of breath.

Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

What is the treatment for COVID-19?

Treatment is supportive as no specific therapy has been shown to be effective. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare providers immediately.

How can you reduce the risk of exposure?

There are certain steps you can take to reduce your exposure to COVID-19:

 Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

 Cover your mouth and nose with your flexed elbow or a tissue. Throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

 Stay home when you are sick.

 Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.

 Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough.

 Seek medical care early and share your previous travel history with your healthcare provider, especially if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

 When visiting animal markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals.

 Avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products. Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods.

 Avoid travel if you have a fever and cough. If you become sick while using public transport, inform the personnel and seek medical care early.

COVID-19 and Plumbers

Since there is little known about the current COVID-19 outbreak, the need for vigilant exposure awareness is crucial, especially to those working in areas that pose an immediate threat to this exposure.

So what can you do as a plumber who will work in areas that may contain or have the potential to contain the COVID-19 virus?

Start by ensuring you have the necessary protections against any type of virus or pathogen you may encounter, such as when working in a sewer or waste pipelines. The need to know the environment and area you are working in then, is of vital importance.

SAFETY FOR PLUMBERS – WASTE PIPES / SEWERS

These areas can be particularly dangerous to your health due to the exposure or potential exposure to hazardous chemical substances or hazardous biological agents and COVID-19

If you are unsure about the atmosphere or area you are going to work in, ensure the facts are checked and proper monitoring has been done prior to accessing the area.

You must follow all precautions before entering a space that has the potential to expose you to hazardous elements such as COVID-19.

If you are working with a waste pipe and will use certain chemicals or substances then follow these tips:

 Eliminate - remove the risk altogether if this is at all possible.

 Substitute - find a safer substitute e.g. such as a different working method.

 Safeguard - put technical solutions in place that protect the worker e.g. mechanical ventilation, machinery guards, remote controls etc.

 Warn and Educate - implement worker training and install suitable alarm and warning systems.

*Always ensure fresh air is pumped into the area.

It is important to care for your hygeine while working in these ares and where there is a risk to exposure to COVID-19. Thus you must set asside time for the proper care of yourself and the tools, equipment and PPE you are using.

Here are some guidelines to follow when working in an area where COVID-19 is a possible exposure:

 Wash your hands regularly and follow the guidance and technique set out for correct hand cleaning methods. Perhaps carry around some hand sanitiser in your toolbox if you cannot get to an area where hand soap is available.

 Keep tools and equipment clean, especially after using them. Try not to share tools or equipment where possible to eliminate the possibility of cross contamination.

 When cleaning or washing your PPE, be sure to keep it away from other clothing or personal household items and store them in a clean area away from the elements such as rain, dirt or sun.

 If you feel sick or know of someone in your team is feeling sick, report it as soon as possible and get the needed medical attention required.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE – Personal Protective Equipment is important for any task that is performed where there is a potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

When we look at the COVID-19 virus, we should not think that just because we know little about the virus, its symptoms or even how to prevent it, that we cannot protect ourselves and those who may be affected by our tasks.

Treat any and all potential areas with the risk of exposure to COVID-19 as a Hazardous Environment and plan accordingly. Ensure you have the correct PPE to prevent the exposure levels.

The incorrect specification of protective gear risks putting personnel in danger and at the very least will negatively affect their productivity. To complicate matters, some of the risks that are presented by certain COVID-19 are not necessarily immediately apparent. The consequences of exposure to these can manifest themselves several years down the line, long after the point of encounter.

So great care must be exercised in the specification of suitable workwear against known or anticipated risks. The use of PPE (unless mandatory) must be dictated by the risk assessment for the activity or environment concerned and this must include giving due consideration to the crucial issue of user comfort. PPE that is difficult to put on or take off, that is uncomfortable to wear, that prevents or limits movement or unduly restricts work activities will always meet user resistance. Selecting user-acceptable PPE can be every bit as important as, and even more difficult than, selecting the appropriate technical specification.

While PPE should only be relied upon as a last line of defence, its use is essential when working where exposure to COVID-19.

It must always be remembered that PPE only protects the individual wearer, it does not tackle the cause of the risk exposure. It is important that all possibilities of removing the hazard altogether are exhausted before considering ways of limiting operator exposure.

What type of PPE should I get?

Safety Goggles – Ones that cover the eyes and to protect eyes from splashes of human waste or sewage.. 3m GoggleGear 500 is the type mostly recommended as they have a Scotchguard Anti-Fog application for best control. Look for something similar to this.

Safety Shoes – When selecting safety shoes or boots, it is best done by understanding what you will be standing or walking though. In a sewer you will preferably be looking for Rubber boots to prevent exposure to human waste or sewage. – Look out for something like the Stimela XP from Pienaar Bro’s.

Protective face mask or splash-proof face shield - N95 respirators and surgical masks (face masks) are examples of personal protective equipment that are used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and from liquid contaminating the face.

Liquid-repellent coveralls - to keep human waste or sewage off clothing. Look for a Tyvek disposable or reusable suite depending on the amount of exposure times.

Waterproof gloves – Latex or Nitrile gloves. These thin, moisture resistant gloves protect against exposure to infectious, and other biologically hazardous materials.

Neither IOPSA nor OHSS Consulting are experts on the COVID-19 virus and are not Expert Health practitioners.

The information contained in this statement has been researched by OHSS Consulting using industry standards, as well as current know information regarding the COVID-19 virus and may change at any time.

Please take care to look after the Health and Safety of yourself, your team and those who may be affected by your scope of work.

Please find some additional information by following these links:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.wef.org/resources/onlineeducation/webcasts/ArchivedWebcasts/CoronavirusWebcastArchive/

Thank you for taking the time to read this statement.

Regards

IOPSA & The OHSS Consulting Team

safety@iopsa.org

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FORMAL NOTICE

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PREVENTION POSTER FOR YOUR OFFICE

Introducing IOPSA’s complaints portal

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 08:29:14 GMT

A key aspect of IOPSA’s drive to encourage consumers to use only IOPSA member plumbers, is the introduction of independent avenues of recourse against a plumber.

Consumers disappointed in the service delivered by a plumber can now lodge a complaint with IOPSA through its Complaints Portal.

IOPSA will investigate a complaint – it receives on average 11 a week – and the cost of this service is free of charge if the plumbing company is an IOPSA member.

The procedure on submitting a complaint is to complete the online IOPSA complaints form, in which case the consumer will be required to do the following:

• Understand the complaints procedure – which can be downloaded on the IOPSA website.

• Be willing and able to allow the member of institute named to be present at any inspections carried out by the IOPSA.

• Agree to arrange access for such inspections if required to do so.

• Be willing and able to allow the member of the institute named reasonable access to carry out any necessary remedial works.

• To the best of their knowledge, to confirm the details given on the form are complete and correct, and request IOPSA to investigate the complaint.

In fact, many people opt as their first action to telephone IOPSA, in which case they will be put in touch with Celmarie Smit, National Membership Administrator, who will instruct them as above. Having worked some years for a plumbing firm in Mossel Bay, she is familiar with the types of problems that typically arise, assisting her to filter complaints to the relevant IOPSA people.

“It is important to note that IOPSA does not get involved in issues relating to pricing: that is a contractual issue between the consumer and the plumber and beyond our scope. We only get involved in issues relating to the quality of service, technical performance and the issuing of Certificates of Compliance (CoCs),” says Smit.

“Thereafter it will be referred to a technical IOPSA person who will in most instances send an inspector to assess whether there is validity to the complaint. Based on those findings, the plumber will be called upon to take remedial action if needed.”

Smit points out that it is essential that the person answering the phone has an understanding of plumbing issues, and is at least bilingual. Most callers rarely state they are ‘lodging a complaint’ but rather give an in-depth description of their total experience with a plumber.

IOPSA Executive Director Brendan Reynolds explains that the association will pursue complaints lodged even against plumbers who are not members of IOPSA. Its recourse in this instance is more limited, though it does on occasion take a problem all the way to court where it acts as an expert witness, although the complainant has to bear the costs.

IOPSA takes an impartial view of complaints, with Reynolds noting that from its records in half the cases the plumber is not at fault but rather the consumer – or there can be other factors. “We sometimes find nothing wrong with the plumbing when we send out an inspector; and we also find cases where the plumber has done his/her job perfectly, but which for some unrelated reason has affected water pressure somewhere else on the property. We also commonly have cases where the consumer refuses to pay, and then it becomes difficult to persuade the plumber to either finish a job or take remedial action. Disputes can become highly-charged and emotional on both sides.”

IOPSA’s focus is at all times to have positive outcomes from what can otherwise be a negative experience. “There’s no doubt there are some unqualified people posing as Licensed Plumbers, and this brings the entire profession into disrepute. Through this process, we aim to improve the reputation of the industry, while getting consumers to understand the value in using an IOPSA member. Most plumbers, once their defective work is pointed out to them by a suitably trained inspector, are also prepared to learn from the experience and effect correction to their faulty workmanship,” says Reynolds.

Bianca Quinn, IOPSA Complaints and Inspections Manager, says, “The bulk of complaints are to do with workmanship, pricing and both CoCs and Municipal Certificates of Compliance. Clients often fail to obtain three quotations and frequently Google search a plumber in an emergency – isolate the water, then make a conscious decision as to service provider by searching IOPSA’s find-a-plumber tool. IOPSA does not have the jurisdiction over municipal complaints, nor pricing matters.

“Consumers are often treated unethically by un-registered plumbers, and with little to no recourse this becomes a challenge. In many instances, there is nothing in writing and a ‘he-said, she-said’ scenario unfolds.”

Quinn explains that complaints are directed by IOPSA’s national office to the complaints administrator (herself) for guidance and best resolution. “Should there be a valid complaint, the forms and supporting evidence are submitted to the Complaints Portal online, whereby a ticket is generated. Thereafter an inspector from the regional committee is appointed by myself. Once the inspector has reviewed the complaint, they shall establish whether an inspection is necessitated. The inspector then contacts the parties to obtain clarity and mediate, which is preceded by the site inspection.

“Consumers and even plumbers contact the complaints office telephonically daily and after discussion with either the National Operations Manager, Steve Brown, or myself – are typically extremely thankful for the guidance in not only their current experience, but also going forward. The complaints office handle all aspects and we are so deeply entrenched within Industry that we are equipped to guide consumers and plumbers in the right path no matter the query,” says Quinn.

With the advent of the IOPSA Transformation Policy a new complaint category was recently activated; complaints relating to discrimination. These complaints will be investigated and dealt with by the Transformation Committee. Anyone who has experienced discrimination is welcome to lodge a formal complaint with IOPSA.

You can lodge a complaint on www.iopsa.org

By Eamonn Ryan

IOPSA Membership Fees 2020

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 08:20:39 GMT

IOPSA Membership Fees: 01 March 2020 to 28 February 2021

Please find below the membership fees for the Plumbing Contractor Membership Category in respect of the March 2020 to February 2021 Financial Year (incl. 15% VAT).

The invoice will be generated from Intuit Quickbooks on 01 March 2020 as follows:

Plumbing Contractor (Regional Annual) - R5486

Plumbing Contractor (National Annual) - R19 659

However, we are pleased to inform you that a discount will apply as follows:

5% DISCOUNT - MEMBERSHIP FEE RENEWAL AND FULL ANNUAL PAYMENT RECEIVED BEFORE 31 MARCH 2020

10% DISCOUNT - MEMBERSHIP FEE RENEWAL AND FULL ANNUAL PAYMENT RECEIVED BEFORE THE 31ST OF MARCH 2020 AND B-BBEE CERTIFICATE SUBMITTED TO info@iopsa.org

The discount options will show on the invoice as well. If you do not receive an invoice, please inform the National Office, 011 454 0025, alternatively info@iopsa.org

NB! NO DISCOUNTS APPLY FOR PAYMENTS RECEIVED AFTER 31 MARCH 2020.

Please note:

1. Membership fees are due 01 March yearly.

2. Membership is confirmed once payment is received.

3. In the event of cancelling your membership, members must inform the National Office, in writing, one month prior to the new financial year (end of February). Should you cancel your membership during the financial year, you will be liable for outstanding membership fees and membership fees in respect of the remainder of the financial year.

Click here to download the formal notice

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the IOPSA National Office 011 454 0025, alternatively info@iopsa.org

IOPSA Office yet ANOTHER amazing benefit to it's members!

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 07:34:48 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing SA (IOPSA) and Builders Warehouse are excited to bring all IOPSA members a new and exciting benefit!

Exclusive to IOPSA members, Builders Warehouse is offering a Global Builders Warehouse discount of 5% to all IOPSA members on any of their purchases from any Builders Warehouse store!

Each member will receive a Builders PRO Card when opening a profile with Builders Warehouse ONLINE and receive 15% off on their first online purchase.

So how do I get my discount?

Step 1:

Go to the Builders website and sign up here: https://www.builders.co.za/register

Step 2:

Fill in all personal information and COMPANY NAME (this is used to verify your membership with IOPSA)

Step 3:

Accept T&C’s and sign up.

Step 4:

You will receive an SMS with an activation link, click on the link, you will then be required to create a password to activate the company profile (more than one card can be register for all the different users on the company profile). You will then receive a second SMS with the profile number, once you have received that number the profile is now active.

Step 5:

Members are required to email their profile code to builders@iopsa.org for verification and activation. All discounts will be loaded to your company profile within 48 hours of receiving the profile code and the member will be notified.

Step 6:

You can now shop online and collect your Builders Pro Card at any Builders Warehouse near you!

Should you have any difficulty in registering online please contact Buhle Mahungela on 010 003 4900

For the full Terms and Conditions, click here https://www.builders.co.za/love-your-home-competition

Price is not King anymore!

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 06:45:50 GMT

We resume our consumer pieces with good wishes to you and your families for 2020.

It is no secret that economically each of us is under huge pressure. Our government is stymied as how to handle our woes and rubbish continues to reach our shores and stores courtesy of Department of Trade & Industry. Couple that with an alarming increase in people claiming to do plumbing and plumbers whose work is not to build a business but just to live on a day to day basis by offering cut throat prices.

It is just not sustainable and the consumer is the one that gets caught up in the cheap and nasty product and installation cycle.

OK, new Year’s resolutions are a crock but commit to one thing this year, buy good, approved and long lasting product and use qualified plumbers, some of whom are members of the Institute of Plumbing and some registered with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board. It will cost more but by doing it this way you protect your family, you buy well and long lasting product and services and gain a trouble free life.

So how come if things are so tight can you afford to pay more. Simple, start from now – save some cash for the unexpected, the emergency fund. We know that blocked drains and burst pipes do not give notice they are going block or burst and if unprepared financially that is where the trouble starts. Remember we spoke of risk management sometime last year. This is now another form of risk management – manage the unexpected and you can then know you are getting a job done properly.

Price just cannot be king anymore only QUALITY!

How to Protect Your Plumbing at Christmas

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 06:46:41 GMT

1. Have Numbers of Emergency Plumbers on speed dial

Firstly, find numbers of three local, IOPSA registered plumbers that are offering call outs over Christmas. This exercise doesn’t pre-empt an emergency, but simply helps you be prepared should you find yourself in a crappy situation (pun intended).

2. Supply a bin in the bathroom

Make sure all toilets have a bin so that guests can dispose of sanitary items. If you don’t offer a bin, guess where your guests will place their items? Prevent a blockage by providing a bin so guests can dispose of unwanted items discreetly.

3. Use your sink strainer when rinsing plates

If you have an old sink, sink strainers can be purchased from a homeware store. Alternatively, place your colander over the sink waste and it will catch the food that you rinse off your plates. Place these scraps into the bin.

4. Don’t pour fats down the sink

Don’t pour fats or oils down your sink as they have the potential to clog your pipes. Place the trays in a place where the oils and fats can solidify and then scrape them into the bin.

5. Check your storm water drain

Check outside that your storm water drain is not covered up by leaves or kids toys. An open storm water drain will allow the water to drain from our property easily, rather than flooding your property

6. Locate where to turn the water off to your house

Get knowledgeable about where to turn your water off to your house. In the event of unexpected leak, turn off the water at the meter and contact an IOPSA Registered plumber.

8. Buy a plunger

Keep a plunger on hand for simple blockages. A plunger is best for all circumstances.

Keep the toilets well stocked with toilet rolls, a toilet brush, toilet spray, toilet cleaner and a diffuser to camouflage any smells.

With that said, we hope you all have the most amazing Christmas Day with your family and friends. If the unexpected happens, just go with the flow and remember you will most likely laugh about it next Christmas.

Find an IOPSA Registered plumber on www.iopsa.org.za

Rademeyer Attorneys - Membership Benefit

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 09:20:10 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing SA (IOPSA) has excitedly announced a new benefit for their members!

IOPSA has come to an agreement with Rademeyer Attorneys where they have agreed to offer all IOPSA members their first legal consultation (up to one hour) absolutley FREE! All that IOPSA members need to do in order to take advantage of this amazing offer is to make contact with Rademeyer Attorneys directly and book their appointment.

You can contact them on 011 886 3001 or info@rademeyer.co.za

If you are unsure of what legal services they offer, feel free to have a look at their website www.rademeyer.co.za

Master Plumber RFP

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 08:52:01 GMT

The Master Plumber Designation is intended to provide a career progression pathway for professionals within the plumbing industry. The curriculum is targeted primarily at plumbing business owners or plumbers with business responsibility in their organisation. The intention of the Master Plumber designation is to recognise people who are experts in their field, upskill them in areas they may not have had an opportunity to have formal training on previously, and develop them as leaders and role models for the industry. Master candidates are technically excellent already, and this is their opportunity to round out their technical knowledge with additional key skills to help them succeed in all areas of business. As part of this designation, we aim to build a culture of learning and development within the industry, both by providing this opportunity for Masters to continue to upskill themselves, and by equipping them with training and mentoring skills so that they can continue to develop others.

While this course does cover a variety of skills (largely non-technical), it is focused more on application in the real world than on learning theory. The intention of this course is to give Masters an opportunity to consolidate and solidify the knowledge they may have learnt along the way into clear and useful frameworks that they can easily apply in their day to day.

Master Plumbers are intended to be role models, teachers and custodians of the industry, and this course ensures that they play that role effectively and in a well-rounded manner.

In order to get the Master Plumber Programme started, IOPSA and PIRB are providing a financial incentive for an initial cohort of candidates to go through a pilot programme.

The right to offer the Master Plumber Programme to this initial cohort will be awarded to the successful respondent to this RFP.

Click here to Download the RFP

Click here to Download the Curriculum

What is the starting point to market my plumbing business?

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 07:53:32 GMT

Running a plumbing business has its unique challenges. Unlike other industries that can target a specific audience or rely on seasonal upticks, you need to reach two distinct markets all year round:

1. The panicked customer with a burst pipe or other emergency who needs to find a nearby plumber ASAP

2. The routine maintenance or install customer, who takes their time to research and compare plumbing companies to find the best fit for their project

To grow your plumbing business, you need marketing strategies to address both types of customer, all while competing in a crowded market. We won’t pretend there’s a one-size-fits-all solution. The good news is, you can start small and still get great results.

What is the starting point to market my plumbing business?

Online marketing is the best place to start because it’s easy to scale; you can reach a wide audience with little cost and effort. Even if you’re just starting your plumbing business and have little to none experience with digital marketing, you can still get started without having to hire an expensive marketing agency.

So what do I do now?

1. Claim your Google Business listing

Search engines such as Google are the first place emergency call-in customers will go to find help. If you want them to find you, you need to set up your Google my Business listing. Setting up your local listing is easy—all you need is your company name, address, and contact info.

2. Create a plumbing website that converts

The second step to being found online is to beef up your online presence. A professional-looking website will increase your visibility and credibility to help you get more leads. The trick is to keep your plumbing website simple, clean and informative so emergency call-in customers can find the information they need, fast.

3. Set up a Facebook page

A professional Facebook page is another way to be found fast. Of all the social media platforms, Facebook has the most users and the most conversion-friendly features. Plus, it’s free, easy to set up and track.

4. Gather and manage online reviews

Positive online reviews are crucial to growing your plumbing business, you’re entering your customers’ home or business, after all, and often in unpleasant or stressful situations. Before they buy from you, they need to trust you. Plumbing businesses with bad reviews will ultimately work against you.

5. Use call-only ads

Put yourself in your emergency customer’s shoes. They don’t have time to research or fill out web forms—they want to speak to a real person who can help them now. If you’re ready to start advertising, try using call-only online ad campaigns. These ads show up only on people’s smartphones and offer direct click-to-call functionality. This is a simple way to target your ad spend straight at the emergency call-out customer at the exact moment they need your services.

6. Create expert plumbing content

Plumbing is a specialized industry, and most consumers don’t know much—if anything—about it. Help your market feel educated and empowered, and you’ll win their trust and their business. The IOPSA & PIRB websites have a wealth of knowledge that you could use as a starting point for this content.

7. Get more leads with work requests

Unlike emergency customers who want to talk to a plumber right away, the research-phase customer will probably want to send a brief description of their project and find out if you can help. In order to win their business, you need a system to respond quickly and professionally to these requests.

Emails aren’t a very good option because it’s easy for them to be lost in your busy inbox or sent to spam. Instead, give your customers the option to create a work request right from your website or social media page.

8. Use customer service as a marketing tool

Advertising and social media are pieces of the marketing puzzle, but excellent customer service is by far the most effective, cost-efficient, and long-term growth strategy for any plumbing business, providing impeccable customer service will help boost good reviews and testimonials which consumers trust.

9. Align yourself with an organization

Aligning yourself with an organization can help market your business in a multitude of ways. Showing on your platforms that you belong to an industry body helps promote professionalism and trust in your business. These organization’s will also market the use of their members over others such as the Institute of Plumbing SA who currently has over 220 customers searching for a plumber on their system EVERY DAY!

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get marketing!

Written by Kaela Wilson

National Marketing Manager - IOPSA

You can now spend up to 5 years in jail for lying on your CV

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 08:34:43 GMT

The new National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act 2019, recently signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, means prospective students or job seekers could face up to five years in jail for misrepresenting their qualifications. In short you can be prosecuted for saying you are a QUALIFIED Plumber if you do NOT hold a recognized SAQA Plumbing qualification.

Below are a few key points mentioned in the government gazette:

Act No. 12 of 2019: National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act, 2019

32B. (1) A person is guilty of an offence if the person—

(3) A person is guilty of an offence, if such a person falsely or fraudulently claims to be holding a qualiﬁcation or part-qualiﬁcation registered on the NQF or awarded by an education institution, skills development provider, QC or obtained from a lawfully recognised foreign institution.

(4) Any person, education institution, skills development provider, foreign institution is guilty of an offence if it falsely claims to be registered and accredited as an education institution, skills development provider or foreign institution in terms of the laws of the Republic or foreign law.

(5) If a person, education institution its directors or board, a foreign institution its agents or directors or board, or a skills development provider is convicted of any offence under this Act, the court that imposes the sentence shall consider as an aggravating factor the fact that the offence was—

(a) committed with the intent to gain ﬁnancially, or to receive any favour, beneﬁt, reward, compensation or any other advantage; or

(b) gained ﬁnancially, or received any favour, beneﬁt, reward, compensation or any other advantage.

(6)Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act, is liable, in the case of a contravention of sections32B(1),32B(2),32B(3)or32B(4)to a ﬁne or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding ﬁve years, or to both a ﬁne and such imprisonment.

For the official government gazette click here

There is more to the NQF Amendment Act than just criminalising lying on CVs

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 06:27:53 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

There is more to the NQF Amendment Act than just criminalising lying on CVs

12 September 2019

There is more to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Amendment Act, No 12 of 2019 than just criminalising qualifications fraud and lying about qualifications on CVs. Signed by the

President on 13 August 2019 and published on 19 August 2019, the NQF Amendment Act tightens the legal requirements and strengthens the hands of NQF bodies to inspire confidence in the education and training system.

For example, skills development providers now need to be registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training, which was not the case in the NQF Act of 2008. Private providers are also required to be registered. The Amendment Act also brings with it some new and revised definitions aimed at strengthening the legislation so that there is effective implementation of the NQF. For instance, it introduces the definition of authenticity concerning a national and foreign qualification and part-qualification.

On the one hand, an authentic national or South African qualification or part-qualification

must be:

a) Registered on the NQF;

b) Offered by a registered and accredited education institution or skills development

provider; and

c) Lawfully obtained.

On the other hand, an authentic foreign qualification or part-qualification must be lawfully obtained from a foreign country and evaluated by SAQA.

If all education institutions and skills development providers are registered and accredited, and offer NQF-registered qualifications and part-qualifications, learners will have genuine qualifications. Education institutions and skills development providers that are not registered or accredited or offer qualifications and part-qualifications not registered on the NQF will face closure. Such institutions may also be declared unfit to apply for registration for a period not exceeding ten years. Similarly, those found guilty of qualifications fraud will be liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both a fine and such imprisonment.

Also, the Amendment Act makes provision for the establishment of separate registers of misrepresented and fraudulent qualifications and part-qualifications. To ensure fairness and transparency in dealing with cases of misrepresented and fraudulent qualifications and partqualifications, SAQA will follow the provisions of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act,

No 3 of 2000.

The NQF Amendment Act also gives SAQA the legal responsibility to verify all national qualifications and part-qualifications. Employers, government departments, education and training institutions (both public and private), and professional bodies must first check if their employees or members’ qualifications are registered on the NQF. If the qualifications are not registered, they can refer them to SAQA for verification. Similarly, South Africans and foreign nationals who have obtained qualifications and part-qualifications from other countries must also have their qualifications and part-qualifications verified and evaluated by SAQA.

South Africa needs an effective education and training system where the movement between general and further education, higher education as well as occupational qualifications and the world of work is seamless. The NQF Amendment Act aims to realise this by ensuring there is a unified implementation of the NQF by SAQA and the Quality Councils. To this end, it compels SAQA and the Quality Councils to work together to ensure that the NQF works for the people of South Africa.

The NQF Amendment Act also amplifies the role of the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD) to include a separate register for professional designations. The NLRD will also have records of qualification and part-qualification requirements and other related information, including details of education institutions and Quality Councils that awarded the qualifications and part-qualifications. It will also contain information about registration, verification and accreditation. The critical status given to the NLRD will protect the public against the claims from legitimate providers that they are offering registered qualifications when they are not.

An education and training system that is of quality has mechanisms embedded in it that deter misrepresentation of qualifications as well as qualifications fraud. However, misrepresentation and qualifications fraud are neither the only focus nor the sole purpose of a quality education system.

Ultimately, the NQF Amendment Act aims to protect the integrity of the South African education and training system and to address some of the challenges in the system. As envisaged by the NQF, such a system contributes to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the nation at large.

While the NQF Amendment Act was signed on 13 August 2019 and published for general information on 19 August 2019, it will only come into effect on a date that will be determined by the President. SAQA is ready and looks forward to implementing the amendments in their entirety for the betterment of our education and training system.

Issued by: SAQA

Enquiries: Joe Samuels, SAQA CEO

Contact details: 012 431 5001 or 082 833 1271 or jsamuels@saqa.co.za

Download the original release here

IOPSA Birthday Competition winners announced

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 06:57:27 GMT

On the 25th of August 2019 the Institute of Plumbing SA turned 30 years old! To celebrate this momentous occasion they gave away prizes in a social media competition, to enter all you had to do was like their birthday post and comment with a birthday wish.

And the winners are:

Duncan Stuart Keil - 1 Year FREE IOPSA Membership

Adrian Whitehouse - Solar course valued at R1980.00

Alpha Plumbing - 10 FREE PIRB Certificates of Compliance

Calvin Muggs - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Carike Nel du Buson - 10 FREE PIRB Certificates of Compliance

Carl Smit - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Collen Chikaka - 10 FREE PIRB Certificates of Compliance

David Gary Smith - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Emsie Geldenhuys - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Keegan Ashley Martin - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Kgopa Phaswane - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Mncedise Sangweni Ngwane - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Morne Mo Landman - Heat Pump webinar course valuded at R1335.00

Ryan Kumar - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Sibongiseni Mabhuti Ntunja - Plumblink Shower Rose and arm

Leon Swanepoel - 1 year free Plumbing Africa & SA Affordable housing subscription

Plumbsol Plumbing - Plumblink Shower rose and arm

Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to everyone for all the amazing birthday wishes we received! All winners will be contacted directly in regards to their prize.

How risky is your risk?

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 09:49:41 GMT

As a homeowner you do carry risk in almost if not every part of your home. Therefore you need to minimise that risk to ensure the safety and health of your family, friends and all visiting your home.

One the potentially biggest risks is plumbing or more so plumbing not correctly done.

The World Plumbing Council (WPC) of which the Institute of Plumbing of SA (IOPSA) is a member promotes four simple principles for the plumbers and it works just as well for consumers.

Known as the Four Pillars of Plumbing which are;

PRACTICES: this relates to compulsory standards, regulations and accountability. Plumbing is heavily regulated for the purpose of seeing that design and installations are done to protect health, safety of consumers and the environment. The accountability of the plumber is to ensure that he/she is correctly qualified, offers added value by their registration with a professional body (giving you recourse) and installs according to standards as well as using product approved by a recognised certification body. Membership of a voluntary association like IOPSA is an added benefit to reduce risk and provide you with comfort.

PRODUCTS: must be of quality accepted by the recognised SA National Standard. Inferior and sub standard products increase your risk of disease and is hazardous to safety. Indeed, these products will cost more as more is invested in their manufacture and ongoing process of ensuring manufacturing maintains its quality. Besides a cheap product will be replaced many times more than a quality one – so buy quality first and be hassle free. Also if there are problems with quality products the manufacturer will stand by the guarantee/warranty.

“Goedkoop is Deurkoop” is good to remember.

PROTECTION: sadly even the best installation or product can fault. As stated earlier quality and recognised product and manufacturer will stand by their reputation. Equally so will a qualified plumber and you have recourse to the professional body (Plumbing Industry Registration Board) and IOPSA.

PARTICIPATION: this is the pillar that grows the plumbing industry with qualified plumbers and being part of the process of providing safe water to all – a basic human right. As a consumer you can be part of the participatory process by NOT employing unqualified people and using only qualified plumbers. Again, Goedkoop is Deurkoop, and when using an unqualified person your RISK INCREASES and you endanger the lives of all on your premises.

No amount of public liability will cover the death of people when your geyser explodes, a potential bomb, when installed incorrectly. And husbands please leave plumbing to the plumbers. It usually ends up costing more -ask me I know!

Both IOPSA and PIRB will assist when you need a plumber or word of month is also a good reference.

Question for you: how is you risk management now?

What kind of Plumber do you call upon?

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 09:48:42 GMT

Simply put there are two kinds of plumbers – one you can rely on and you will have no need to call back to fix the job he had ‘originally fixed’ or the one who charges incredibly low prices, is not qualified as a “plumber” and will rip you off if you can get hold of them after they have messed up your plumbing job. There is a third one but is not the plumber but the husband/DIYer that thinks plumbing is easy. Once finished they must call in the qualified plumber to a - repair the mess created by the DIYer and then b - fix the plumbing problem!

Let’s get rid of the negatives first.

The unqualified plumber cares or knows nothing about your health and safety that he/she is responsible for. YES the plumber is responsible for health and safety and that of you and your family. They know nothing about the disease that is caused by incorrect plumbing, water pressure, hydraulics and the damage that boiling hot water can do to you. He just wants your money and runs to catch another consumer who also works on price only.

So if you work on price alone you are your own worst enemy.

Lets look at the positives;

You must pay a fair price for work to be done according to the plumbing regulations that are compulsory by a qualified plumber. A plumber is not an idiot who could not get a degree but a skilled craftsman with knowledge learned over three or four years under the guidance and direction of an experienced plumber. He/she therefore is entitled to ask a fair price for work done. The regulations ensure that he/she does the work according to tried and tested methods that are continually improving as materials become more sophisticated.

Such a plumber will show you his qualification by virtue of his/her membership of voluntary body like the Institute of Plumbing SA (IOPSA) and/or the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB)

These are voluntary bodies so common sense does show that plumbers and plumbing companies are prepared to put their reputations on the line. Because some qualified plumbers choose not to belong to such voluntary bodies does not make them poor but one needs to check their qualification.

MORAL: don’t skimp on the HEALTH & SAFETY of you and your family – it is not just unblocking a drain but moving away waste that can, if allowed to linger longer, will cause disease to spread. Even the installation of a ‘geyser’ or hot water storage vessel must be done correctly, failing which it could explode and cause untold damage and death.

PAY YOUR PARTNER IN HEALTH & SAFETY -THE PLUMBER – TO DO THE BEST JOB WITH THE BEST PRODUCTS.

Plumbing Business Owner Survey - Outcome

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 07:39:50 GMT

GIZ / SD4GE commissioned two studies aimed at deepening an understanding of the trends and dynamics of plumbers and electrical contractors in South Africa. The objectives of this study included the imperative to strengthen the range of institutions (public, private and not-for-profit) that impact these trades. An additional aim of the research was to provide an overview of current development in these trades, both at industry level and firm level.

The findings are useful for better planning informed by greater awareness of the transformations and changes emerging in the specific contexts of industry.

The study produced three publicly available reports. This first report provides a high-level overview of the available statistics. The research aimed to scan the publicly available statistics to understand better what is available, what is being tracked, and what is changing. This high-level overview also revealed how the two industries are structured, which organisations support these industries and what the dynamics are.

GIZ/SD4GE commissioned PEM Consulting and Mesopartner Africa to conduct the industry diagnosis. Dr Shawn Cunningham and Annelien Cunningham from Mesopartner led and coordinated the industry diagnosis. A team of researchers from TIPS (Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies) conducted research and statistical analysis. The TIPS team included Asanda Fotoyi, Sajid Sherif, Mbofholowo Tsedu while Saul Levin provided policy insight and guidance.

The research would not have been possible without the help and support of the industry bodies and their members. The Institute of Plumbing (SA) (IOPSA) and Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) contributed and supported the plumbing analysis. Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa (ECASA) and the National Bargaining Council for the Electrical Industry (NBCEI) supported and contributed to the electrical analysis.

GIZ / SD4GE would like to thank all the stakeholders and industry members for their valuable contribution.

The outcome of this survey resulted in two reports which can be downloaded by clicking below.

REPORT 1 - High-level statistical analysis of the plumbing and electrical trades.

REPORT 2 - Industry analysis of the plumbing industry

Plumbing as a career choice

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 07:41:58 GMT

Most people think that plumbing is dirty work or a non-skilled profession. This is false. To be a plumber you need to possess many different skills and competencies. Without plumbing, modern life would not exist. Even Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds in history said: “If I had my life to live over again, I would be a plumber.”

One of the advantages of becoming a plumber is the reliability of this career choice. Regardless of the economic situation in the country there will always be a need for plumbers. By working your way up the designation tier, you control the ability to advance your career in a single field. There is massive scope for growth within the industry as specializing in different fields from part of the career ladder in plumbing.

Generally, plumbers are good at problem solving, possess the ability to follow technical plans, and understand the importance of health and safety. People skills are also important as dealing with consumers, municipalities and various other professionals are required daily. Plumbing will never be a mundane office job and the opportunity to up-skill or study further in the field always exists.

Plumbers do not need to have a university degree but industry-recognised training is required to become a qualified practitioner. A common entry into the plumbing industry is through an apprenticeship with a licensed plumber or plumbing company. During training you will learn how to install water supplies, find faults, fix domestic appliances and attend to emergency call-outs, among other things.

There are a variety of plumber apprenticeships and courses available in South Africa. It is just a matter of searching for opportunities available on Google.

Once you have joined a plumber or plumbing company, you can earn while you study, therefore student finance may not be a burden. Many families do not possess the funds to study once their children leave high school and this makes the plumbing industry the perfect gateway into the working world.

The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) and the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO) are responsible for evaluating and accrediting all suitable training courses for use by prospective plumbers. You will need to complete CETA or QCTO accredited training in order to become a licensed plumber.

Once you have the required skills you will be in demand and own the ability to earn a decent wage as a plumber in South Africa.

The best way to start your career is as an assistant or learner plumber where you will work alongside an experienced and qualified plumber while servicing residences. As you gain experience you will be able to explore opportunities within the industry.

There are many opportunities for plumbers in South Africa. Some plumbers work for companies in the construction industry, as well as for plumbing companies, while others are independent contractors working on a self-employed basis.

Plumbing also has specialisations which would require proper training and accreditation. Plumbing is not just working with pipes and taps in bathrooms and kitchens, it is so much more! Plumbing is a huge industry with many different aspects involved.

Fortunately, in South Africa there are organisations that support the plumbing industry and plumbers such as the Plumbing Industry Registration Board/PIRB and The Institute of Plumbing South Africa/IOPSA and the Joint Acceptance Scheme for Water Services Installation Components/JASWIC. With these organisations supporting and encouraging the upliftment of plumbers and the industry as a whole, being a plumber is not only a rewarding job but one which is recognized as a valuable pillar of society.

Original article can be found on the PIRB website here

Top 10 characteristics of a great plumber

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 07:40:01 GMT

This week we’re exploring the characteristics of a sought-after plumber, to not only get the job, but pump the referrals. PIRB represents the best of the best, whether you’re starting your career or looking for the right guy for the job, look no further as we draw out a list of attributes that are essential to keeping your plumbing in good shape.

1.PIRB Registered

Increasingly more municipalities, local authorities and insurance companies require that any

person working on plumbing works within their jurisdiction must be registered with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB). These authorities require PIRB Plumbing certificates (CoC’s) when installing, repairing or doing plumbing works. A licensed PIRB plumber is also guaranteed to have the right certification and qualifications necessary.

2. Experience

As with anything, the more you work at it the better you will become. Experienced plumbers will have seen and solved a vast array of problems over the years and are more likely to know the right thing to do. While younger plumbers can still offer a great service, look out for those that have completed apprenticeships.

3. Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are important when listening and understanding a client’s problem and explaining the best way to solve it. A calm and easy manner of communication is essential to ease the client’s concerns and avoid chances of misunderstandings and potential conflicts.

4. Punctuality

Great plumbers are always on time. Punctuality is associated with good customer service and a great work etiquette. It will contribute to earning you a level of respect within the community.

5. Coordination Skills

Coordination skills come in handy when working in small spaces with many tools. Often, plumbers will find themselves negotiating tight, unfamiliar spaces and in order to do the job most efficiently, coordination can be the best tool of all.

6. Safety First

It is essential that plumbers have a strong regard for safety in their practice. Problems need to be tackled in a skillful way while still following safety procedures accurately.

7. Dedication

A great plumber is a dedicated plumber. Plumbers that are dedicated to their customers and maintaining a level of quality will always outshine ones that do not. Dedicated plumbers are enthusiastic, ready to solve a problem and willing to put their best foot forward, no matter the hour. Real dedication to work and dependability is the fast track to success.

8. Mechanically Inclined

There are many mechanical and technical aspects to the plumbing trade. Plumbers need not only be good with their hands, but with their analytical and mechanical sides too. Knowing what type of tubing is most efficient, or how the water valve works are essential components to ensuring a job well done. Great plumbers are mechanically inclined, naturally navigating the minefield of plumbing troubleshooting.

9. Good shape

Being in good physical form is essential when navigating some of the tight spaces plumbers might find themselves in. A job may lead you to a rooftop, or a tight space under a sink, and in order to reduce injury it’s important to be in good shape so that exerting yourself physically is not the biggest problem you have to fix that week.

10. Problem Solving

Problem solving is important to any industry, but plumbers that are naturally problem solvers make for great ones. Often a job will call for a quick evaluation, great plumbers are able to navigate the options efficiently and find the best course of action to follow.

If you’re looking for a plumber, keep an eye out on our website as we have a section specifically designed for that purpose coming soon. If you are a plumber and you are not registered yet, do the right thing for your career and register now. Here is everything you need to know. We hope these top 10 characteristics of a great plumber helped you put your best foot forward today.

How To Start A Plumbing Business in South Africa (On A Tight Budget)

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 07:38:03 GMT

You’ve found your calling, you’ve got the certification and you’ve registered with the PIRB. You’re ready to go, but you’ve found yourself at the crossroads of plumber and entrepreneur, and you’re only the expert of one of these. It’s one thing to be a great plumber, it’s a whole other thing to start a plumbing business. Don’t worry, we’re going to help you through this by giving you some helpful tricks on how to start a plumbing business, with as minimal expenditure as possible.

#1 Decide What Kind Of Plumbing Company You Want To Be

The first question you need to ask yourself is do you want to build things or do you want to fix things? Are you interested in building new constructions, or do you want to do service and repair work? Do you want to work in residential or commercial plumbing? Figure out what you like most, and pursue that.

#2 Establish Your Business’ Core Values

First thing every new business owner should do is decide what is going to set them apart. So you’re a great plumber, are you always on time? Are you personable? Are you reliable and trustworthy? Establish your core values, and write them down so that you never waver. These are the things that get you referred for your next job, and the next…

#3 Never Stop Learning (Continuous Professional Development)

Ensure that you know plumbing better than your competitors. Study more, learn more, develop more and do more. Build your knowledge by spending just 30 minutes a day learning something new, whether it’s about tools, local laws or a new technique, continuing to grow and develop is what will put you ahead of your competitors.

#4 Build A Network

By word of mouth, social media or advertising in your local supermarket, get the word out there that you are a reputable plumber. Let people know who you are and what you’re doing. You don’t need to hire a billboard, just set up a Facebook page. Ask one or two previous clients to write a review. This establishes you’re real, you’re reliable, and you’re professional.

#5 Build A Bigger Network

Look at networking with other business owners. Building trusted relationships with companies operating in the same area can lead to referrals, for both them and you. Look out for people that you’d like to work with, or who you’d be interested in sharing business with. From estate agents, to carpenters, to mechanics, build a wider network in your area.

#6 Marketing

If you can set aside a small budget, look for small-scale marketing companies that can help get your name out there. If not, don’t worry, there are several tools available to start a plumbing business without investing in a marketing company: social media. As mentioned before, set up a Facebook page. Get friends and family to like and follow you, create a community. If you have a knack for it, look into other avenues like LinkedIn and Youtube. Just make sure you have one reliable place that potential customers can refer to when deciding whether to hire you.

Armed with these 6 tips on how to start a plumbing business, your plumbing certification and your PIRB Registration – you’re all set to go! Get out there and good luck.

The original article can be found on the PIRB website here

Champions 4 Charity: Plumbing industry heavyweights make generous donations

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 07:18:57 GMT

Various charity ‘boxers’ recently handed over their cheques to their chosen charities after stepping out of the Champions 4 Charity boxing ring.

One of these champions includes Lea Smith from the Plumbing Industry and Registration Board (PIRB). He recently handed his donation over to the Sutherland High School’s charity of choice, Dimphonyana Tsa Lapeng in Olievenhoutbosch, Centurion.

Dimphonyana Tsa Lapeng is a home that is mainly focused on the welfare and development of underprivileged women, youth, and children of the local community. Dimphonyana Tsa Lapeng mainly cares for children referred to them by social workers until they are grown-up and independent.

The donation comes after Smith took part in the Champions 4 Charity white-collar boxing that formed part of the plumbing industry’s commitment to Mandela Day earlier in July. The event which was organized by the plumbing industry through the auspices of The Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) and The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), ultimately raised over R90 000 for charity.

All funds raised by the fighters was put forward for ‘prize money’ for the particular boxing bout. In the end, 80% of the ‘prize money’ went to the winning fighter’s charity while 20% went to the losing fighter’s nominated charity. Any remaining funds coming out of the event were divided equally among the fighter’s charities.

“Thank you so much for supporting us,” said Shalate Ngobeni, Managing Director at Dimphonyana Tsa Lapeng. “The donation will contribute to the renovations needed for our tuckshop which is one of our income revenues.”

Shalate said that they have a lot of renovations to do at the center and this donation allows them to start. They also have a pre-school and a children’s church at the center to maintain as well.

“We are further committed to creating a safe space for children and also provide skills development programs to help upskill the community.”

Photo: Lea Smith from the PIRB donating money to Dimphonyana Tsa Lapeng.

Another contender of the night, Robert Schoeman also donated almost R10 000 to AfriForum’s Wilmien Potgieter fund which ultimately aims to financially support children whose lives have been affected by farm attacks.

Schoeman said he wanted to do something for victims of farm attacks and murders. He and his wife, Wendy, also personally know people who have been victims of these gruesome attacks.

“We did not know who to contact at first, and then called AfriForum who told us about the Wilmien Potgieter fund. We are glad to contribute to this cause.”

Photo: Robert Schoeman handing over his donation to the Wilmien Potgieter fund.

Nico Jooste also recently handed over his cheque to the Woodrock Animal Rescue center in Johannesburg which assists homeless, abused, neglected, stray, injured, ill, geriatric and unwanted animals that would otherwise have miserable lives and premature deaths.

Photo: Nico Jooste donating money to the Woodrock Animal Rescue center in Johannesburg.

Original article can be found on the PIRB website here

IOPSA establishes a Community of Experts in Plumbing Training

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 07:32:38 GMT

IOPSA has established a community of experts (CEP) in plumbing training to assist the QCTO to develop training programmes for entry level plumbing learners.

This CEP met on the 19^th and 25^th of February at the IOPSA National office and compiled two programmes for submission to the QCTO.

The one programme is called “Domestic water and drain repairer” at NFQ Level 2 and should be completed within two months. The second programme is called “The plumber’s hand” at NFQ level 3 and could be completed within 4-6 months.

Although the defined policy guiding these developments has not been approved. This ground-breaking work has been completed to the highest standard and with the industries best interests at heart.

Once through the internal processes the details will be shared with IOPSA members for input and comment.

Watch this space and participate actively in the new developments for our industry and encourage quality plumbing for all.

Skills development is central to the sustainability of plumbing as a relevant trade.

For more information on this project, please contact Nick Joubert on nick@iopsa.org

Written by Nick Joubert - IOPSA National Training Manager

Notice: SANS 10252-1 2018 Edition 3.2

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 06:43:44 GMT

We would like to draw your attention that the latest version of SANS 10252-1 2018 Edition 3.2 is now available.

Unfortunately we cannot distribute any copies due to copyrights and therefore request that you purchase your own copy via www.sabsstore.co.za

The new version of SANS 10252-1 mentions a few important changes and updates that you need to be aware of.

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We do however feel it important to bring a few of these important changes to your attention.

5.2.3 Plastics

All SANS standards for plastic polymer piping systems for hot and cold water supplies are approved for use inside buildings only. All plastics pipes used in hot and cold water installations near external doorways and windows, shall be protected from sunlight. Unlike metal pipes (steel and copper) that have generic pipe and fitting standards, thermoplastic pipe systems are required to be installed using the fittings and tools that are tested and approved as a complete system, The use of pipes, fittings and tools from other manufacturers or suppliers, that are not the same as the approved system, shall not be acceptable.

5.3.3.2 Showers

Showers shall be of a type that can operate effectively at the internal water pressure recommended by the manufacturer. The maximum discharge flow rate shall be 10 L/min.

6.6.2.2 No flow control fitting of any sort other than a draining valve shall be installed direct in the pipeline between any fixed water heater and its associated expansion control valve or vacuum breaker.

7.1.2 Water supply quality — Human consumption

Conditions unfavorable for the development of the bacterium Legionella pneumophila shall be maintained as far as possible in installations where cold water is stored for drinking purposes, or where hot water could be used for drinking purposes. For this reason,

f) the stored hot water shall be maintained at a temperature of at least 55 °C, but shall reach 60 °C for at least 1 h a day,

* Effectively this means that the minimum water set temp is now 60 and no longer 55

6.7.5.7 Piping to be insulated includes all flow and return piping, cold water supply piping within 1 m of the connection to the heating or cooling system and pressure relief piping within 1 m of the connection to the heating or cooling system. Where possible lengths of pipe runs shall be minimized.

7 Design 7.1.1.1 An approved competent person shall accept the responsibility for the design of a) a structure that supports a water heater or storage tank of which the nominal capacity exceeds 250 L, or

7.5.1.4.2 Maximum supply temperature Unless otherwise required, the temperature of water that discharges from any terminal water fitting supplied from a hot water installation shall not exceed 60 °C, however thermostatic mixers may be required to achieve a lower supply temperature.

7.7 Hot Water piping

8.4.6.5 Only water heaters or storage tanks of capacity ≤ 200 L shall be attached by means of brackets or hangers to a load-bearing masonry or concrete wall or to any other vertical structural element. Tanks and water heaters larger than 200 L shall not be wall mounted.

8.5.1.3 All pipework connected to, and all protective valves associated with, water heaters shall be connected by means of flush unions or similar connectors (such as caps and linings), to facilitate the replacement of such fittings. If compression fittings are used for this connection, sufficient provision shall be made for the pipework to be sprung, it shall not be between rigid fixed points. It shall not be required to cut the pipe to affect repair or removal or replacement of the component.

8.6.3.3 Pipes installed within a cavity dry wall shall be securely fixed. No pipe shall pass through concrete expansion or concrete joints, unless acceptable provisions have been made to the pipework for movement.

8.6.3.7 To prevent unwanted heat transfer, hot and cold water pipes shall not be laid against each other. Pipes chased and fixed in solid walls shall be at least 100 mm apart.

Please note that this doesn’t include all the changes and therefore we strongly recommend that you purchase your own copy and familiarise yourself with the contents therein .

Business Owner Industry Survey

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 10:12:16 GMT

Deadline: 31 March 2019

This survey is meant for plumbing business owners. Even if you are not a member of IOPSA or are PIRB registered, you are invited to complete the survey.

The survey will assist IOPSA and PIRB to better understand the context that plumbing businesses operate in. The results of this survey will be used to improve the service and support to the plumbing industry.

We value your privacy and comply with all laws and regulations on data collection and will not use the information you provide to create any unfair advantage to any party. We acknowledge the funding support of the GIZ Skills for Green Economy project in this survey.

WHY CAT® PHONES SHOULD BE A CLEAR CHOICE FOR PLUMBERS

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 08:55:50 GMT

There have been many technological advancements in the last century, but few as widely available and revolutionary as the mobile phone. Cell phones, and more recently smartphones, have become a truly integral part of our private and business lives.

The small screen that holds hundreds of applications and resources for work and play assists us in almost every aspect of our lives. Today a mobile phone is an indispensable productivity tool and essential component of any tradesman’s toolkit.

Few would disagree that good tools, fit for purpose and built to last, are an important investment. While almost any mainstream mobile device ticks all the boxes, they fall hopelessly short in the toolbox. Ever faster processors, increasing memory size and higher definition screens are all lost in a single drop to the floor – or worse, into water. It is this critical distinction that separates Cat phones from the rest.

Have you ever come across a water-, drop- or dust-proof smartphone?

The Cat phones range is all three – waterproof up to 3 metres, drop-proof from up to 1.8 metres and dust-proof too – certified IP68 and Mil Std 810G.

Packed inside a rugged exterior, these smartphones run Android without compromising on processing power and storage.

High definition Corning® Gorilla® Glass and sunlight readable screens, wet finger tracking and glove-on screen optimisation are standard, as are large batteries throughout the range.

Cat phones are as smart as they are tough

Led by the award-winning Cat S61, and packed with innovation, Cat phones are made for the construction sector and plumbing in particular.

The Cat S61 elevates your business to the next level, unmatched in its ability to increase your service offering and earning potential.

Thermal imaging camera

The integrated FLIR thermal imaging camera in the Cat S61 introduces powerful new revenue earning opportunities with thermal leak detection in full HD.

Through the MyFLIR app on the Cat S61, you can take temperature measurements up to 400 degrees using any of the nine different viewing filters. The FLIR Tools Mobile app allows you to generate reports on site to share with clients or colleagues.

Need to see water levels in a tank, or pipes in a wall or drains under the floor without chasing into the structure? It’s all taken care of – and so much more.

The Cat S61 is IP68 & IP69K rated, so can withstand the blast of a high-pressure hose – a dip in the toilet cistern or geyser tray are no sweat for this workhorse.

Laser assisted distance measure

The Cat S61 also boasts a laser assisted distance measurement tool for estimating materials on the job – from piping to guttering, tiles to paint, you’ll measure surface areas or point to point distances while capturing photographs of the job at hand.

Indoor air quality monitor

The built-in indoor air quality monitor will assist by measuring the level of indoor air pollutants, VOC’s – alerting you to unhealthy air quality and keeping you aware of your work environment while keeping tabs on both temperature and humidity on site.

The Cat S61 elevates your business to the next level, unmatched in its ability to increase your service offering and earning potential. When you’re next due for a mobile phone upgrade, consider upgrading your toolbox at the same time.

Cat phones are available from all SA Mobile operators and supported with a 2-year warranty, free screen replacement throughout the warranty period and a free pick up and repair service nationwide.

10 tips for screening your next client

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 11:19:38 GMT

Customers have every right to do their research before hiring a plumber for their next project, and why not? It is their hard-earned money that is leaving their pockets after all.

So, Plumbers hear questions like: Are you PIRB licensed? Is your company registered with IOPSA? Qualified? insured? Can you charge less for this? Do you quote free? Please clean up before leaving. The list goes on and on.

Unfortunately for plumbers in South Africa, checking a consumer’s reliability is not so simple. Most of the time plumbers rely on their gut feeling and hope that the consumer won’t be too difficult or pay late.

So how can plumbers avoid difficult customers early on so that they don’t end up pulling out their hair doing the job or grinding their teeth as they chase after money owed once the job is complete?

We have put together a few tips to help plumbers avoid these situations.

1. Charge a call out fee

This is probably the best way to check if the customer calling for a quote respects your time or not. Quoting is a lengthy process. It takes time and money to travel all the way, inspect the job and settle over a quote. It’s only fair for a plumber to charge a call out fee. If a customer is not willing to pay a call out fee then they may not be serious about having the work done. For help calculating your call out fee, download the App Plumbers specifically designed to assist plumbers in calculating an accurate and fair call out fee. Download the app here.

2. Listen closely to what they say about the previous plumbers

Of course if the work is not to standard and is incorrectly installed, consumers have every right to complain, but if someone is bad-mouthing the previous plumber and is speaking ill of them for no apparent reason, they will probably try to find faults in your work too.

3. Watch out for late payers

If your customer is too eager to get a discount or keeps on trying to negotiate a lower rate, this should ring a warning bell. You may need to insist on a deposit prior to commencing the job. You don’t want to get caught with someone who values price over quality and hard work. If you have done work for a client before and you had to wait for payment, the odds are good that they will do it to you again. Sometimes it is good to lose a customer who pays poorly.

4. Follow your intuition

When you have been in the industry long enough, you develop a sixth sense. While trusting your gut feeling can be risky, it can be very necessary. Most of the time, a first meeting is all you will need to decide to work for the customer or not. The trick is to be very observant.

Start with a checklist for yourself: Do they have a clear idea of what they need to get done? Are they realistic enough to know what timeframes are unrealistic? Are they complaining that the cost is too much? Watch out for those looking for continuous discounts.

5. Ask them for their budget and time frame

Your time is precious so use it wisely. Instead of spending an hour discussing high end finishes and extensive renovation plans only to later find out that their budget is for a basic installation, ask them about their budget first.

Most of the time, the discussion will end there.

6. Do some reference calling

Customers have the advantage of looking at their Plumbers licenses, certificates, work experience and so on, but Plumbers can do the same! Ask customers about the plumbers they have worked with before and call them to do a reference check, more than a few bad testimonials should be enough to ring an alarm.

7. Have everything written and signed

From the initial quotation where it is best to be as detailed as possible. Document when and how they are going to pay for the work done, who buys the material and how will the costing of extra work will be charged, get them to agree to all the terms in writing and have it signed by them before the work starts. If they disagree or try and negotiate too much, they will probably continue to do so throughout the job.

8. Ask them what aspect of work are they most focused on?

If a customer doesn’t have realistic expectations, giving them charge of the project can prove to be a disaster.

Let them tell you what they want but set the agenda yourself and walk them through the project scope, completion timeline, variations, materials and payment process. Ask them what matters the most to them. Quality, time or cost and you will be able to make an educated decision on the project going forward.

9. How many quotes have they requested already from other plumbers?

If the customer has approached multiple other plumbers before getting a quote from you too, it can possibly show their priority is the price and not the quality of the job.

10. Look for the right attitude

If a customer has called for a job, the plumber is under the impression that they want to get the job done. Respect for a plumber’s time is the number one rule for business. Are they calling for an emergency job that should have been done a long time ago? This may indicate a concern when it is time to pay for the job. Are they trying to suggest what the job should cost? They may understand the value of your skills.

If you are new in the industry and have just started running your own business, you might bump into the wrong customers more often than you would like.

But not all small businesses have the luxury to say no just because your gut tells you to. If time is on your side, be accommodating and patient. Take a few minutes to chat and laugh with them to see things from their eyes. But do your homework, before saying yes to your next job.

We love hearing from you!

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 06:36:03 GMT

On the 6th of November 2018, IOPSA's operations manager Steve Brown went to Just Domestic T/A Domestic Industries to offer some on site training and assistance on SANS 10254 and the logging of CoC's on the PIRB system.

This is what they had to say about their experience:

"Dear Mr Steve Brown

RE: Thank you

Team Domestic place on record our sincere appreciation and gratitude to you and IOPSA, for offering your valued service by empowering our team with the inter-active meeting session held this morning at the Domestic office.

This was not only beneficial to the field team, but also to our administration team as well, as it assisted us to further understand the certificate of compliance logging and certificate of compliance installation.

We pledge, as always, to work with you and deliver to our client’s optimum quality installations and service and to further our relationship with clients and IOPSA as ambassadors in the plumbing industry.

Once again, we thank you for sharing your knowledge and look forward to more similar learning sessions.

Thank you

Regards

Mr I. Govender"

IOPSA Plumbing Industry Survey 2018

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 10:55:06 GMT

The survey was open to anyone to complete but the main communication channels were through IOPSA and PIRB.

CPD points were made available for all PIRB registered respondents. More than 85% of the responses received were from PIRB registered plumbers and 35.9% of the respondents were from IOPSA members.

Therefore the results could be seen as representing the views of the Formal Plumbing Sector. Other efforts are underway to gather input from the informal sector, but this is proving to be very challenging.

The survey will be conducted annually by IOPSA in an effort to gain meaningful data and trends. As this is the first such survey there is no comparative data but in future there will be. The survey will be conducted in August each year.

For more information please contact the IOPSA national office on 011 454 0025 or email info@iopsa.org

Click here to view the full survey

IOPSA Welcomes a new National Technical manager

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 09:29:16 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing SA (IOPSA) is proud to announce the appointment of Steve van Zyl who will take over as the National Technical Manager, a role which has proven to be a crucial and much needed role within the industry.

Steve started his career in 1992 as a filing clerk for SA Eagle. He then went into the insurance industry in 1993 and worked his way up the corporate ladder and only left in 2012 to become a qualified plumber and follow his passion. Steve is currently a licenced plumber with the PIRB, a qualified electrician as well as a licenced residential gas installer.

Steve joins the IOPSA family with a wealth of plumbing and industry knowledge as well as a passion for the trade.

“I want to make a better tomorrow within our industry and not just uplift standards but uplift those in our trade” says Steve while speaking about his vision going forward.

Last but not least, IOPSA would like to extend a very special thank you to Steve Brown for enthusiastically stepping in to carry the technical load for IOPSA.

We ask for your continued support and enthusiasm as Steve transitions into his new role. Please join us in officially welcoming Steve to the IOPSA family.

9 ways to earn 29 CPD Points for FREE!

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 08:43:31 GMT

Many plumbers may find it difficult to understand the standards, and some may even believe that the standards and the required CPD point system are out to make our lives difficult but, The Institute of Plumbing SA (IOPSA) have put together a list of 9 ways to earn 29 CPD points for FREE!

Subscribe to Plumbing Africa Magazine = Earn 5 Credits
Read Plumbing Africa Magazine = Earn 2 Credits
Watch the videos on the PIRB website = Earn 1 Credit per video (8 videos on the website) 8 Points up for grabs.
Watch the ‘Ins and Outs of CPD’ webinar = Earn 0.5 Credit
Write a Technical Article = Earn 4 Credits
Committee Member (Receive a certificate) = Earn 5 Credits
Attend a Plumbers Evening = Earn 2 Credits
Download the Plumber App = Earn 2 Credits
PIRB Breakfast Talks = 0.25 CPD Credits per tech talk

For more ways to earn CPD contact the IOPSA National office on 011 454 0025 or email us on info@iopsa.org

IOPSA KZN Committee in Pietermaritzburg

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 08:47:52 GMT

IOPSA KZN Committee traveled to our always welcoming sponsor On-Tap in Pietermaritzburg for a Plumbers evening. The attendance was superb once again with a large number of plumbers, hungry for knowledge.

The meeting went very well, a big turn out with a lot of enthusiastic members and non members in terms of their questions and willingness to participate in the conversations positively towards the current COC process. - Gareth Jeary IOPSA KZN Chairman.

A huge Thank-You to John Becker of On-Tap for his sterling efforts as well as Team Rifeng's Glenn Fischer on their presentation and generous Sponsorship.

Gareth Jearey (KZN Chairman) and Garth Scott (KZN Vice Chairman) answer Questions.

Crowd of eager Plumbers hungry for knowledge

Glenn Fischer of Rifeng captivating the Audience

The First IOPSA Newsletter "for the plumber, by the plumber"

Calling all Gauteng Members - Plumbing Bursaries available

Mon, 07 May 2018 13:58:21 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa, in collaboration with PCD College, have made available eight full plumbing learnership/apprenticeship bursaries to deserving candidates wanting to obtain their plumbing qualifications.

To find out more information please follow the below link to download the official letter.

Bursaries letter link 2018 - Click here

IOPSA KZN hosts their first bosses breakfast

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 07:38:05 GMT

The IOPSA KZN Committee were delighted to kick off their first Bosses Breakfast at the Builders Warehouse Riverhorse Valley, on board the Grohe Tour Truck on the 29^th of March 2018.

The event was a celebration of those IOPSA Member Companies in KZN that attend meetings regularly and provide input and insight within the Region. Special thanks is extended to Patrick Gordon of Cobra (Lixil) as well as his support team on board the elegant Grohe Truck.

A further thanks to Gail Whitear for the insightful Motivational talk – albeit with a mischievous crowd, she provided our guests with the tools to develop and grow even further.

The KZN Region is privileged to have Steve Brown as a mentor, and are thankful for his presentation highlighting the benefits of IOPSA and creating awareness of the multitude of projects that IOPSA have on the go. IOPSA KZN wish to commend those that travelled from far; Ballito 50km, Pietermaritzburg 80km and Port Shepstone 132km. Another successful event within a dynamic expanding Region.

Explosive Geysers

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 12:20:47 GMT

It goes without saying; use a Professional Plumber to ensure that you are protected from bad workmanship not only for Material damage, but you are protected from death and serious injury. Below are some images of a T&P (Safety) Valve that was blocked off in 2010 in the KZN Region. The results disastrous to say the least.

Actual Block off of T&P Valve	Results of the Exploded Cylinder
The affect on the building and Garage door, the brick structure cracked.	The state of the roof, ceiling and structure

The SANS Regulations for Geysers, water pipes and Buildings are there for your Protection. Ensuring compliance and adherence to these standards maintains Quality Plumbing for all.

The Mythbuster's show us in great detail what actually happens when the safety devices are not utilized on a Hot water cylinder (Geyser). In this snippet you shall see the 200lt Geyser Cylinder turn into a Water Rocket and shoot 152m into the sky - then return to earth. Imagine this shockwave of 100g's going off in your home. One cannot express enough the Importance of COMPLIANCE. Take a look: https://youtu.be/rGWmONHipVo

Notice Regarding Timber Support for Geysers

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 07:56:36 GMT

IOPSA welcomes a new Executive Director - Brendan Reynolds

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:42:21 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing SA (IOPSA) is proud to announce the appointment of Brendan Reynolds who will take over as the Executive Director. Brendan was approached by IOPSA in March 2018 to fill the role as he has proven himself valuable within the plumbing industry.

Brendan started his career in 1992 as a picker for General Plumbing Supplies which then became a Plumblink store where he went on to work his way up the corporate ladder for many years until he left in 2013 as the Regional Manager inland to run a family business. During his time at Plumblink he also sat on the board of the PIRB for merchants.

Brendan comes on board with a multitude of ideas and goals to uplift IOPSA which will allow us to reach new heights and have a true representation of the plumbing industry as a whole.

“I want the plumbing industry to take charge of its destiny” says Brendan while speaking about his vision going forward for IOPSA.

He is however not all work and no play as he is a huge Lions Rugby fan and enjoys attending as many games as he can to support his team. One of Brendan’s greatest accomplishments he says would have to be his two children. He will also be off to Everest base camp on the 21^st of April 2018 which will push his determination to it’s limits.

Last but not least, IOPSA would like to extend a very special thank you to Steve Brown for enthusiastically stepping in to carry the load for IOPSA.

As IOPSA moves into its next chapter, we have many exciting times ahead. We ask for your continued support and enthusiasm as Brendan transitions into his new role. Please join us in officially welcoming Brendan to IOPSA.

To be or not to be CPD - By Robert Winn

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 06:22:08 GMT

Wow, what a change has swiftly come upon us. Having started my own plumbing Career 14 yrs ago PIRB didn’t exist, it was but a twinkle in IOPSA’s eye. How I learnt my plumbing was through those around me. I did an apprenticeship and have no formal plumbing training. Was this the best way?

Time has shown us that if we only have one source of learning we tend to fall horribly short. I have always been hungry for knowledge, I want to know more, I want to do things the best I can. Why? That’s so much effort, right? I hear plumbers saying I just want to do my work and go home and enjoy my life. What kind of a life is that?

My most valuable asset is myself. My knowledge is power for me to create a better life than just doing my job. I get to create hope for those around me by being able to up sell my skills. When I walk into a client’s house and am able to tell them that according to SANS 10254 their geyser installation needs to be rectified. It makes me feel proud to be a plumber that I am the same quality as an engineer.

How did I learn about the SANS 10254? Only because of PIRB, without this board I would have ended up without a business because as many of you know if you don’t install according to the SANS and sign a COC you are held liable and need to correct your mistakes. Fortunately for me I am hungry to learn and then to teach my fellow workers and employees but unfortunately from what I have learned is that there are many that just don’t care.

They are not proud plumbers because all they want to do is work with their hands and spend no time in self-investment. Yes, I work with my hands, but I need to work with my brain and learn new things. In my life time watching how fast technology has advanced is breath takingly incredible. Surely the plumbing industry is advancing as well? If you don’t think it is, you better get out from under that rock because you will very shortly find your table without food.

IOPSA is working hard at keeping its members current on what PIRB is doing and how they are both advancing the South African National Standards (SANS). They are changing peoples’ perceptions of what a plumber is. But that won’t happen unless we educate ourselves. So PIRB looked at the Australian system that is working so well and how can we apply it in South Africa. Yes, it’s a work in progress and is being constantly worked at by Lea and Martin’s Team.

So the real question is to be or not to be CPD? What is Continuous professional Development?
In many professional industries such as doctors etc. What is it for? And why all the fuss and why do I now at the age of 40+ have to start doing these CPD points. The webinars, the meetings, this is not what I signed up for as a plumber right? Well you are wrong. I don’t want to be classified with the same guy who calls himself a plumber but who’s workmanship is sub standard and doesn’t even know his own regulations which he signed up to the day he decided to be a plumber.

I am proud to be a plumber and if CPD is the way to ensure I and my fellow plumbers increase our standard of work, I whole heartedly embrace the challenges that will come with it. Because I know the future moves on and will do so without me unless I keep up with the changing times. The only constant in our lives is “change”.

What saddens me is that my fellow plumbers are fighting this change and instead of seeing the CPD system as a great way to increase their work and knowledge they see it as a waste of their time. They are not prepared to invest any time into their self-development. My question to you is how without Continuous Professional Development are you going to comply to the changing standards?

To become an IOPSA member, please contact Celmarie on info@iopsa.org

JOIN TODAY AND RECEIVE A FREE WEBINAR to the value of R250!

IOPSA obtains Health & Safety Grant once again for it's members!

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 06:16:34 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) sets out to achieve the best for the plumbing industry, and strives to share the rules and regulations in a simplified and straightforward manner.

IOPSA is proud to announce that the Federated Employer’s Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) has approved a second year of funding for a much-needed grant which will allow IOPSA to engage the services of a Health and Safety Officer, who is an expert in their field.

The position will carry great responsibility and the person will have an extensive knowledge in this field. With an in-house Health and Safety Officer, Doug Michell, IOPSA will be able to provide further occupational health and safety training and advice to members as it has for the past year.

FEM was established as a mutual insurer in 1936 and, on the introduction of the Workmen's Compensation Act 1941, was granted a licence to continue to transact workmen's compensation insurance for the building industry. Its business operations are essentially confined to the insurance of employers against their liabilities under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 1993.

Over the past year IOPSA has achieved the following through the use of the FEM grant:

OHS Videos:

These videos were created for easy reference and understanding of different topics within health and safety. IOPSA have worked on the following topics that will be issued to it’s members and the industry as a whole:
1. Deep excavations
2. Lifting and carrying
3. PPE
4. Tool safety
5. Working at heights

Workshops and Webinars

Tool box talk webinars are done every Tuesday - Free for IOPSA members
Health and Safety webinars
IOPSA Plumbers evening presentations
Bosses Lunch Talks on safety

For the upcoming year, IOPSA will be improving and expanding the program to add more vale to its members.

IOPSA will be continuing the weekly Free webinars for its members as well as including some exciting new additions such as an FEM section on the plumbers app where IOPSA members will have access to safety checklists for each task as well as vehicle checklists which can automatically be sent to direct managers once completed.

For more information on the services IOPSA offers in regards to health and safety please feel free to contact our national office on 011 454 0025.

To become an IOPSA Member please contact Celmarie on info@iopsa.org

Join today and receive a FREE webinar worth R250!

Defending the Plumber

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 07:05:48 GMT

I sat across from him and listened intently, my blood began to boil.

“How would you know? You’re just a plumber who plays with sewerage all day!” said the kind gentleman, after I offered some input to a technical problem on site.

It has been said that a real warrior is one who can exercise self-control. It is safe to say that on that day, I was the greatest warrior the world had ever seen. Instead of climbing over the table and throttling the kind gentleman, I exercised extreme self-control and remained firmly fixed to my chair. My mind on the other hand was working overtime. Flashes of me taking flight over the table and wrestling the kind gentleman to the floor ran through my mind frame by frame as my imagination ran riot. Let’s just say that in my short daydream, it didn’t end well for him.

After leaving the presence of the kind gentleman, who remained unharmed, it got me thinking: Why would he say such a thing? Does he really believe a plumber’s day is spent in the company of raw sewerage? Does who honestly believe that plumbers are unable to contribute to society in a meaningful way?

After some pondering I came to following conclusion: In the case of the kind gentleman and his “brilliantly” thought out words, there is a clear difference between his perception of what “just a plumber” does, and the reality of what a plumber actually does. You see, the kind gentleman’s perception is that all a plumber does is play with sewerage all day for a living. While handling sewerage is indeed something that falls under a plumber’s scope of work or expertise, it’s certainly not how we spend our days.

The reality of what a plumber is and does, and the kind gentleman’s narrow-minded perception are worlds apart.

What the kind gentleman fails to see, is how important “just a plumber” actually is. He is blindly unaware that “just plumbers” are responsible for the installation and maintenance of the systems that deliver clean water and remove waste resulting in the protection of countless people from communicable disease. There is acknowledgement from many within the public health community that clean, drinkable water has most likely protected more lives and extended life expectancy more than any medical advancement.

I challenge anyone to live without water and drainage for 24 hours. Turn off the main water supply to your home or office and you will quickly find out how important having water to your taps and toilets really is.

So next time you turn on your tap and fresh water magically appears, recognize who was responsible for delivering that simple convenience to you that is oftentimes taken for granted. When you flush your toilet and everything vanishes in front of your eyes, a plumber made it happen. When you are next enjoying that hot revitalizing shower or bath, recognize that it was the “just a plumber” who made that pleasurable experience possible.

In the words of the late American-born actor, Spencer Tracy: “Acting is not an important job in the scheme of things. Plumbing is!”

As plumbers, what we do really does matter.

Long live “Just A Plumber”

Written by: Dean Cane

Modern Plumbing Works

IOPSA Gauteng Vice Chairman

KZN Plumbers Evening venue 'overflowing'

Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:57:01 GMT

A record number of youthful Plumbers joined the IOPSA KZN Plumbers evening on 15 February at KWIKOT Durban. With the back doors of the Training room open, we had additional chairs and standing guests listening attentively. Barry Chapman of our KZN Ballito Sub-region welcomed and thanked everyone, thereafter introduced Michael Botha of KWIKOT who gave a brief chat to the large crowd.

The venue was bustling with Plumbers old and new and Networking was in full force as ideas and thoughts were exchanged before and after the meeting. Steve Brown lead the Presentation showing the abundance of Value in IOPSA Membership. Mark De Wet from our National Office, addressed the keen plumbers and notified them of the changes to SANS 10254 (The installation, maintenance, replacement and repair of fixed electric storage water heating systems). The questions posed to IOPSA thereafter were met with great interaction from an enthusiastic crowd. Steve Brown our acting Executive Director and National Operations Manager captivated the crowds and his energy seemingly rubbed off onto these Professional Plumbers, creating an insightful and memorable evening.

A great thanks goes out to our Host KWIKOT, senior Management and Staff for their hospitality. Further thanks to Bianca Brown and the KZN Committee for their outstanding efforts in getting the plumbers together.

A South African Plumbing industry breakthrough! - SANS 10254 Changes

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 11:58:32 GMT

“Starting 2018 on a positive note”, is something all registered plumbers in South Africa could say with the release of the latest edition of SANS 10254 for the installation, maintenance, replacement and repair of fixed electric storage water heating systems.

As plumbers, we sometimes find it difficult to keep up to date with the requirements of the SANS standards, and may feel that changes to the standards will cause a world of confusion and frustration in an already challenging work environment.

This is certainly not the case with the changes to SANS 10254, if anything the changes have made the standard easier to understand and brings it in line with some of the other current standards like SANS 10106 and SANS 1352 for solar and heat pump installations respectively.

We will be going into more detail on the changes over the next few months to better explain the requirements, but for now, we will only be looking at one of the key changes to the standard that may have the greatest effect on all geyser installations.

The key change in SANS 10254 requires that; on completion of a geyser installation, maintenance or replacement of components, a Certificate of compliance from the registered professional body for plumbers, being the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) register (in terms of the relevant national legislation), shall be issued to the owner of the installation and to the body requiring such a certificate, along with a written notice of any non-compliance.

In simple terms; plumbers are now required to issue a PIRB Certificate of compliance for all work on a geyser, along with a non-compliance informing the geyser owner/ user of compliance issues.

This calls for plumbers to up-skill themselves and ensure that when completing work on a geyser, they understand the requirements of the standard not only to issue a Certificate of compliance, but also be able to note all non-compliance on the installation.

The issuing of a PIRB certificate of Compliance has already been a requirement of SANS 10106 for Solar geysers since 2014 and SANS 1352 for Heat Pumps since 2012. The inclusion of the COC requirement to SANS 10254 ensures that all hot water cylinder installations requirements are aligned to promote and uplift the quality of installation work and protect the well-being of the consumer and the environment.

IOPSA is available to assist all IOPSA members to ensure that they understand the requirements of the Standards, along with the changes to SANS 10254. IOPSA has Compliance table as well as Warranty and Geyser failure guideline documents available free of charge to all members. IOPSA can also assist and advise members on all the available training to plumbers to uplift their skills and ensure their growth within the industry.

Plumbing Certificate of Compliance (CoC) – explained

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 08:58:58 GMT

Plumbing Certificates of Compliance are issued by licensed plumbers to certify that their plumbing work complies with all regulatory installations requirements.

According to The Plumbing Industry Registration Board, CoC is a system and process whereby a licensed plumbing practitioner will self-certify their plumbing work by issuing a plumbing certificate of compliance to the relevant owner, municipality, local authority and / or insurance company. Through the process the licensed plumber takes ownership for their plumbing work and is held accountable for the work he has done.

Certificate of compliance is a form of quality assurance.
Image credit: Pixabay

A PLUMBING CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE WILL BE ISSUED FOR MOST PLUMBING WORK, INCLUDING:

Where the total value of work, including materials, labour and VAT, is more than R1 500 (material costs must be included, regardless of whether the materials were supplied by another person);
The installation, relocation or replacement of any electric water heating system, regardless of the cost;
For every separate installation on a site;
The construction, installation or alteration of any above or below ground sanitary drain, regardless of the cost;
The installation, relocation or replacement of any hot water solar water heating system; and
The installation, relocation or replacement of any heat pump water heating system.

A plumbing CoC is issued within five working days of the completion of the said plumbing works. Only a licensed plumber may purchase and issue compliance certificates. It is illegal for anyone to work on a plumbing installation if they are not a qualified plumber or do not work under the adequate supervision of a qualified plumber.

Registered people under the category of qualified plumbers are qualified to carry out plumbing works and may supervise non-qualified plumbers or plumbing apprentices; however, they will not be allowed to purchase or issue plumbing CoCs for plumbing installations.

View the Original article here.

Meet the team - Western Cape

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 06:35:09 GMT

Lizé joined the IOPSA Western Cape team as the regional secretary. Lize has come from being a managing agent for a Body Corporate of a building with 72 units.

Within this position Lizé was exposed to a multitude of plumbing issues where and IOPSA committee member was called in to assist and thus she has built on her plumbing knowledge.

Lizé is responsible for the smooth running and administration of the Western Cape region as well as all of the events. She hopes to increase membership and events within her region in order to support the IOPSA members with knowledge and skills.

Should you wish to get in contact the Western Cape region, please feel free to contact them on the details below.

Tel: 021 532 1084

IOPSA Western Cape

137 Monte Vista Boulevard

Cape Town

iopsawc@gmail.com

History was made in Bethlehem

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 06:43:01 GMT

An inaugural IOPSA meeting was held in Bethlehem at the Gemsbok Club. It was certainly a long process in putting this event together and IOPSA would like to thank Mark and Linda of M&M Plumbing for making this event a great success.

There was no shortage of commitment in terms of making this event happen, with Gert and Tokkie Fraser as well as Rudi van der Merwe and Andre Van Zyl travelling a round trip of 500km’s to attend and present in support of this event in Bethlehem.

Steve Brown travelled from Durban, another extensive round trip of 800km. It was great that Mark and Linda were able to schedule a meeting with the local Building Control Officers at their offices; this in support of advising them of the changes within IOPSA and the PIRB.

IOPSA extended invitation to the Building control officers to attend the weekly IOPSA Building Control officer training Webinars. For noting, one of the Senior Building inspectors attended the IOPSA meeting that evening and was/is very supportive of IOPSA and PIRB initiatives.

A good start for a small town being an attendance of around 14 people, we wish to thank those in attendance. IOPSA would, once again, like to thank Mark and Linda for their commitment to taking on the position of sub-regional coordinator for the Bethlehem region we look forward to future meetings to identify and develop the region.

This has been one of IOPSA’s goals to extend to outer-lying areas as we have managed to do in the Gauteng, Southern Cape and KwaZulu Natal regions.

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I encourage all members to engage with IOPSA - You won't regret it!

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 06:36:59 GMT

I recently required assistance with a compliance issue with the local council building inspector and was referred to Mark de Wet (Technical Manager).

Mark responded in good time and found a solution that was accepted by the council.

We have been IOPSA members for over 10 years and up until recently did not see the membership as beneficial to ourselves.

We also found the webinar’s very informative on current trends and very valuable to our staff.

I wish to encourage other IOPSA members to engage with the organisation whenever there are any issues or complications on site as IOPSA membership includes this service.

I for one have a new and better perception of IOPSA and would like to thank Mark de Wet and the team for the excellent service received.

Gerhard van Graan,

DrainCorp Plumbers

IOPSA Gauteng Golf day

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 10:12:41 GMT

On behalf of IOPSA Gauteng, we would like to personally thank You for your Support at the IOPSA Gauteng Golf Day 2017.

The feedback has been phenomenal from both Players and Sponsors; those that matter most. We certainly look forward to seeing you for an even greater day in 2018 as we continue to grow!

IOPSA would like to thank Jackie Burgess for the hard work and planning that went into making sure the IOPSA Gauteng Golf day was a success.

We wish to reiterate our Thanks for Our Generous Sponsors – The IOPSA Gauteng Golf Day could not have been achieved without their valued support – for Contact details please feel free to pop us a message.

*NB* - For more photos please click here!

KZN Golf Day - Thank you for Joining us 2017!

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 10:02:12 GMT

The annual Mike Drake Memorial was held at the Royal Durban Golf Club. We were honoured to have Malcolm Harris from Harscan as our MC. The prizegiving was handled by Gary Chandler and Marc Sheppard of Plumblink. On a day in which was scheduled for cold, wet and windy; there surely was some hot golf and lots of beverages to stave-off the effects of the weather. IOPSA KZN would just like to thank all of our Sponsors, players and participants in making this a memorable day. We wish to congratulate fourball winners, Team Speedfit as well as the Winning Plumber; Keith Botha, further wish to congratulate Kwikot for their enthusiastic tee box. We’d just like to thank Bianca Brown for organising another spectacular event; this is certainly not an easy task, but once again pulled off without a hitch. We’d further like to thank the KZN committee for their efforts and support as well as Steve Brown, always cracking the whip. We look forward to next year for a bigger and better relaxed day of golf and fun.

On behalf of IOPSA KZN, we would like to personally thank You for your Support at the Mike Drake Memorial Golf Day 2017. The feedback has been phenomenal from both Players and Sponsors; those that matter most. I certainly look forward to seeing you for an even greater day in 2018 as we continue to grow! We are truly thankful to have missed the Severe weather and congratulate players and sponsors for braving the short drizzle!

We wish to reiterate our Thanks for Our Generous Sponsors – The IOPSA KZN Golf Day could not have been achieved without their valued support – for Contact details please feel free to pop me a Message.

*NB* High resolution pics available on Request

RETROFIT SOLAR GEYSERS AND SANS 10400-XA REQUIREMENTS

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 09:49:32 GMT

There has been a large amount of confusion regarding the requirements of SANS 10400-XA and the installation of Retrofit solar geysers as an installation option for SANS 10400-XA compliance on new property developments.

With Retrofit installations been a cheaper installation, developers are opting for the retrofit systems but are unaware that the installation will not be compliant as per the requirements of SANS 10400-XA and SANS 1307. This also becomes an issue for the plumber issuing the PIRB COC as it will fail on an Audit.

What is the requirement of SANS 10400-XA?

XA2 – Not more than 50% of the annual volume of domestic hot water should be supplied by means of electrical resistance heating, ie 50% or more of the hot water used must be heated by energy sources other than electricity.

So with a standard electrical geyser been used as a solar retrofit installation the standing heat loss on the cylinder does not allow for 50% alternative heating, as the water in the tank cools down over night or during winter seasons the geyser will be required to use an electrical element to heat the water , thus not allowing for the required 50% as per SANS 10400-XA2

If we take a closer look at SANS 10400-XA it states, the following regarding Solar hot water heating installations.

SANS 10400-XA Point 4.1.1

4.1.1 in order to comply with functional regulation XA2, contained in part XA of the National Building Regulations, the following guidance is provided:

a. The volume of the annual average hot water heating requirements shall be calculated in accordance with table 2 and 5 of SANS 10252-1 and

b. If solar water heating systems are used, these shall comply with SANS 1307, SANS 10106 , SANS 10254 and SAN 10252-1

Where some might find difficulty in getting the full picture of all the solar water heating system and installation requirements is when the numerous normative referenced standards are not examined, which is where a lot of the detail resides. These include SANS 151, SANS 60335-2-21, SANS 10254, SANS 198, SANS 10152-1, as well as NRCS VC 8055 and VC 9006 etc

SANS 10106 5.1.6 in turn requires that the solar water heating system must comply with SANS 1307.

It is therefore clear that both the solar water heating system must comply with SANS 1307 (which includes the 2 main components – the collector and the storage tank (3.1.6), as well as all the prescribed control and safety valves, pipe-work thermal insulation), and secondly the solar water heating system installation (which covers many aspects as well) must comply with SANS 10106.

SANS 1307 specifies the tests, the design and performance of some of the components separately (like hail, condensation, cover strength etc. tests on the collectors, other tests on the storage tank, as well as other tests on the components together as a system, such as thermal performance, standing losses, freeze resistance etc.

SANS 1307 compliance cannot be achieved by the sum of the individual components on their own, tested separately.

There is no test in SANS 1307 or in any other SANS standard for the thermal performance of the collector on its own. You cannot therefore test a collector on its own and then mix and match it to any other storage tank and then prove or certify compliance of such a combination as a SANS 1307 system.

So in conclusion any inspectorate like PIRB or the municipality or any other inspection or approvals authority (Dept. Energy, CEF, etc) or body, needs proof in the form of a valid and current SANS 1307 system test report, mark certificate or JASWIC listing and certificate.

If a retrofit system is to be used at a new development then a SANS 1307 test report will need to be provide by either the manufacturer, importer or plumber doing the installation and presented to the developer or consumer as proof that the complete installation is compliant and has been tested in full to the requirements of SANS 1307.

The installation will also require the plumber to provide the consumer with a copy of the SANS1307 test report and a PIRB COC as per the requirements of SANS 10106

How IOPSA got me back onboard after 15 years

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 10:50:50 GMT

It gives me pleasure to write about the current IOPSA administration.

I find it refreshing to deal with Steve Brown (Acting Ed), Kaela Bell (Membership administrator) and Mark de Wet (Technical Manager).

Kaela from day one, was not only pleasant, but knowledgeable and efficient.

We were very concerned about the CPD points that we had not been able to achieve, not due to our negligence but due to various complications.

I can proudly say that within two months, we have 19 CPD points!

Not so difficult once you understand what is required.

I have had a few plumbing issues and Steve has always been just a phone call away. If not available immediately, within the hour he is returning your call.

We have been doing internal audits on our plumbers re installing geysers and there were a few technical points we needed to clarify, Mark was available to assist with the information we required.

I used to be a member of IOPSA over 15 years ago and up until recently did not feel I was benefiting in any way. I also felt that to get CPD points was a money racket.

Now I feel completely different about being a member and about the CPD points. They are both essential. Why one may ask?

Firstly the assistance one gets from IOPSA is invaluable :-

IOPSA meetings, that are very informative on relevant business issues and product, provide you with 4 CPD points.
Knowledgeable assistance on administration and technical plumbing issues
Recruiting of learners and plumbers.

Achieving CPD points is a very good way of staying abreast with all aspects of running a successful plumbing business and need not cost you anything if attend meetings throughout the year and watch a few videos.

I feel proud to say that I am affiliated with IOPSA now we just need to get all the plumbers, throughout South Africa on board.

Written by Sandra Adams

(Dave Miller Plumbers)

IOPSA's 77th National Executive meeting

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 07:08:31 GMT

On the 20th of September 2017 IOPSA National held its 77th NATEXEC meeting where chairman from all over the country were in attendance to discuss the status of IOPSA and the way forward.

During the course of the full day meeting many topics such as budget, training, regional feedback, technical information, events and marketing were discussed.

The meeting was a great success and all who were in attendance left with a strong understanding of the way forward and excitement for things to come.

(Martin Kaschula, Johan Van den Berg , Ryder Rollinson, Dawie du Plessis, Andre Gous, Lea Smith, Michelle van Rensburg, Steve Brown, Chris Burgess, Nick Joubert, Mark de Wet, Robert Winn, Mark Pratt, Gareth Jearey, Ryan Swinton)

Tshwane IOPSA Sub Committee - "Be the change you want to see"

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 06:55:36 GMT

The plumbing industry has moved forward in leaps and bounds driven by IOPSA with Gary Macnamara at the helm steering our ship.
Gary as many know has moved on to greater challenges in life.

He has left us with a thriving IOPSA community on which we get the privilege to grow, and with this privilege I am proud to announce the beginning of the Tshwane IOPSA Committee.

This will allow plumbers in the Pretoria area to get more attention in terms of meetings in Pretoria helping us grow the Tshwane IOPSA plumbers community.
IOPSA's core belief is to uplift the standards by getting involved with every IOPSA member, helping them with their business, providing support in the latest trends within the plumbing industry and forming partnerships with businesses to provide IOPSA members with better discounts like the incredible deal they have with the NP200 that is R40 000 cheaper.

Providing Training in the latest SANS regulations that are being updated. Things that I know as a plumber are essential to my business growing to the next level.

As we all know IOPSA is a Non-profit volunteer driven organisation and without the plumbers it cannot deliver what we as plumbers truly need - support. We are so alone in our businesses grinding away struggling with the same problems but no one to talk to. Imagine being able to get together and find out how another plumber solved the same problem you had? Or this new job you are taking on and have no experience in it and being an IOSPA member you can call them and get the advice you need. This is why I am on the Committee, I want to be the difference I desire to see from others. I am tired of complaining and not seeing results. I want to be the change, not the problem, which is why IOPSA’s tag line of “Be the change YOU want to see” resonates with me.

Being part of the committee and attending the IOPSA meetings my business has grown. I have learnt of new opportunities in the same jobs I do every day just because I attended a meeting that was so skilfully put together my Kaela and the IOPSA Gauteng committee. They are doing their best to give their best to us. This has truly inspired me and encouraged me to do my part in making South Africa great again. I am not going to wait for someone else to make the change.

So come and join us, by just being part of the meetings and encouraging those around you to attend, we will be that difference that you want to see happen in the South African Plumbing Industry!

For more information on the Pretoria sub committee please contact Kaela on 011 454 0025 or email us at info@iopsa.org

IOPSA brings excitement to members with the CMH deal

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 06:20:39 GMT

I had the most wonderful experience and just need to thank IOPSA for the opportunity.

I was going about my regular day, going through all my emails when suddenly this email with an NP200 for a ridiculous price popped up!

This can’t be right, I thought, then I see it was for IOPSA members and knew it’s those legends at it again!
Working on getting its members the benefits. I jumped at the opportunity because last year I had just bought an NP200 and the deal was not this sweet and the service was bitter.
This deal at the same price had a Bluetooth radio, contractors rack and the safety pack.
So, I gave them a call and started the process with the bank to get my funding.

What a wonderful experience dealing with CMH Nissan. Being in Pretoria and CMH Nissan being in Durban I would either need to get the vehicle trucked up here or go and fetch it. CMH Nissan had me covered either way.

One of my main concerns as I had opted to fly down and enjoy Durban for a few days was how would I get to CMH Nissan. Would I need to hire a car for a 45min drive?
I asked if they would be able to fetch me from the airport and immediate response was that won’t be a problem. They even waited for me to finish my breakfast at the airport. The driver was polite and so friendly.

On arriving at CMH NISSAN you get first class treatment. The bakkie was ready and waiting with a large blue ribbon on it, it’s those extra touches that just make one excited to buy another work vehicle for my employees to be able to rescue another client.

The general manager and sales manager came to congratulate me on my purchase and to check if everything went well. I won’t even go into the horror story of the previous NP200 purchase. This was a dream. I got a call the next day to check that everything was in order.

What a wonderful experience with a company that is doing what it can to help us small contractors grow our businesses with cost effective and reliable vehicles. Thanx to CMH Nissan and IOPSA I am ready to rescue another client from their plumbing nightmare.

Written by Robert Winn

Brooklyn Plumbers T/A Plumbing Heros

Plasticomp wants your old PVC Pipes

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 13:28:45 GMT

Getting rid of PVC pipes in today's times has become a job in it's own as some landfills refuse to take them and the pipes most likely end up in a pile at our workshops and offices.

But no longer! Plasticomp is a Gauteng based company that recycles PVC (blue, white and cream pipes, conduit and trunking) and LLDPE (Jojo tanks).

They collect pipes, fittings, shavings, off-cuts in and around the Gauteng area.

Please contact them to clean up your site and to remove all your off-cuts and trimmings.

They pay per kg for the material that they collect.

For more information please contact Anton Tjabring on 074 366 8636

011 918 3412 or atjabring@plasticomp.co.za

FINDING A SOLUTION TO A COMMON DRAINAGE PROBLEM

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:48:06 GMT

Below is an image taken out of Plumbing Africa, let us look past the water pipes and only focus on the 110mm UG drainage pipes.

This is a widespread problem on today’s construction sites, the required drainage levels can’t always be achieved and the plumber is left to try and find a solution to the problem.

So, what to do in this situation?

I have attached an easy to understand diagram below of a solution that is easy to install and cost effective.

The diagram is of a basic overflow gulley head installation that can ensure your installation is compliant with the standards on completion.

Written by Mark de Wet

IOPSA National Technical Manager

Change can be good

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 08:54:20 GMT

IOPSA’s Western Cape region has had a tough time of it lately. There are rumblings on the ground and murmurings in the air that suggest that IOPSA as an organisation is failing in its mandate. Speaking of which, just what is its mandate? Why does it exist? What does it do for the plumber, and why should he/she part with hard-earned cash to be part of it? Well I’m not here to give a lengthy nuts-and-bolts dissemination of every detail of IOPSA’s role in the plumbing industry. What I can tell you though is that at the WC regional level (driven down from National), one thing has started to come sharply into focus as a non-negotiable: Service. Service to the plumber and the industry. There needs to be value for the plumber. There needs to be a perception of “getting something out”, and it needs to start with the EXCO members. One thing’s for sure- the people in the organisation, from National down to regional EXCO volunteers- are rock solid, we all collectively have the same goals and passions to see the INDUSTRY grow. Without a successful and thriving plumbing sector everything else falls apart. Now we can sit and debate just how this is to be achieved, and we will- but for now we need you to know that certainly at WC EXCO level, (And I’m sure I speak for all others) there will be a concerted drive to start to serve you, the plumber.

It’s early days, and there are many ideas on the table but here are some to whet your appetite:

1) More events, and in more locations- In the past there may have been 3-4 plumbers evenings in the Western Cape per year. And most if not all of those would have taken place in and around Cape Town. Guys and girls from Paarl, Worcester, Hermanus, Stellies...all of the outlying areas have had to travel extensively to get to these events. And they have been! We want to try our best to change that, to move the events around and hopefully have plumbers evenings and other events outside of Cape Town.
2) More info at plumbers evenings- Although there has always been valuable information and material available at these events, we would like to up the ante a bit. I, as the technical representative of the WC EXCO would like to introduce a technical session at each plumbers evening. The content of these will vary, but I would like to start to unpack the SANS requirements and have discussions around those. Also, we are hoping to set up more interesting events such as factory tours and in-depth product knowledge. These are always fascinating and welcomed by most technically-minded people I know.
3) Promotion of members- We hope to find ways of driving home the message that to use properly trained plumbers is non-negotiable, and the advantages of using plumbers that are registered with the industry bodies such as IOPSA and PIRB.
4) Bridging gaps- As mentioned earlier, there are a great many plumbers that feel like they have been let down by IOPSA, or that IOPSA is self-serving, or that IOPSA is only in it for the money, or that…or…or….. Well we hope to change that. We believe that all roleplayers in the plumbing sector want the same thing- for it to be thriving and sustainable. Is there a sure-fire way to get everyone singing off the same hymn sheet? No, but it starts with reaching out, cooperation, discussion and HEARING one another. The guys and gals that are passionately dead-set against the notion of an IOPSA or similar body are EXACTLY the ones we want in our corner. Their passion is already clearly evident, and that is gold.

Border's 1st Annual Plumbers Games a SUCCESS!

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 10:58:06 GMT

On the 24^th of August 2017 IOPSA border region hosted the very first Annual Plumbing Games. This was held instead of having a regular plumbers event for a little fun.

The event was hosted at the Plumblink showroom where snacks and drinks were served to keep the players hydrated and fed.

There was a total of 5 games that were played:

1. The Geyser Relay – where teams were made to carry a geyser using only a rope.
2. IOPSA Pipe Puzzle – Teams had to spell out the word IOPSA using nothing but 40mm piping and fittings (Images attached)

3. Toilet Basketball – Teams had 60 seconds to dunk as many balls into a toilet pan within the time limit.

4. Polycop tug of war – teams were asked to play the good old game of tug of war which seeded out the men from the boys.

5. Tap reassemble – Teams had to reassemble a tap as fast as possible while blind folded!

There were four teams who took part in the event and they were able to select their own team names.

The winner of the event was the Misfits receiving Rothernberger tools and the Golden Plunger Trophy

The event was a great success and the teams had great fun.

Plumbers without Borders comes to Durban

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:46:12 GMT

IOPSA KZN was fortunate to Host Mr Domenico DiGregorio at the Grohe Dawn Lifestyle Design Centre in Durban on 29 June.

Domenico recently returned from Durban, South Africa, as a participant of the International Workshop on Community-Scale

Resource-Oriented Sanitation Treatment Systems, a program managed by ANSI with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help facilitate advancements in non-sewered sanitation products. With over 80 participants submitting reviews, comments, and recommendations, this workshop will prove instrumental in furthering development of new technology and solutions to improve access to hygienic sanitation for the 2.5 billion people living without this basic human right.

While in Durban, Domenico was also a guest speaker at the local meeting of IOPSA (Institute of Plumbing South Africa).

IOPSA members have been some of the most enthusiastic supporters of PWB since our inception, and their passion to serve their communities is abundantly evident.

PWB looks forward to further collaborating with IOPSA members, especially in support of their sustaining interest in forming a “Team” of local South African/PWB volunteers, who are actively involved in improving their communities’

plumbing and sanitary needs. Thank you to Steve Brown, IOPSA Operations Manager, and the entire membership for their warm reception, amazing hospitality and long-standing support of the PWB mission!

IOPSA says farewell to Gary Macnamara

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 07:07:51 GMT

Over the past two years Gary Macnamara has been the executive director for The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA). Within his role at the organisation, he has achieved and conquered any challenge put before him and this is a trait of his that will be dearly missed.

Pictured: Chris Burgess, Craig Preston, Steve Brown, Lea Smith and Gary Macnamara

Every beginning has an end. And every end is a new beginning. Macnamara leaves the IOPSA team to relocate his family to New Zealand and tackle new adventures that may lay ahead.

At a small farewell gathering, Macnamara was given a multitude of gifts from the organisation to help him on his new adventure to New Zealand.

Gary Macnamara pictured at his farewell dressed in his gifts

IOPSA would like to wish Macnamara and his family best of luck for their new chapter and every success in their future.

For the IOPSA offices, it is still business as usual.

IOPSA KZN - Richards Bay Plumbers Evening at Aqua-Tap

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:09:35 GMT

The IOPSA KZN committee Travelled up to Richards Bay to hold a Plumbers evening on 19 July and were met with some old and new faces. The evening was informative and as always, Gopal Bissessur of Aqua-Tap Plumbing Richards Bay was a phenomenal host and sponsor. One of the highlights of the Evening was the story of a keen plumber who, along with his assistants, travelled a round trip of approximately seven hundred kilometres to join in on the evening. Some commendable commitment from Simphiwe Cele of Plupacati Plumbers. The evening was an informative session, followed by Questions and Answers from the Plumbers pertaining to industry.

Pictured; IOPSA Representatives, Gopal Bissessur of AquaTap and Plumbers enjoying their Prizes.

IOPSA KZN International Speaker

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:24:12 GMT

IOPSA KZN was fortunate to Host Mr Domenico DiGregorio at the Grohe Dawn Lifestyle Design Centre in Durban on 29 June. Patrick Gordon of Grohe Dawn lead with an Informative talk, thereafter Plumbers were treated to shared experiences and insight into the Plumbers Without Borders journey along with some of the interaction on Local matters. Mr DiGregorio and the team at Plumbers without Borders have been growing from strength to strength, being instrumental leaders in the upliftment and reestablishment of many disaster and rural areas. To join Plumbers without Borders from any type of participatory level, visit their website; www.plumberswithoutborders.org.

The Difference Between UG and SV Pipes and Fittings

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 07:25:41 GMT

IOPSA (Institute of Plumbing South Africa) has compiled a short document explaining the fundamental differences between UG (underground) piping and SV (soil-vent system - above ground) piping, and why the two should be used absolutely correctly. Many plumbers don’t understand how different the two are, and installation requirements are often neglected. It is imperative that the pipes meet the SANS requirements before installation occurs.

Below are just a few key points explaining the differences, as well as why UG piping systems cannot be used above ground:

1. The basic difference between the pipes and the fittings is the colour and thickness. UG piping is manufactured in a cream/beige colour and SV piping is white. The SV piping also may have a wider inner wall to that of a UG pipe.
2. As per the requirements of the relevant SANS standards, the pipe and its fittings are tested as a complete system and will be required to operate as such. So, although you can connect a beige UG pipe with the white SV fitting and the system may work, it doesn’t comply with the required standards. Thus, the installation will not be compliant.
3. Fittings and angles required on the installation:
a. UG piping and fittings are manufactured for below-ground use only, as the fittings are calculated for the correct slope as required in an underground installation.
b. SV piping and fittings are manufactured for a system above ground, and the fittings are cast for horizontal and vertical installations to provide the correct gradient on the slope as required from SANS 10252-2.

UG Bend at 92.5˚

SV Bend at 95.0˚

1. As per SANS 10252-2 the correct piping is required to be used in above-ground installations. Only PVC piping that is SANS approved for above ground use is the white SV piping and fittings.
- 2. UG piping is not UV resistant and becomes very brittle in sunlight. Plumbers make the mistake of thinking it can be used in an above-ground duct or stack; this is incorrect as per point 1. The pipes and fittings are tested as a system and if you use the incorrect piping with the SV fittings, the installations will not be compliant to SANS installation standards. It is clear in SANS 10252-2 that the above-ground piping needs to be used for duct work.
The below table has been taken from SANS 10252-2 further explaining the requirements for the installation in a duct, it makes clear reference in point 2 as to the pipe required in an installation.

TABLE 20 – MAXIMUM SPACING OF PIPE SUPPORTS FOR STRAIGHT PIPE LENGTHS

Electrical Geyser Cylinder Failure Guideline

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 06:23:54 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) has facilitated with industry-leaders and geyser manufacturers, the development of a guideline to alleviate confusion in the industry relating to fixed electrical water heating (geyser) cylinder failures. The confusion & frustration has been created due to a very high percentage of non-compliant installations verse actual product failure and whether poor installation has resulted in the product failure.

To avoid such confusion, industry has collaboratively created a document that aims to support plumbing installers and manufacturers, clarifying critical areas that determine where incorrect installation can be used as technical reason to void a warranty claim.

Geyser manufacturers are within their right to void a warranty claim based on an installation not been compliant, however also have the responsibility to support their product in the industry if failure is determined to be a manufacturing fault.

This guideline will provide critical standards that, if followed correctly by the plumber, will help to prevent product failure from happening. On the other hand, this the document will provide information that supports technical reasons as to why a manufacturer may void a warranty due to a non-compliant installation.

It is important to note that this guideline is an ongoing document, and will be updated as necessary as and when IOPSA and industry reconvene. It is also critical for installers to understand that compliance to all regulations & standards applicable to a fixed electrical water heating system are to be adhered to.

The following table advises those areas that are critical to the fixed electrical water heating (geyser) cylinder failure. All points of reference are to be verified with the relevant manufacturer in terms of warranty conditions to alleviate confusion/ liability or uncertainty.

Installation items that may lead to failure of water heating cylinder in an electrical geyser. (15 items extracted from SANS 10252 & 10254 Standards discussed as points relating to water heater cylinder failure)

No.	Description of fault cause	Cylinder failure	Critical safety
1	Temperature Pressure Valve (TP valve) rating is higher than water heating cylinder installed	Yes	Yes
3	Installation of reconditioned valves. NOTE: Some manufacturers do not allow for the installation of a reconditioned valve onto the cylinders so warranty will be void. Confirm with the Relevant manufacturer if this point is applicable to the Manufacturer.	No, if compliant	Yes
4	Un-balanced pressure of water system	No, may lead to failure of PCV expansion valve	Yes
5	Safety valve is restricted (blocked or damaged)	Yes	Yes
6	T&P overflow piping is incorrect size or smaller than the minimum requirement of 22mm	No	Yes
7	Isolating or non-return valve is installed between hot water cylinder and the pressure control valve (PCV), expansion relief (ERV) valve or vacuum breaker.	Yes	Yes
8	Where no T&P valve is installed	Yes	Yes
9	Where no pressure control valve is installed	Yes	Yes
11	Back-siphonage of hot water into the cold-water supply - tank warranty intact – element void Note: This may however effect copper tanks and tanks that have a PEX lining.	No, may lead to failure of element	Yes
12	Vacuum breakers are installed incorrectly or not above the top of the water heater (the anti-siphon loop) tank warranty intact – element void Vacuum breaker should be installed 300mm above the cylinder, if it is not possible it can be installed more than 700mm of hot water supply directly on the line.	No, may lead to failure of element	Yes
13	Discharge pipes that are obstructed and not open to the atmosphere	Yes	Yes
15	Limited or no access to hot water heating system installation	No	Yes

Guideline to manufacturers items that may lead to product warranty void

1. Indoor hot water cylinder installed outside (must be identified on the cylinder)
2. Electrical element burnt in air – element warranty only
3. Limited or no access to hot water cylinder installation (maintenance and replacement purposes) – replacement product provided but installation labour for customers account. Manufacturer will only provide the cylinder.
4. Required isolating valves not installed – Cylinder will be provided and customer must install the cylinder using his own plumbing contractor.
5. Water heater cylinder has been tampered with
6. Water heater cylinder serial plate has been tampered with or missing
7. Water heater cylinder has been removed from installation
8. All components installed in conjunction with the hot water cylinder must be approved components as per manufacturer specifications, if grey product components are used; the warranty will be void.
9. If the incorrect support structure is in place, the manufacturer will only provide a cylinder replacement. The installation cost will be for the consumers own account using his own plumbing contractor. The same goes for cylinders mounted on incorrect wall support.

NOTE:

1. This is a guideline to industry and users must always refer to current regulations and standards.
2. This guideline does not exclude the supply chain from liability of compliance in any manner. Installers must issue Notice of Non-compliance to property owners as required by regulation.
3. Solar geyser and heat pump installations have been excluded from this guideline at this point.
4. This guideline is subject to the manufacturers (water heater cylinder and valves) installation instructions.

Recommendations

1. Compliance of an electrical water heater system installation should be included in manufacturer warranty conditions going forward. Change behaviour of entire supply chain to ensure requirements of regulation are met, therefore ensuring the protection of the public and the environment.
2. Clear guideline to industry of how to bring an existing electrical water heater system installation to be compliant.
3. Understanding installations where specific conditions may affect voiding a warranty claim:
a. Amendments of regulation / standards related to installation date.
b. Water heater cylinder not been SANS 151 accredited (SABS approved) at time of installation.
c. Solar Water heater system not being SANS 1307 accredited (SABS approved) at time of installation.
d. Requirements of all solar system panel and cylinder configurations being SANS accredited (SABS approved).

For more information, please visit the IOPSA website at www.iopsa.org. Or contact 08610 PLUMBER

What is a Certificate of Compliance?

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 06:19:09 GMT

IOPSA (the Institute of Plumbing South Africa) has noticed an increase in confusion, due to the number of different plumbing Certificate of Compliance (CoC) issued within South Africa. The local municipalities are responsible for the enforcement of the national Building & Water Regulations. Individual local authorities have their own form of a CoC if their bylaws require one to be issued by a plumber.

For the purpose of this article, IOPSA will focus on the City of Cape Town CoC and the Plumbing Industries Registration Board (PIRB) CoC to give an understanding of why there are different CoCs and what the differences are.

The City of Cape Town have implemented that a Certificate of Compliance is to be issued on the sale of a property in the same vein as the Borer and Electrical Certificate of Compliance. However, in terms of the requirements of the document, there are only specific points raised and required for the plumber to check:

· The Hot Water Cylinder installation complies with SANS 10252 and SANS 10254
· The water pipes in the plumbing installation (especially within the roof space) are properly saddled as per SANS 10252
· The water meter records the flow when water is drawn, and does not register when consumption stops.
· The private isolating valve as per subsection 23(2) (a) or (b) is in place and functioning.
· None of the terminal water fittings leak and they are correctly fixed in position.
· No storm water is discharged into the sewerage system.
· There is no cross connection between the potable supply and any alternate supply.

The document has been amended since inception. A concern relating to the City of Cape Town CoC is that new property owners are under the impression that the entire plumbing system is compliant. As you can see by the points indicated; the plumber does not check all points of a Plumbing System relevant to the Regulations & Standards of plumbing. Complaints arise when service calls initiated for repairs and issues of non-compliance become apparent by the responding plumber. This reverts to Western Cape however in other regions; Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Southern Cape, a CoC is now being requested by the buyer.

Due to the lack of registration and poor quality plumbing installation, IOPSA initiated the Plumbing Industry Registration Board not only to register all plumbers but to proactively check quality of installations by means of the issuing of PIRB CoC’s.

This was initially a voluntary industry driven solution that is now been included in plumbing regulations since the PIRB has become a Professional Body. The value of the PIRB CoC is explained below:

The PIRB registered plumber is required to log CoC within five days of the installation, which, through the automated services, may result in an audit carried out on the installation. In the event of a failed audit, the plumber would be required to carry out rectification. It’s a controlled, measured system and process. Should the plumber not wish to rectify the issue, they will be removed from the PIRB register. It is important to understand the difference between a local CoC and PIRB CoC.

The PIRB CoC is seen as credible because it is:

a) independently audited
b) a pro-active approach rather than a reactive; they don’t wait for the consumer to complain
c) linked to a register that is maintained on a regular basis which, if you aren’t compliant, you will be removed from

The local certificate is still a requirement in specific local authorities. This is a local government requirement so it’s compulsory. The PIRB is a voluntary requirement, except for solar geysers, heat pump and soon, fixed electrical geysers. If you install a solar geyser or heat pump, you must issue a PIRB certificate in addition to the local government certificate.

The consumer is looking for credibility and support, which they can get through the industry-driven solution that is the PIRB CoC. It has been implemented to assist the municipality.

A PIRB CoC is brought in and implemented for the self-certification of plumbing works carried out by the registered plumber. The various categories in terms of the CoC are denoted on the Certificate, and the plumber will define the specific work carried out on site e.g.: A new build:

all categories of work done and then specified what was done, or
in the event of a Repair/ Replacement/ Solar Installation, plumber will issue solely on work carried out.

The PIRB Certificate was not designed for usage on the sale of property; the issuing plumber may be held liable for any areas of non-compliance not noted. There have been instances where a registered plumber has certified, and not listed the areas of non-compliance, and was therefore held liable. The standards are very specific in terms of the responsibility of the plumber; they must advise the owner of any non-compliance in writing. With the inclusion of the checklist, this will alleviate uncertainty in terms of non-compliance and defective areas. It is to be noted that only a registered PIRB plumber may issue a PIRB Certificate of Compliance.

For more information, please visit the IOPSA website at www.iopsa.org. Or contact 08610 PLUMBER

Bath Access panels

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 09:16:48 GMT

We are finding that in all the new upmarket developments the bathroom design does not allow for the bath access panels, this is due to the aesthetics of the bathroom and the property owner not wanting to see an access panel that stands out.

But as plumbers we need to assist our clients to understand that the access panel is required as per the SANS standard. We also need to look at the best possible solution to ensure the aesthetics of the bathroom can comply to the standards and keep the client happy with the end product.

Below are some ideas of how you can create an access panel for the bathroom that complies to the standards and is still easy on the eye.

How to spot Tender Scams

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 07:17:16 GMT

Over the past four years a number of companies have lost tens of thousands of Rands due to alleged fraudulent request for quotations (RFQS) and orders, supposedly from government departments.

The fraudsters would send a fictitious RFQ from what would seem to be a governmental email address, use a fake RFQ form with a logo and contact details of the contact person. These requests are usually urgent and the whole process is concluded within a short period of time. During the process the “SCM officials” will be in contact with the unsuspecting service provider until the goods are delivered either outside the building or at an agreed address.

How does it work?

Fraudsters make use of department letterheads to send out fake tenders to businesses. They then request these businesses to supply them with equipment and goods. Sometimes, business owners are even asked to pay a deposit to secure their tender. At first glance, everything looks above board. But upon closer inspection, you soon realise that all isn’t as it seems.

The department and Cart Blanche have provided guidelines on how to spot a fake tender:

§ While it’s difficult to determine whether the letter from the department is indeed authentic, there are other smaller details that could help you avoid a very costly mistake.

§ Compare the names and contact numbers as shown on the letter to that published on the relevant Department’s website. If they’re not the same, be careful. If they are the same give them a call to ensure they represent who they say they do.

§ Do a simple online search of the company name as shown on the letter. If there is a website, look up the address and call the company to confirm they do exist.

§ The banking details provided with the tender document belong to a private individual and are not in the company name.

§ Remember that Government will never ask you to pay any money to secure a tender.

§ Check the email address of the sender. If the address contains a .org it is not from the government. Look out forimpersonation addresses like the ones below:

– doh@treasury-gov.org.za

– ghd@gautenghealth-gov.org.za

– health@mphumalang-gov.org.za

– NDOH@nationalhealth-gov.org.za

§ Check the contact number provided on the tender letter. Government warns that although the numbers look valid, they are often not even connected to any property. Give the number a call to check.

§ Look for the purchase or order number. “Government will never send an email asking you to supply equipment and goods without a purchase or order number,” Government warns.

While Government is working closely with authorities to thwart these fraudsters, it still remains the responsibility of the business owner to ensure the tender is legal. Should you fall victim to a tender scam, you cannot hold the relevant Department liable for your losses.

If you do receive a tender request, and you are still unsure about its legitimacy, it’s always wise to give the mentioned Department a call (use the contact number as listed on the Department’s website) to verify.

If you know of any fraudulent tender activities please be report to the Tender Fraud hotline 0800 701 701. Confidentiality is guaranteed.

Meet the Team - Nick Joubert

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 06:17:52 GMT

Nick Joubert comes from a long history of training and education. Nick started lecturing at the Technicon Witwatersrand in the building management department in 1974, he then went on to obtain his BCom Degree in General management from Unisa and completed his post graduate BCom (Hons) studies at the rand Afrikaans university in training management.

He has filled many high profile roles within his career from Divisional director of Primeserve Training to CEO of Chamdor Group and MD for TJEKA Training to name a few.

Nick started his career with IOPSA in 2013 where he was appointed as the National Training Advisor for IOPSA, a position which he still fills to this day. In 2014 IOPSA appointed Nick as an assessment quality manager (AQP within QCTO Framework) where he has been involved in many projects such as Skills for Green Jobs.

In Nick’s spare time, he enjoys time with his family and playing with his grandchildren.

IOPSA CPD Calendar - June 2017

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 12:14:53 GMT

IOPSA runs a wide range of CPD activities on a monthly basis for PIRB registered plumbers to earn their points.

See below calendar for June 2017

Download the calendar here

Testing and Certification Initiative

Mon, 29 May 2017 14:08:25 GMT

Certified Quality Plumbing Products

Plumbers understand that plumbing is the conveyance of water, which means the supply of clean water and removal of dirty water and sewerage. Quality plumbing products suitable for the building environment form part of industry’s responsibility to ensure public health and safety when working with water - a critical resource.

It is imperative that there is a guideline as to what constitutes a good quality product suitable for use in a building. This not only governs the industry, but also creates an equitable environment for all manufacturers and suppliers to compete.

Standards such as the National Building Regulations (NBR) and Water Services Regulations (WSR) are not only a guideline but a regulation; which makes them mandatory. In the current environment, they have little positive contribution to managing the building environment as a result of ineffective enforcement.

An imbalance is created when one of these areas are lacking or absent, such as the certification of products, further impacted by poor policing when products are installed. The consequences, for example, of such challenges are the manufacturing or supplying of poor quality products not fit for the South African plumbing environment.

This problem has a knock-on effect and may only become apparent sometime later, which makes the problem even more difficult to correct, especially when poor quality products have already been sold into an industry.

Ultimately compliant manufactures and suppliers are forced to compete with poor quality products still carrying a huge cost of certifying their products. Cost sensitivity is a key factor in a competitive environment, however not at the expense or risk of the public or sustainability of an industry.

The reality is, non-compliant products become more cost effective and inviting to the public. This also is perceived to be a competitive advantage to installers who benefit, short term, by gaining work; they do however lose clients in the long term due to product failure.

It is therefore extremely important that the entire industry takes responsibility. The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) has been working closely with their manufacturing members through the manufacturers forum to facilitate solutions to overcome the imbalance that has been created due to lack of enforcement of products, as well as poor or non-existent product testing and certification.

Traditionally, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has provided an extensive array of testing and certification. Once the product met the SABS testing and certification requirements, it could carry the SABS mark for a 3-year period. The misconception in the industry is that the SABS mark of approval is mandatory. However, the requirement of the National Building Regulations (NBR) is simply that products should comply with SANS standards unless the SABS mark is specifically required by local bylaws.

This means that manufacturers or suppliers of products do not have to carry the SABS mark, but should prove that their products meet the minimum performance requirements of the relevant SANS standards by means of product certification.

The solutions offered for testing and certification are unable to support market demand for testing and certification, so industry has naturally begun the process of finding alternative solutions to measure their product performance, to remain competitive and meet the requirements of regulations.

IOPSA is therefore facilitating through industry, the development of quality testing laboratories and certification bodies. This creates opportunity for interested competitive market forces without excluding any existing testing or certification solutions.

IOPSA Manufacturer members have voluntarily tabled their requirements to potential testing houses and certification providers who test against the South African National Standards (SANS) document. Manufacturers will engage individually with the testing houses, with IOPSA purely facilitating these conversations.

The risks of an open competitive quality support environment is the possibility of misinterpretation of requirements, standards and management. The government body that currently measures and certifies testing and certification entities is South African National Accreditation System (SANAS)

It is critical that industry and public are assured of quality products across the plumbing supply chain. This can be achieved by a plumbing industry oversight body, creating an industry guideline within the existing framework and enforcement mechanism ensuring minimum product performance standards are kept.

The health and safety of a person should not be equated to cost. In other words, one cannot state that Health and Safety requirements cannot be met due to expense. The plumbing industry, for example, cannot place a person at risk such as not installing an electrical geyser safety valve which may cause a hot water cylinder to explode causing harm, damage or even death.

As plumbing is a relatively technical subject, one cannot expect a consumer to understand the risks when making a choice unless they are highlighted. This may not seem important or too much of a risk. So, let’s highlight the reality that if you knowingly sell or install a product that may harm a person now or in the future, it is highly irresponsible and according to the Consumer Protection Act, Building Services Act, Water services Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act illegal and may lead to prosecution.

Let industry take ownership of their future and an equitable environment for all.

For more information, please visit the IOPSA website at www.iopsa.org. Or contact 08610 PLUMBER

IS YOUR VENT VALVE INSTALLED CORRECTLY ?

Mon, 29 May 2017 14:00:08 GMT

As per SANS 10400 – P ,Ensure your installation is done correctly as per the following key points

A ventilating pipe or two-way vent valve shall be so installed that its open end is…

1. Not less than 2.5m above finished ground level

2. Not less than 100mm above the closest part of the roof covering of the building through which it passes.

3. Not less than 2m above the head of any window or door

4. Not less than 2.5m above the surface level or any roof slab, where the slab may at any time be occupied by people.

Meet the team - Steve Brown

Mon, 29 May 2017 06:42:57 GMT

Steve Brown is already very well known within the plumbing industry due to his vast experience and travels.

Steve is currently the National Operations manager for IOPSA as well as a director of the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB).

Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the IOPSA team and with his guidance, assistance, determination and diligence he has played a vital part in what IOPSA is today.

He started out within the industry in 1981 as a qualified plumber. He has owned his own plumbing businesses, worked as a training lecturer for Watersmith Training Centre for heat pump and solar training modules. Steve also sits on a multitude or boards as a committee member such as the World Plumbing Council Executive Board.

In his spare time, Steve enjoys surfing some waves and spending time with his family.

IOPSA Gauteng Merchant activation a SUCCESS!

Wed, 17 May 2017 08:18:43 GMT

IOPSA, Plumblink Benoni, Plumblink Benrose (Gauteng) and Grohe Dawn Watertech joined together for Interesting Plumbers Morning(s). Business owners and staff joined for borewors rolls and got chance to speak with respective representatives.

IOPSA are driving awareness in terms of Compliance, our online Job portal, Webinars to earn CPD points as well as providing support to current members.

Look out for a Merchant Activation near YOU and stand a chance to win a Plumblink Hamper every month worth R500!

Jacky Gewe (Grohe Dawn Watertech) and Kaela Bell (IOPSA National) ready for action.

A wealth of Information at the ready.

Sello Mokawane (IOPSA Gauteng) engaging with one of the many visitors.

From the Wall of Shame to the Wall of Fame

Thu, 04 May 2017 09:59:27 GMT

IOPSA has worked tirelessly to create awareness and accessibility to the knowledge of the SANS codes however we still see many cases where installations are not compliant due to common mistakes.

Below we explain why an installation is non complaint and how to correct the mistake.

T&P Safety valve overflow pipe has been piped with the correct copper tubing but the incorrect bend has been used.

As per SANS 10254 the overflow pipe needs to be piped using 45 degree bends only.

See extract from SANS 10254 along with the now compliant installation.

5.2 Discharge from valves

The discharge pipes from expansion control and safety valves shall

a) be of a size not less than the size of the connection to which they are fitted with due

consideration to the fact that in runs exceeding 4 m, the size shall be increased;

b) have three or fewer bends, shall not exceed 9 m in length for each additional bend, and

the maximum drain pipe length shall be reduced by 600 mm; all bends shall be a maximum of 45° or

formed with a centre-line radius at least five times the diameter of the drain pipe;

c) be so installed that

1) they incline downwards continuously to their outlet,

2) drainage of both valve and piping is ensured,

3) blockage due to freezing or foreign objects is prevented,

4) when flow occurs from them, the flow can be readily observed with the minimum risk of injury

or damage due to steam or hot water,

5) they are never joined together,

6) each is led to a discharge point which is visible outside the building and in a position where

the discharge from the pipe will not cause a nuisance and also cannot become blocked,

7) water traps which could prevent the free return of air into the system do not develop,

d) in the case of safety valves, always be of metal and be inclined downwards away from the valve;

e) be used for conveyance of water resulting from the normal expansion of heated water and shall

discharge to the atmosphere in a position where the discharge is readily discernible but shall not

inconvenience the building's occupants or cause damage to the building.

What are the differences between IOPSA and PIRB?

Thu, 04 May 2017 06:39:35 GMT

IOPSA provides an industry forum for plumbers, suppliers, manufacturers, professional specifiers and building & draining authorities. The Institute provides a platform to advise on the practice and principles of the plumbing industry. The Institute regularly consults and liaises with the plumbing industry, governmental and regulatory bodies for the discussion of matters affecting the plumbing industry.

The PIRB proactively promotes quality workmanship by means of issuing a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance (CoC). This CoC may be issued by a Licenced Plumber – that is – a qualified plumber registered with the PIRB.

The PIRB covers the following sectors:

- National Regulator

- Senior Building control (officer)

- Insurance (representative)

- Department of Water Affairs

- Manufacturers

- Merchants

- Plumbing contractors

- Training providers

Are you using the right sized pipe?

Tue, 02 May 2017 12:14:43 GMT

Over the past few months IOPSA have had to deal with complaints from across the country in terms of plumbing water reticulation systems that do not function correctly.

In most cases these issues are only noticed once occupation has been achieved and the problems in terms of flow rate are then brought to the fore.

In many cases rectification of the system is costly and as experienced in one such complaint legal action was taken.

In many instances the design of the water reticulation system is left with the plumber who is not competent to design.

SANS 10252-1 has very clear detail in terms of sizing of water reticulation systems which cover.

Static and residual pressures.

Calculating water demand

Pipe sizing in terms of flow rates required for each terminal fitting.

Ensure that you take these details into account when next you price a project or for that matter be up to speed In terms of being able to question drawings supplied to you.

If you are unsure then seek guidance rather than assuming what is right is right and then finding yourself in a legal battle.

The standards are there to assist us and if we follow and abide by them the system will function correctly.

There are webinars available to assist with basic pipe design and these will add a great amount of value to you and your business.

Cover the bases and yourself follow the rules.

We are currently dealing with a few design complaints that may cost the contractor a great deal of money and in one case where the fire reticulation system failed due to incorrect pipe sizing and placed the complex and residents at risk.

Reducing pipe sizes will reduce cost but ,will certainly increase your risk.

With local authorities reducing pressures through their bulk mains due to the drought, even more reason to ensure that the system is designed correctly taking these reductions into account.

By Steve Brown

IOPSA Operations Manager

Meet the Team - Mark de Wet (IOPSA National Technical Manager)

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:17:44 GMT

Mark joins the IOPSA team as the National Technical Manager with over 11 years’ experience within the plumbing industry. Coming from a long line of family within the construction and plumbing industry Mark followed in his families’ footsteps.

Before coming to IOPSA, Mark worked for MNK Projects where he worked as a site agent and plumbing department manager in the commercial development division.

Mark is a qualified plumber and registered gas installer.

Mark is responsible for technical reports, complaints, inspections and members’ technical assistance. He also sits on the SABS Committees on behalf of IOPSA, the IOPSA National Executive board as well as being a PIRB inspector.

In his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with his family and 2 month old son. Mark is also a HUGE Lions Rugby team supporter.

The Benefits of Working with Registered IOPSA Plumbers - Can You Afford Not to Use a Qualified Plumber?

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:11:08 GMT

Every day 6,000 children die of water-related diseases. Waterborne disease is a worldwide leading killer. How to avoid tragedy and protect your family by understanding what causes, injury, health issues and even death in your home.

Finding a reputable and credible plumber, who adheres to the regulations & bylaws can be an arduous and stressful process; often through trial and error – which is an expensive exercise. It is essential for plumbers to be reliable, efficient and to deliver.

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is a voluntary national body that provides a platform for qualified accredited plumbers. They advise on the practice and principles within the plumbing industry and regularly consult and liaise with governmental and regulatory bodies on matters affecting the plumbing industry.

IOPSA members employ professional plumbers registered with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) and are experts in their field, having met IOPSA requirements.

The fact is, it is law that any person working on any plumbing within your property must be trained (as a qualified plumber), or work under the adequate supervision of a trained plumber. An unqualified individual practising plumbing is doing so unlawfully.

Typical problems that arise when using unqualified plumbers can include leaks, bad smells from drains and pipes, flooding, damp, mould and poor water pressure. Other more serious issues can include contamination of clean drinking water, the breeding of disease, scalding and burns, and even explosions.

Using an unqualified plumber can lead to additional costs to find the problem, fix it, repair the damage, and replace finishes; it may even lead to injury or even death.

Using IOPSA plumbing companies gives a consumer peace of mind, technical support, rates guidelines and most importantly recourse. IOPSA members ensure accountability, quality service, required insurances, community growth and reliable results. So if you as a consumer believe that a member has not delivered a service or product agreed upon, then you can approach IOPSA to intervene and facilitate a suitable solution.

IOPSA also supports the development of individuals to become qualified plumbers and entrepreneurs.

IOPSA encourages consumers to make use of their online platform to find a local IOPSA member for their next plumbing endeavour. For more information or a list of qualified accredited plumbing companies in your area visit our website. www.iopsa.org.za or contact Kaela on 08610 PLUMBER (75862).

“Qualified plumbers reduce the risk of poor sanitation and disease more than any other trade in the world.” Quoted by IOPSA executive director Gary Macnamara.

IOPSA Grant for a Health and Safety Officer

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 10:41:53 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) sets out to achieve the best for the plumbing industry, and strives to share the rules and regulations in a simplified and straightforward manner.

IOPSA is proud to announce that the Federated Employer’s Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) has approved a much-needed grant which will allow IOPSA to engage the services of a Health and Safety Officer, who is an expert in their field. The position will carry great

responsibility and the person will have an extensive knowledge in this field. With an in-house Health and Safety Office, IOPSA will be able to provide occupational health and safety training and advice to members.

The IOPSA Health and Safety Officer will advise and guide the members and other stakeholders in the plumbing industry on the implementation of, and compliance with, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), including, but not limited to:

Convening regular health and safety-related meetings
Informing members of any health and safety-related issues which arise from their working environment
Ensuring the appointment of the requisite number of health and safety representatives on its committees
Informing members and other stakeholders or any other persons or entities as requested by FEM, in the plumbing industry, of amendments to the OHSA
Arranging, developing, and conducting forums, workshops, and training sessions on health and safety-related topics and developments
Publish articles, newsletters and/or publications containing OHSA and additional health and safety-related information received from FEM

IOPSA hopes that with this valued Grant from FEM, having an expert in the field will alleviate some of the frustrations caused by the lack of knowledge on health and safety.

“The presence of having a specialist working with IOPSA, we believe, will improve the industry tremendously and assist with one-on-one as well as one-to-many communication. In time, the plumbing industry will benefit organically,” enthuses Gary Macnamara from IOPSA.

IOPSA budget 2017/2018

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 11:55:05 GMT

View more information

Electrical Geyser Compliance Table

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 06:08:26 GMT

There have been a number of changes that have been made to the areas of compliance related to SANS 10254; the installation, replacement and maintenance of a geyser as at 2001 when SANS 10254 became a regulation & amendments to safety in 2004. These changes have often resulted in confusion and misinterpretation of this specific regulation.

To help reduce non-compliance within the plumbing industry, The Institute of Plumbing SA (IOPSA), in association with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB), has broken down and simplified the critical areas of the regulation to ensure that the standard can be easily understood.

This is freely available on the IOPSA website and has been designed to alleviate some of the confusion that could result in safety hazards as it provides a practical guideline in the form of a compliance table.

Compliance to SANS 10254 affects all manufactures, suppliers, merchants, retailers, installers & the entire value chain.

For ease of use, the compliance table is split up into different sections:

Table A: The installation of a new geyser
Table B: The replacement of a geyser
Table C: The repairs and maintenance of a geyser

The compliance table will give guidance to the PIRB Auditors, when an audit is undertaken, to cover all the above sections. It is further noted that if the minimum compliance is not met on any of the installation, replacement or repair, the licensed plumber will be issued a PIRB rectification notice.

The critical compliance table must be read in conjunction with SANS 10254 and the IOPSA notice of non-compliance that specifies all areas of compliance. It is further noted that as required by the regulation an installer must issue the building owner with a notice of non-compliance, if any existing items do not meet the regulations.

These documents can be found and are available for download from the IOPSA website at www.iopsa.org. For more information, contact Kaela on 08610 PLUMBER

Gary Macnamara emphasized “All requirements of SANS 10254 must be met at all times, these tables just highlight the most critical areas of compliance”

Plumbing Industry Job Portal

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:53:42 GMT

Taking into consideration the lack of competent skills within the plumbing industry, the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) has created an online portal for members to facilitate access to specific competent skills within the sector.

The purpose of this portal is to both help applicants to find jobs, and aid employers in their quest to locate ideal candidates. The IOPSA job portal offers a broad range of jobs in the plumbing field, for every sector within the industry; providing a scope for junior and senior roles and individuals with a variety of qualifications and skills.

For the employer:

Employers on the portal can post an available job position on the job portal, providing a detailed description of the job. Employers are also given the option of finding a C.V within the C.V search, to find the right candidate for the job.
The intuitive search function enables employers to search for candidates whose CVs have been uploaded.

For the job seeker:

The portal allows job seekers to explore the vacancy opportunities on the portal, using keywords to match their desired title, with the option of selecting the area in which they are looking to work. Should a job on the portal matching this description be available, the applicant will be able to apply online immediately. If a job seeker is looking for a specific company to work for, the portal offers a list of selected companies that, when clicked, will show the available positions inside that company.
Within the portal is a function to upload CVs for potential employers to peruse. The availability of a C.V on the portal will increase the chance of being contacted for a job.

The IOPSA job portal has been designed to support the industry and its members to find employment and the right employees for the positions available. It is the first specialised online job portal tool for the plumbing industry. The portal is a means to connect job seekers with potential employers.

Gary Macnamara indicated “The first plumbing industry specific job recruitment portal free to all members. An easy to use portal for both employers looking for skills and individuals looking for employment in the plumbing industry”

If you, as an employer, would like to list your company, contact Kaela on 011 454 0025, or email her on info@iopsa.org.

IOPSA Sheds Light on Industry Pricing

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:49:52 GMT

Understanding plumbing pricing principles has been identified as a critical factor in failure or success. The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is a leading industry support body which focuses on advising, protecting, and promoting its members; and are often asked to assist or even mediate on pricing. Due to a lack of information, many members in the plumbing sector are undervaluing their services, because they simply don’t know how to calculate their fees, labour or bill of quantities. IOPSA is proud to announce that it has published an in-depth 2016/2017 Plumbing Industry Pricing Guideline.

What to expect in this guide:

· Legislation, regulations and standards
· Principles of maintenance rates
· Per point installation principles
· Bill of Quantities principles and exclusions
· Principles of Preliminaries & General

Within this framework, members can make informed decisions on how to calculate their pricing, taking into account their local requirements, pricing and availability. It is available to the industry, and invaluable to plumbers, suppliers, manufacturers, professional specifiers and building and drainage authorities. The aim of this guideline is to create awareness of these principles of pricing and items included or excluded from costing a plumbing job.

Along with an in-depth look at the legislation, regulations and standards that govern the plumbing industry, the guide takes a detailed look at the principles of maintenance rates; primarily based on time, travel, and the cost of being in business, with separated hourly service rates and call out rates.

IOPSA’s Pricing Guideline also covers construction rates: defines plumbing designation levels, employee benefits to accurately calculated labour rates, nationally and regionally. There is a detailed per point section which provides a comprehensive breakdown of pricing per component, giving plumbers a base to work off when planning the pricing of an installation or project.

The Institute has sourced plumbing principals, items, quantities, labour and product pricing to compile a Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and per point framework. This framework was distributed to plumbing industry merchants to submit retail pricing. An average of these received prices has been published in this guide and will be updated annually.

Gary Macnamara, Executive Director of IOPSA, stated “The Plumbing Industry Pricing Guide is exactly that; a guide. Users must ensure they continue to do their own research on pricing at their local manufacturers/merchants at the time of quoting/tendering”.

“It is strongly advised to refer to SANS (South African National Standards) standards for product performance and installation requirements”, he continued.

IOPSA extends its gratitude to the maintenance and construction working groups and volunteers for their valuable input and contributions to the 2016/2017 Plumbing Industry Pricing Guide.

IOPSA’s Plumbing Industry Pricing Guide is available online at: http://buildersshop.co.za/collections/frontpage/products/plumbing-pricing-guide. To become an IOPSA member, please visit www.iopsa.org.

World Plumbing Day 2017 - Plumbing is VITAL to GLOBAL HEALTH

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 11:25:26 GMT

For more information and how YOU can MAKE A DIFFERENCE wpd_brochure_a4.pdf or Visit http://www.worldplumbingday.org/

ACO - Acquisition of ROFO ENGINEERING

(Past member) — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 10:02:55 GMT

The ACO Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of Rofo Engineering, a leading manufacturer and supplier of stainless steel drainage systems and grease traps in South Africa.

The ACO Group is the world market leader in drainage technology. With its integrated approach, ACO stands for professional drainage, efficient cleaning, and the controlled discharge or reuse of water.

Products include drainage channels and floor drains, oil and grease separators, manhole covers, roof drainage systems and stainless steel pipes.

The family-owned company headquartered in Rendsburg/Büdelsdorf, Germany, was founded in 1946. The major innovation strength of the ACO Group is built on intense research and development, and its technical expertise in processing polymer concrete, plastic, cast iron, stainless steel and reinforced concrete.

ACO has a presence in over 40 countries, with a total of 30 production sites on all continents, with a global workforce of 4,200, the company generated sales of Euro 705 million in 2015.

Rofo Engineering has a history of more than 30 years of successful presence in the Southern African market. Well established and specialized in designing and manufacturing in stainless steel and grease traps, Rofo offers an intimate knowledge, experience and understanding of stainless steel fabrication.

Rofo Engineering will continue to offer designing, manufacturing and distribution of high quality products to its customers.

The former owner of Rofo Engineering cc, Mr. Jovo Bardak, will continue to work as Operations Director of Rofo Engineering (Pty) Ltd.

ACO Systems and Rofo Engineering will gladly assist you with any technical or commercial query, more information about our products are on our websites

www.aco.co.za and www.rofo.co.za

Webinars - Solar Water Heating Segments

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 06:20:17 GMT

The Components and tools used in a Domestic Solar Water Heating installation

(Module 3 of 10)

Join us for this unique 1 hour webinar proudly bought to you by IOPSA, aims to give you a better understanding and insight into South African solar geyser installations.

In this webinar, we will be learning:

Product certification;
The valves used in the Geyser installation;
Types of Geysers,
Warranty and guarantees and more

This course carries a1 PIRB continuous professional development (CPD) point allocation,subject to completing the course and undertaking an online assessment.

How the webinars works - click here!

Webinar

TITLE:

The Dynamics of Heated Water with reference to a Solar Water Heating System (Module 3 of 10)

DATE:

Tuesday,

15 November 2016

7:30 PM (GMT +2:00)

DURATION: 60 Minutes

COST: R50.00

Sign up NOW

http://articulateit.co.za/

IOPSA KZN Plumbers' Mornings

Tue, 08 Nov 2016 09:35:18 GMT

KwaZulu Natal plumbers Morning

Venue: AquaTap Richards Bay

Date: 16 November 2016
Time: 07h00 – 09h00

(T&C's apply)

Contact email: info@iopsa.org

Unsubscribe

Webinars - Online Learning in the Privacy of Home

Tue, 08 Nov 2016 06:10:46 GMT

Below a list of upcoming webinars to improve your technical and business Knowledge. You can also earn PIRB CPD points for category 1

Select the course you are interested in BELOW

1. The Dynamics of Heated Water with reference to a Solar Water Heating System (Module 2) - 8 Nov 2016

R 50 sign up now! - Tues 8 Nov 2016

2. Introduction to the New Era of the South African Plumbing Sector

FREE sign up now! - Wed 9 Nov 2016

3. Heat tech's Demystifying SANS 10254: The function of the Vacuum Breaker in the Hot Water Heater Installation (Part 4 of 8)

R 50 sign up now! - Thur 10 Nov 2016

Webinars

How the webinars works - click here!

VIEW full calendar

http://articulateit.co.za/

Unsubscribe

Upcoming Webinars

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 12:24:07 GMT

Below a list of upcoming webinars to improve your technical and business Knowledge. You can also earn PIRB CPD points for category 1

Select the course you are interested in BELOW

1. Introduction to Heat pumps & Installations (module 1 of 7) - 31 Oct 2016

R 99 sign up now! - 31 Oct 2016

2. PLUMBLINKS: Introduction to YOUR cost of being in business - 2 Nov 2016

R 99 sign up now! - 2 Nov 2016

3. Introduction to Solar Water Heating and Solar Installations (Part 1 of 10) - 2 Nov 2016

R 99 sign up now! - 2 Nov 2016

4. The 6 Steps to Formidable Business - Module 1 of 3 - 12 Nov 2016

R 99 sign up now! - 12 Nov 2016

Webinars

How the webinars works - click here!

VIEW full calendar

http://articulateit.co.za/

Unsubscribe

World Toilet Day 19 November 2016

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 07:52:52 GMT

Possible stories:

- What it takes to make a toilet (tour of the factory that makes toilets)

- What difference is made by toilets in our lives

- How poor sanitation affects us (at work, school, home) affects attendance at work or school

- Profiling a person who makes toilets for a living

- How water restrictions affect ‘flushing’

If you are interested in the following:

· The story angles above or have topics you’d like to cover

· A tour to “The toilet factory” (transportation available)

Please contact:

Amanda Marele Chikara

011 709 6605

0737529184

Your Cost of Being in Business

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:55:30 GMT

Your Cost of being in business

http://articulateit.co.za/

Are you an owner of a service business or are your thinking about going into the service business? Do you want your service technicians or administration staff to have a better understanding of the cost of your business? Then this webinar session "Introduction to YOUR cost of being in business" is a must!

Join us in dissecting YOUR true cost of a business and in turn understanding how much your Service Fee (Labour Rate) should actually be. You will be shocked!

If this is You then join us for this unique 1 hour webinar Business Training session on proudly brought to you by PLUMBLINK and IOPSA.

This course and the content is presented and delivered in English and a basic understanding of mathematics is required.
This course carries a 1 PIRB continuous professional development (CPD) point allocation, subject to completing the course and undertaking and passing an online assessment. (CPD Point value:1)

If you are a returning customer and have already registered for a webinar, please login first

prior to buying any courses

What you will take away:

Dissect the true cost of being in business
Understanding your business dynamics
Empowering and equipping you and your service teams and front line administration
Enhance service level standards
Increase profitability
Determine your hourly service fee (Labour Rate)
And more

What is a webinar?

LIVE Webinar

TITLE:

Introduction to YOUR cost of being in business.
______________________

DATE:

Wednesday,
12^thOctober 2016
____________________

TIME:
6 PM (GMT +2:00)
____________________

DURATION:
60 Minutes

____________________

COST: R99.00

How the webinars works - click here!

Unsubscribe

IOPSA Name the Mascot Competition

Fri, 09 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Competition Terms and Conditions:

Mascot terms and conditions.pdf

S4GJs creating memories, partnership event 15th August

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 09:38:28 GMT

IOPSA and PIRB at the Skills for Green jobs event held 15 August

KwaZulu Natal Feedback - Were YOU there?

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 11:44:36 GMT

KwaZulu Natal plumbers networking & feedback evening

IOPSA KwaZulu Natal plumbers’ evening was an enjoyable and educational experience for all

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s KwaZulu Natal plumbers’ evening, held at Berea Rovers in Durban on 28 July 2016, was a roaring success.

The plumbers’ evenings, which are held on a regular basis by IOPSA around South Africa, provide plumbers with the opportunity to socialize with one another and, in this case, listen to those who ‘have been there’.


Stef Germann from Thames Construction was the Winner of a Fantastic Prize from DPI Plastics. Pictured: Gareth (IOP), Barry (IOP), Garth (IOP) and Stef (Thames).	Johannes Legwale from Plumbing KZN won his Annual Membership FREE! Pictured: Barry (IOP), Garth (IOP) and Johannes (Plumbing KZN)

Ladies and Gentlemen enjoying the Informative Event	Networking and knowledge are the key to success.

Our Guest Speaker Mr Steve Muchna, a plumber/ business owner gave an informative talk about his experience in the industry as a PIRB Auditor.

The evening was most informative highlighting changes in the Industry, protecting the plumber, CPD, re-branding, the insurance forum, the WPC 2016 and adding value to members along with other items.

Great thanks are extended to our sponsors Heat Tech, DPI Plastics, Marley, Comap and Atlas Plastics. Commendations to Steve Brown and Gary Macnamara of IOPSA National for their tireless efforts in building our Industry!

You can Register for Events online at http://www.iopsa.org/events

Plumbdrain Africa 2016

Thu, 14 Jul 2016 06:05:09 GMT

PLUMBDRAIN AFRICA 2016

Expo Centre Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa

Flush with new business opportunities

Plumbdrain Africa is one of Interbuild Africa’s most successful co-located shows, offering exhibitors an unrivalled marketing platform and a tangible return on investment. As the only dedicated plumbing, draining, sanitation, water, and sanitaryware exhibition in Africa, this event covers all facets of plumbing, from commercial and industrial to standard domestic plumbing products and services.

Plumbdrain Africa has a reputation for showcasing the latest innovations in products and services that adopt eco-friendly technologies that help create sustainable changes in the industry. Seminars and workshops educate the audience about new products and solutions in the world of plumbing, as well as insights into new quality standards in the industry and relevant updated legislation.

FREE TO PRE-REGISTERED GUESTS

Workshop	Speaker	Time	Points
Wednesday – 17 August	Click to Register
SANS 10254 – Electrical geysers	Martin Coetzee	10 am – 11:55 am
Product – technical talk/demonstration	Cobra	12pm – 12.45 pm	3
Under counter geyser installation	KWIKOT	12:50pm – 1:35 pm
Break
Cost of being in business	Steve Brown	2pm – 2.55 pm
Roof structures for solar installations	ITC-SA Mike Newham	3:00pm - 3:45pm	3
Fire Installations	Marius Atterbury	3:50pm - 4:30pm
Thursday – 18 August	Click to Register
Solar Installers trade test preparation	Nick Joubert	9am – 11:30 am
Copper Tubing Africa	CTA	12pm – 1:30 pm	3
Hygienic drainage and waste water technology for the Food and Commercial Kitchen sector	Aco	12:50 – 1:35 pm
Break
Pipe sizing	Chris Kyle	2pm – 4:30 pm	3
Friday – 19 August	Click to Register
6 Steps to formidable business	Bert Wernick	9am – 11:30 am
Product – demonstration	SA leak detection	12pm – 12.45 pm	3
Product – tool demonstration	Rothenberger	12:50pm – 1:35 pm

*NB* Sessions subject to change

THE DEDICATED PLUMBING, DRAINAGE, SANITATION, WATER, SANITARY WARE AND PLUMBING ENGINEERING EXHIBITION

Visit the Official Website

IOPSA | 37 Linksfield road, Dowerglen | 011 4540025 | info@iopsa.org

Appointing the Right Plumber

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 13:27:23 GMT

How to choose the right plumber installer or plumbing company?

When something goes terribly wrong during a building contract, the problem is most likely the choice you made when you hired an installer.

If you are planning to hire a plumber or a subcontractor, you need to ask the right questions. This checklist will provide you with all the questions and information you need to make an informed decision when appointing a plumber.

Consumers

1. Are you employing a qualified plumber or registered plumbing company?

A plumber must be qualified in order to carry out plumbing work, or a plumbing company must employ a qualified Plumber. In addition a plumber must be registered with the Plumbing Industries Registration Board (PIRB) to issue a Certificate of Compliance (COC).

Refer to the links below for industry registration bodies or associations

2. Is the installer registered with the Plumbing Industries Registration board (PIRB) as well as the company with Institute of Plumbing a voluntary association?

For plumbing companies to be members of the institute of Plumbing SA they are required to be qualified or employ qualified plumbers which gives consumers recourse. If a plumber is registered with the PIRB there work is inspected by the PIRB inspectorate and non-compliant work must be corrected or installers are deregistered.

3. Does the Plumbing Company have insurance?

Businesses that are serious about what they do will have insurance for possible incidents. Insurance cover should include, public liability, product liability, defective workmanship, vehicle and tools. This way, the consumer bears no responsibility for, and is in no way impacted by, the consequences of these incidents and subsequent consequences like delays and costs.

4. Is the Plumbing Company registered with Companies & Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)?

All installers, whether operating through a Sole Proprietor, Close Corporation, or Private Company, should be registered with CIPC. In addition, make sure that you have your plumbing business residential addresses as well as their contact details.

5. How long has the company been operating for?

This will give you an indication of the company’s stability.

6. Is the company currently financially stable?

It does not matter how skilled a plumber may be, if the company is experiencing financial difficulties, the company will likely experience trouble managing the project. This often results in delays, cutting costs, and in some cases, plumbers absconding.

7. Does the company have references?

Contacting references for feedback on their experience of the company is recommended. Ask the company for information on the projects they are currently busy with. Visit the project site and speak to the company’s clients.

8. Did you get referrals from friends and family?

The best form of marketing is word of mouth, so if someone you know recommends a plumber, they would have had a good experience with them

9. Has the company’s management team participated in business training?

Most small companies or installers are tradesman with very little or no business experience. Depending on the size of your project, the more business training and experience the more likely your project will run smoothly.

10. Have you compiled a shortlist of plumbers and obtained at least three quotes before making your decision?

Ensure you have given all three plumbers the same information when asking them for quotes. This way, quotes can be accurately compared. Avoid ‘lump sum’ quotes – having a quote breakdown of the various individual items gives you a better basis for comparison.

11. Do you have a Plumbing contract?

If you are going to appoint a plumber, ensure that you have a contract that will protect not only the plumber but you as a consumer as well. This will benefit you when managing the project especially if anything goes wrong.

Contractors

1. Do not immediately accept the lowest tender

Make sure that you ask at least two contractors to quote on the work you want done. Compare the tenders to ensure that both contractors have priced all items and then evaluate the tender. Compare all prices against each other to evaluate why one tender is cheaper than the other.

2. Do not sign any documentation prior to formally awarding the tender

Do not sign any documentation until you are ready to award the contract.

3. Request specified tenders

Request the contractor to specify in his tender, in detail, what materials are to be used and where. This is to avoid disputes later on by preventing either party from taking unilateral decisions.
Contractors will price some items provisionally. This is generally because they are unsure of the quantities involved or to allow you to choose some other products. Make sure that tenders allow for the same provisional quantities and products.

4. Do not sign a biased contract

The Institute of Plumbing sells standard plumbing contracts which protect both parties.
If a plumber provides his own contract you can be reasonably sure that the wording is biased in his favour.

5. Read the contract

It is amazing how many people sign contracts without reading them and being aware of their obligations.

6. Do not appoint a contractor without checking his references

Ask for references and check them. Do not do this only by phone, go and see work which was previously carried out. Check whether the quality suits you and find out how the contractor treated his clients before signing.

7. Do not pay deposits without security

It is common for contractors to request large deposits up front. One should be wary of such requests and make certain that the contractor provides security against absconding with the money.

8. Do not pay whenever the contractor requests

Payments should be scheduled in the contract. Beware of making payments outside of that schedule.
A record of all payments including deposits, made at any time should be kept and it is advisable to get the contractor to sign for a receipt of each payment.

9. Keep records

A full record should be kept of date and time of all decisions reached between yourself and the contractor.
It is normal for decisions to be taken during the contract to change original specifications.
Before the contractor implements any changes, make sure he has given a price (the additional cost or the saving) for the change, and be sure that you keep a tally of all additional costs.
You will be amazed at how quickly these extras can mount up in value and may exceed your ability to pay.

10. Do not negotiate “in good faith” without documentation

This refers back to the previous point. All decisions should be in writing and priced and accepted by you before the contractor carries them out.

11. Do not accept poor workmanship

If you are unhappy with the quality of any portion of the work, insist that it is rectified immediately and not left for the plasterer or the painter or somebody else.

Plumbers – Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB), www.pirb.co.za
Plumbing: Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) consumer website, www.iopsa.org.za
Plumbing: Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) Plumbers website, www.iopsa.org

Western Cape Plumbers Event June 2016 A success!

Tue, 05 Jul 2016 14:21:35 GMT

Western Cape plumbers networking & feedback evening

IOPSA Western Cape plumbers’ evening was an enjoyable and educational experience for all. We were inundated with positive feedback and commend all involved for a successful event,

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s Western Cape plumbers’ evening, held at Oakdale Club in Bloemhof on 22 June 2016, was a roaring success.


Pictured: Tiene Ellis was the Winner of a Fantastic Prize from DPI Plastics along side Herman Louwrens	Pictured: Thomas from Euro Aquatech won his Annual Membership FREE! Pictured: Thomas and Herman Louwrens (IOPSA)

Gentlemen enjoying the Informative Event Always great to see Sponsors enjoying the events	One of our valued sponsors - DPI Plastics, informative stands Grundfos ready to engage the masses

Our Guest Speaker Louise Fourie from Accountability, gave an informative talk on her experience and how you can Protect the future of your business.

The evening was most informative highlighting changes in the Industry, protecting the plumber, CPD, re-branding, the insurance forum, the WPC 2016 and adding value to members along with other items.

Great thanks are extended to our sponsors Marley, DPI Plastics, Heat Tech, Hansgrohe and Grundfos.

DID YOU KNOW? You can Register for Events online at http://www.iopsa.org/events

Contact email: info@iopsa.org

If you want the KEY --> Knowledge Empowers You

Mon, 04 Jul 2016 10:55:42 GMT

DID YOU KNOW?

IOPSA have worked together with Key Industry players to deliver content relevant to Plumbers and Industry.

Visit our Website at
http://www.iopsa.org/Shop
to be taken to the Plumbers Shop

Register now to Download your FREE Copy of Winning the Plumbing Battle TODAY!

News Flash - Geberit OPEN Day

Thu, 02 Jun 2016 08:31:55 GMT

News Flash - GEBERIT Open Day

Download INVITE

Call for Volunteers

Thu, 26 May 2016 08:51:32 GMT

IOPSA Members Volunteer Program

We need YOUR help to

Build and Grow IOPSA

Get involved in Industry AND

Earn CPD POINTS!

For more info visit our Volunteer page now!

Not a Member? Plumbers and Merchants - To join us Click Here

Another Successful Plumbers Evening in Free State

Fri, 20 May 2016 11:52:42 GMT

IOPSA’s Free State plumbers’ evening was an enjoyable and educational experience for all

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s Free State plumbers’ evening, held at Berlesell in Bloemfontein on 18 May 2016, was a roaring success.


Wentzel de Jongh from Bakgat Plumbers was the Winner of a Fantastic Prize from DPI Plastics. Pictured: Wentzel (Bakgat) and Steve Brown (IOPSA)	Nico Pretorius from Davico Plumbers won his Annual Membership FREE! Pictured: Nico (Davico) and Steve Brown (IOPSA)

Ladies and Gentlemen enjoying the Informative Event	The gathering of Plumbers at the Waterhole

Our Guest Speaker Mr Piet Naude, a plumber and business owner gave an informative talk about his experience in the industry.

The evening was most informative highlighting changes in the Industry, protecting the plumber, CPD, re-branding, the insurance forum, the WPC 2016 and adding value to members along with other items.

Great thanks are extended to our sponsors Heat Tech, DPI Plastics, Marley and Berlesell. Commendations to Tokkie of IOPSA Free State for her outstanding efforts!

You can Register for Events online at www.iopsa.org/events

Message from the Chairman of the WPC Committee 2016

Tue, 17 May 2016 14:15:20 GMT

To all Regional Chairman, The Committee and loyal members of IOPSA

May I begin by introducing myself. My name is Lee Goldie and since 1987 have operated Drips plumbing in Cape Town. Drips Plumbing is also a founder member of The Institute of Plumbing in S.A. (1988).

Our Institute is a member of the World Plumbing Council (WPC) and importantly shares close ties with the World Health Organization (WHO).

South Africa has been offered and accepted the honour of hosting a World Plumbing Council Conference in Cape Town in September 2016.

Every 3 years this conference is held in major cities around the world attracting the most important and smartest people in our industry. Through workshops and interaction the delegates can pick and choose what is important to their business interests and ultimately to the benefit of your business.

I have been to 5 conferences over 16 years and have built the foundations of my business on what I bring back from conference. In addition to those benefits, I have made lifelong friends and forged alliances with like-minded individuals to share information and inspiration for the craft we practise.

It is for these reasons that I justify the delegate fees (not to mention flights and accommodation!) and the 2 days or more I spend away from my business.

Having the conference in South Africa is a fantastic opportunity to experience WPC. IOPSA has put together a world class event, partnering with IMD events to deliver an unforgettable experience. In addition to speakers and workshops there will be social events topped off by a Gala Dinner sponsored by Dawn Grohe Watertech. As part of the conference there is an exhibition and skills simulation from the TVET colleges in Cape Town. An international community plumbing challenge (CPC) will run simultaneously.

Cape Town has so much to offer our visitors, so come and enjoy the internationally recommended hospitality of this unique city.

This is a personal invite to join in this prestigious event. See you in Cape Town!

Regards

Lee Goldie

Cell: +2783 500 0580
Chairman of the Conference Committee WPC 2016

Click to View WPC 2016 Website

Alternatively click here for Full delegate Registration

or for Day/ Session Registration

Contact email: info@iopsa.org

Easy as pi...pe

Tue, 17 May 2016 11:17:43 GMT

Easy 6 Step guide to achieving your CPD points for 2016/2017

Watch ‘What is CPD’ (2 points) – click here
Download app plumber 2 points) – click here
Attend plumbers evening (2 points) – click here
Practical guides to standards (2 points) – click here
Webinar SANS 10254 3 points (3 points) – Available from 1 June 2016
Read Plumbing Africa (4 points) – click here

15 points no problem

Don't forget to submit your do CPD form to PIRB by

31 January 2017 - Click here

For more info http://iopsa.org/CPD-Activities

Unsubscribe

Why is IOPSA producing an industry pricing guide?

Mon, 09 May 2016 13:25:19 GMT

IOPSA (Institute of Plumbing South Africa) is the only institute in South Africa that provides a voice for plumbers by representing small and medium sized employers and contractors on a national basis. And, as such, the Institute is producing a pricing guide to help plumbers understand the value of their services.

Representing the value proposition of the plumber
The Institute actively engages with and has the support of the plumbing supply chain participants such as manufacturers, merchants and retailers who recognise that the fulfilment of the plumbing supply chain is through the plumbers.

Why is IOPSA producing an industry pricing guide?
Challenges facing the plumbing industry have created the need to change the industry and the mind-sets of individuals within it.

The key challenges, such as a lack of qualified tradesman, development of historically disadvantaged tradesman and the use of non-approved products in the South African environment, have resulted in poor sanitation and infrastructure in South Africa. One of many factors that can be linked to this is the plumber’s lack of understanding of his/her value and how to run a sustainable business.

In order to gauge the value of a plumber, the following aspects must be taken into consideration:

Plumbing qualification levels, experience and skills;

Standard of living;
Cost of being in business;
Medical aid and pension funds;
Level playing field for all.

These aspects will act as guidelines for evaluating the value of a plumber, which will help customers understand what they are paying for when they secure the services of a plumber, educate consumers and property owners on the value of plumbers, and increase access to plumbing services for the diverse population of South African consumers.

IOPSA will be printing 3 000 copies of the pricing guide, which will be available at plumbing merchant stores and retail stories, and will be updated annually.

Download the information brochure.

Professional Plumber? Not a Member yet?

Mon, 09 May 2016 09:20:14 GMT

What you'll need:

1. Company Registration Documents

2. Certified copy of the owners’/directors ID

3. PIRB registration number for (Individual plumber)

4. VAT/TAX clearance certificate

5. Public Liability Insurance Document

Benefits Infographic.pdf

Download the Form and Be a part of the Change you wish to see!

FORM - IOPSA Application Form (March 2016).pdf

What is CPD Video Presentation

Wed, 04 May 2016 12:58:25 GMT

There will be a recorded video presentation on CPD and not a webinar.
you can view this at anytime.

Webinar (2 CPD points) - will be allocated on completion of survey

What is CPD?

View presentation

Complete CPD survey

IOPSA Free State Golf Day 2016

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 08:32:12 GMT

Golf Challenge Free State 2016

When
08 Sep 2016
12:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location
Schoeman Park, Bloemfontein

Institute of Plumbing SA

Free State Region Annual Golf Day

08 September 2016

Schoeman Park – Bloemfontein

IOPSA Free State invites you to attend our annual golf day. If you want to be part of this fun event please complete this form and e-mail it back to us.

Format: “Scramble - 2 Scores to Count"

Gholf uitnodiging.pdf

Kindly respond via email to fraser@global.co.za with the above Booking Form.
We look forward to your positive response
Tokkie Fraser
051 430 2994

Find a Plumber - Handy tools

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 13:39:35 GMT

Have you made use of our Handy Tool? Refine your search by using the following (including sub sections):

Organisation

City

Services Offered

- Leak detection

- Blocked drains

- Drain cleaning

- Electrical geysers

- Gas geysers

- Solar geysers

- Heat pumps

- Septic tanks

- Sewerage

- CCTV drain inspections

- Stormwater

- Emergency repairs

- Gutters

- Plumbing Products

Go to simple search

This handy tool can be found at: http://www.iopsa.org/members or on our Consumer site: here.

Gauteng plumbers networking & feedback evening

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 13:31:36 GMT

Plumbers evening (2 CPD points)

Gauteng plumbers networking & feedback evening

Program

IOPSA rebranding
Continual Professional Development
Insurance -Code of good practise for Sustainable Plumbing
Electrical geyser warranties
SANS product testing and certification
Plumbing trade test

How you can contribute to a better plumbing industry

Lucky draw
Mystery Prizes
Win your membership free for a year

Food and drinks

Venue: Rivonia Recreation Club

7 Achter Rd, Sandton, 2191

Date: 3 May 2016
Time: 18h00 – 21h00

Book now for Roadshow - CLICK HERE

No cost, FREE drinks (T&C's apply)

Event brought to you by:

Platinum Members

WPC 2016 Meet the Speakers

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:00:27 GMT

Conference Chairperson

Professor Mike Muller

Mike Muller is a Commissioner in South Africa’s first National Planning Commission and a Visiting Adjunct Professor at the Wits School of Governance. He currently advises a range of South African and international organisations on water and development issues.

From 1997 to 2005, he was Director-General of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, where he guided policy and regulatory reform and established a national programme which gave 16 million people access to safe water. During his 40-year career, Mike has managed infrastructure and policy programmes for the DBSA (Development Bank of SA), a development bank, helped reorganise local government and co-founded a successful water and sanitation NGO, the Mvula Trust, during South Africa’s transition to democracy.

He also ran a city water company for the Government of Mozambique and ran a national sanitation programme there, for which he won a WHO Forum prize for “research which resulted in action”. A registered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the SA Academy of Engineering and the Water Institute of Southern Africa, his career started as a trainee engineer in the London Borough of Lambeth including a six month stint in the drains division. So, at the WPC, he will be returning to his roots.

Keynote Speakers

Shayne La Combre

Shayne La Combre is the Chief Executive Officer of the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC). PICAC is a unique facility offering world class training – in many cases with facilities without equal anywhere else in the world. Shayne was appointed CEO in December 2012 and a Board Member since February 2011, he has been instrumental in the continuous expansion of the training centre. In 2011 Shayne was elected to the Board of the World Plumbing Council (WPC) and is the Deputy Chair for the 2013 – 2016 term. The WPC is committed to improving the standards of plumbing around the world to give better access to safe drinking water and sanitation to all. Prior to this Shayne was Director of Plumbing at Victoria’s plumbing industry regulator, the Plumbing Industry Commission (now the Victorian Building Authority), a role he held for 7 years.

Shayne has formerly held the positions of:

Chair of the National Plumbing Regulators Forum (NPRF). The NPRF is the peak committee of technical and occupational plumbing regulators in Australia and New Zealand.
Chair of the Licensing and Education Advisory Committee of the NPRF. He is currently a Member of the Commonwealth Government, Water Efficiency Labeling and Standards Advisory Group.

A second-generation plumber, Shayne has extensive plumbing industry experience, having worked for the Gas and Fuel Corporation for 19 years and several privatised gas corporations. His career experience also includes roles with AGL, Standards Australia and Energy Safe Victoria. Shayne holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy, in addition to degrees in Business and Law. He has been admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria and Australian Capital Territory.

Dr. Doulaye Kone

The first keynote address will be given by Dr. Doulaye Kone of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the topic: “the human right to water and sanitation, the impact on energy and health, within the framework of the UN resolutions, post 2015, and the roll of regulations for sustainable plumbing as well as the role of plumbing design and installation.”

Dr. Koné is currently working as Senior Program Officer, on the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Program (Global Development) at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Koné has more than 15 years’ experience as water and sanitation specialist in developing countries (excreta and wastewater management). Prior to AfWA, he worked as Senior Programme Officer and Group leader coordinating an international research and development portfolio at Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries (Sandec). Dr. Koné has authored several technical, scientific and policy publications. He has mentored several PhD and MSc students in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Dave Viola

The third keynote address will be given by Dave Viola with the topic of: “the effect of global warming on water supply, water recycling and alternative methods for sustainable plumbing, including the impact on the nature of regulations and standard going forward.” Viola is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice-President of Business Strategy at International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials ( IAPMO.)

His primary responsibilities involve running IAPMO’s Chicago regional office, which includes overseeing:

The development of IAPMO publications and customized domestic and international codes;
Delivery of IAPMO’s training, education, and personnel certification programmes;
Sustainability initiatives, including the development of the Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement, and;
ASSE International.

Prior to joining IAPMO, he served as the technical director for the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute for nine years, where he oversaw all code and standard development, product certification and water efficiency activities. Before coming to PMI, Viola was the staff secretary for the International Plumbing Code from 1994 until 1998 while working for BOCA International and the International Code Council. Dave also served as the staff secretary for the BOCA National Plumbing Code from 1991 until 1994.

Sustainable plumbing is not only about products and technology but ensuring the very future of plumbing as a trade of professional people who think smart plumbing and are willing to adapt to the new technology that will be smart plumbing.

WPC 2016 emphasises the post-2015 UN goals which we will discuss next issue and through these regular updates will show plumbing designers and installers that our keynote speakers will be setting a new and exciting course for plumbing, whilst not forgetting the basic of the trade and professionalism.

http://www.wpc2016.co.za/index.php/conference-details/speakers

What is CPD?

Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:27:30 GMT

What is CPD

Continual Professional Development (CPD) can be defined as the systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout a person’s plumbing career.

Who needs to have CPD points

Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) is an accredited Professional Body through SAQA. This means that all Qualified Plumbers must be registered with PIRB. As required by SAQA all professional bodies must continually develop individuals registered through CPD activities. Qualified plumbers that register with PIRB are referred to as licensed plumbers. All licensed plumbers require CPD points to maintain annual registration.

PIRB registration

Licenced Plumber:

Persons who applied for this category of registration has passed the relevant plumber trade test as specified in the Manpower training act section 28 or 13 and/or have obtained a plumbing qualification in terms of the Skills Development Act. Persons applied for this category of registration has written and passed the PIRB's Licensed Plumber and is required to have the relevant insurance in place. Only Licensed Plumbers have the right to purchase and issue Plumbing Certificates of Compliance.

How to get CPD points

There are three main areas of activity that you can undertake to obtain your CPD credits from:

Category 1: Developmental Activities:

Development CPD Activities are related to a structured educational and developmental meetings, seminars, and training programmes.

Category 2: Work-based Activities:

Work-based CPD Activities are related to any work-based related plumbing activities. These activities may include, but not be limited to, learner mentorship programmes and issuing of plumbing certificates of compliance.

Category 3: Individual Activities:

As the name implies, individual CPD Activities are related to activities undertaken by each relevant individual. These activities may include, but not be limited to, serving on a voluntary association related to the plumbing and/or building industry, writing a technical article, and/or part-time lecturing/training.

All activities must be approved and accredited by the PIRB before a CPD credit(s) may be allocated to the relevant activities and be awarded to the relevant registered person.

EVENT NOTICE - REGISTER FOR GAUTENG CPD and EARN 5 POINTS!

Thu, 21 Apr 2016 08:45:30 GMT

Gauteng - Increase profitability '6 steps to formidable results' - 3 CPD points – Category 1

Venue: Rivonia Recreation Club, 7 Achter Road, Sandton

Date: 03 May 2016

Time: 14h00pm – 17h00pm

Cost of workshop: R900

Discounted price for:

IOPSA Members :R150

IOPSA Members + Booklet :R330

PIRB Registered Plumbers :R200

PIRB Plumbers + Booklet :R380

* minimum 30 attendees required

IOPSA Gauteng Roadshow 2016 – 2 CPD Points

Plumbers Networking Event

Venue: Rivonia Recreation Club, Achter Road, Paulshof, Sandton
Date: 3 May 2016
Time: 18h00 – 21h00

IOPSA Registered Plumbers: answer a few easy Questions for an additional 2 CPD Points!

Plumbers Event with Supplier Workshops and light Dinner

* minimum 30 attendees required

Winning the Plumbing Battle

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 06:09:03 GMT

Are you making choices to keep your business fit for the future?

Contributors: Gary Macnamara (Executive director IOPSA), Debbie Donaldson (You’re Worth it!), Steve Brown (Operations Manager IOPSA).

We live in challenging times and ensuring your business is sustainable in the long-term can leave you feeling like you are preparing for a ‘world boxing championship every month end’. However, building your fitness for the future is all about what you do consistently behind the scenes - way before month end and way before you find yourself in the spot light servicing a customer.

It all starts with you!

We often complain about how difficult the plumbing industry is and how much better it would be doing something else. The saying that the ‘grass is greener on the other side’ is not unfortunately our exclusive ‘right’. The fact is, all industries and countries have their own difficulties and challenges, especially in the current political, economic and social turmoil we find ourselves in.

HOW ARE YOU GETTING YOURSELF FIT FOR THE FUTURE?

How much of your personal mind set creates stumbling blocks in solving challenges? Are you supporting and stimulating yourself with options? Exploring all possible opportunities to implement solutions to your business challenges or are you stuck and a little overwhelmed at this point?

When last did you step back, reflect and brain storm your options alone, with other entrepreneurs or with a mentor? How hungry are you to surround yourself with solution seekers rather than people who will agree with how hard business is?

Take the plunge; treat yourself to the gift of stepping back and looking at where you are and where you want to go.

There is a simple concept referred to a learned helplessness – where we are prevented from avoiding some repeatedly negative stimuli – we eventually reach a state in which it we become passive and depressed because we believe there is no action we can take to avoid the aversive stimulus. Essentially, we give up trying.

Whilst this sounds extreme, even a little of this at a personal level can play with our motivation… So how about building on the gift to yourself? Shift from ‘give up’ exercises to ‘I’m building solutions that make sense’ especially if you choose to give yourself a fighting opportunity to be fit for the future.

If you can shift your thinking even a little bit, you can shift from blaming yourself and others to learning from your past decisions. That old saying “we can’t change our outcome if we keep doing the same thing” may start to make sense?

How about lawlessness? We get upset with others because they drive through a stop street or when taxis go through robots, but yet we ourselves drive through stop streets and robots.
Sometimes we prefer to pull the wool over our own eyes. We make ourselves believe we are making the right choice for short- term gain when we know this is a temporary fix and won’t last long.

DOWNLOAD BOOKLET - 6mb

APP Plumber - Available on Google Play and iOS

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 06:06:53 GMT

DOWNLOAD NOW!!

for more information visit

www.appplumber.co.za

IOPSA KZN Mike Drake Memorial Golf Day 2016

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:52:02 GMT

Mike Drake Memorial Golf Challenge Kwazulu Natal 2016

When
06 Oct 2016
10:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Location
The Royal Durban Golf club, Mitchell Crescent, Durban

Mike Drake Memorial 2016

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa Kwazulu Natal Region

Mike Drake was an asset to the Institute of Plumbing South Africa, his drive and pledge to the Institute of
Plumbing was admirable. As members of the IOP (KZN), it is necessary to take a page from his book and reignite our passion for our trade.

Our Heritage was established with great gusto by honourable men such as Mike Drake; let us join in uplifting tomorrow and in support of one another.

As always, the Mike Drake Memorial sees the Plumbing paternity come together, we look forward to a memorable day with a field of 120 golfers made up of plumbers, wholesalers, suppliers & manufacturers, all allied with the plumbing industry. The opportunity presents itself for vast networking capabilities and growth within our industry.

The day’s agenda will include a round of golf, with lots of happenings on the course (maybe even a shot or
two!) and halfway voucher, followed by dinner and a brief prize-giving evening from 18H00. All proceeds on the day will go back into the event in the way of prizes etc., to make this a memorable golf day for years to come.

IOPSA MDM REG 2016.pdf

Kindly respond via email to iopsa.kzn@gmail.com with your Booking Form.
We look forward to your positive response
Bianca Brown
CELL 083 387 8147

Have you READ?

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 09:58:59 GMT

Applying Safe Work Practise

R 200⁰⁰

Commercial/Industrial Plumbing

R 1,800⁰⁰

Domestic Heat Pump - Water Heating Systems - electronic download

R 180⁰⁰

Domestic maintenance & contract plumbers

R 1,200⁰⁰

Hot & Cold Water Reticulation - electronic download

R 180⁰⁰

Practical guide to Electrical Geyser installation standards - ELECTRONIC DOWNLOAD

R 95⁰⁰

Practical guide to Electrical Geyser installation standards - print copy

R 120⁰⁰

Webinar SANS 10254 - electrical geyser installations

R 0⁰⁰

Winning the Plumbing Battle

R 0⁰⁰

Visit Plumbers Shop at or follow the Shop link at www.iopsa.org

SuzelleDIY - How to be Water Wise, Guys

Fri, 15 Apr 2016 06:17:35 GMT

A very Important Message from our Homegrown Suzelle DIY for Water Saving Tips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D49ahC1JAUg

Department of Water and Sanitation - Hack for Water

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 05:58:52 GMT

What is your #Hack4Water

Do you have a cool, innovative idea that could help South Africa with its water challenges?

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), in partnership with the Open Government Partnership South Africa (OGPSA) invite you to submit your water hack to some of the country's water and sanitation challenges.

Your hack could be a big idea, solution, commercial product, community initiative, school project, home solution, inspiring water story, app or online tool, research paper, invention, awareness campaigns, cool water-related song or dance or something we haven’t thought of.

You have a chance to win cash prizes, funding for your project, media coverage for your winning hack, tablets and more!

How to enter

If you would like to keep your video private, email the link to hack4water@dws.gov.za.

Entries to the challenge will be accepted in the following categories:

Individuals or groups of individuals: individuals, teams, communities or NGOs with majority of members over 25 years of age
Youth or Schools: pupils or youth under the age of 25
Enterprise category: established small, medium and large companies
Researcher category: individuals and research teams based at universities and research institutes
Storytelling: Journalists and individuals reporting on water issues using data and innovative and interactive storytelling methods

Entries will be judged by a multi stakeholder panel.

To stay updated about the campaign, Like our Facebook page Hack4Water and follow us on Twitter @hack4water.

If you experience technical issues while submitting your water hack, email hack4water@dws.gov.za with 'Tech Support' in the subject line.

In the Spotlight KZN CPD 19 April - Umgeni Road, Durban

Wed, 13 Apr 2016 14:24:29 GMT

Register Online for Customer Care and Effective Communication and Technical Workshop and Plumbers Evening to earn up to 7 CPD POINTS!

CPD Flyer KZN 19.04.2016.pdf

Plumbing Mishaps

Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:08:24 GMT

Not only Doctors bury their mistakes. Excuse the pun but this is a Kak job

5 learning paths to become a qualified plumber

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:07:23 GMT

5 learning paths to become a qualified plumber

Click to get more information on each route

Download our PDF Artisans route diagram

Choose your path

School leaver (Grade 10-12)

Previous training or plumbing experience

Not studying or working

Dept,Higher Education - 7 Step System

Step 1. Career guidance and management

Step 2. General / Vocational / Fundamental knowledge learning

Step 3. Learner Agreement Registration and Contracting

Step 4. Occupational knowledge learning

Step 5. Workplace Learning

Step 6. Trade testing & recognition of prior learning

Step 7. Quality Assurance & Certification

Training Menu

Plumber qualifications

How to become a plumber?

Trade assessment

Plumber registration

Approved training providers

Training provider accreditation

Training Providers and Accreditation

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 07:31:09 GMT

Assessment Quality Partner

IOPSA has been appointed as the QCTO Assessment Quality Partner for the Solar Hot Water and Heat Pump Qualifications. IOPSA has been tasked with establishing centres where training and assessments can take place according to IOPSA set standards and procedures.

Training Provider Accreditation

Any training provider wishing to offer knowledge and practical skills curriculum components of an occupation qualification must download it from the QCTO website.

If you require to apply for skills development provider accreditation, please download the application form here. View the application process here.

The completed application form and all relevant Annexures must be forwarded to IOPSA AQP as indicated on the application form - info@iopsa.org

The AQP will evaluate the application form before making a recommendation to the QCTO.

For more information see: Training Provider Accreditation

For a list of Approved Training Providers; IOPSA Approved training providers

WPC 2016 Conference Special Offer

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 06:53:39 GMT

Community Plumbing Challenge 2016: Team ZA formation

Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:37:24 GMT

CPC2016_201604_Team_Roles.pdf

IOPSA Practice Notice - Electrical Geyser Warranties

Thu, 07 Apr 2016 08:19:28 GMT

IOPSA PRACTICE NOTICE 1/2016

Manufacturers are within their right to void any warranty/guarantee claim on their products in terms of non- compliance of an installation in terms of the relevant SANS standards, as professional practicing plumbers we are required to ensure that we follow and apply the standards

To this end, the Institute of Plumbing have seen a steady increase in terms of warranty/guarantee claims being voided by the respective Manufacturers due to non-compliant installations, specifically in terms of geyser installations.

The Institute of Plumbing wish to advise all practising plumbing contractors of their legal requirements in terms of pre-existing non- compliant plumbing installations so as not to be caught foul of being held accountable for warranty/guarantee claims due to pre-existing non-compliant installations.

All contractors must take cognisance of the following:

SANS 10254 The installation, maintenance, replacement and repair of fixed electric storage water heating systems; Section 4.3.1.2 states

The water heater and its ancillary components shall be maintained, replaced, or repaired to comply with this standard, and ANY NON COMPLIANCE shall be reported to the OWNER and USER in WRITING by the PERSON who carries out the maintenance, replacement or repair.

It is imperative that a full inspection of the pre-existing installation be conducted prior to any repairs or replacement being carried out. When and where applicable the owner and user should be noted of all the pre-existing non-compliance in writing before the work is to be commence. It is further advisable in terms of the Consumer Protection Act to inform the owner/user that if the pre-existing non-compliance is not rectified and the installation is carried out the warranty/guarantee of the respective product maybe voided. It is important to note that the onus for the repairs of the pre-existing installation and the cost thereof is for the owner/user and not the practicing plumber. It is simply YOUR DUTY as the professional plumber to make the owner/user aware of the non-compliance in writing.

It is highly recommended that one complete the Plumbing Industry Registration Board’s, plumbing COC as this has a clear section for a Licensed practicing plumber to indicate non-compliances in writing, which will serve as a record of the notice of non- compliance for future reference.

As a professional practicing plumber we are confident that you are aware of the relevant SANS installation standards so that you are able to draw non-compliance in terms of the applicable SANS standards to the owner/users attention. In the event of your not being confident or unsure about yourself we highly recommend that you attend the Institute of Plumbing CPD SANS training programs so that you are able to bring your self-up to speed on the SANS installation standards.

Should you have any queries or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Institute of Plumbing SA.

Get the latest Plumbing Health & Safety Files

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 12:12:20 GMT

Health & Safety File Features:

Developed by the Institute of Plumbing South Africa.

Author Doug Mitchell - Concept Safety Systems

Sections include:

1. Identified appointments

2. COIDA / letter of good standing

3. Company policies

4. Risk assessment

5. General health and safety induction training

6. Toolbox talks

7. Emergency procedures

8. Control information

9. Accident reports

10. Mandatory agreements

Purchase a commercial OHS plumbing file - R1800

Available to IOPSA members at R900 - request

Purchase a domestic OHS plumbing file - R1200

Available to members at R650 - request

You can get this title and further merchandise from the IOPSA Plumbers Shop

The Health & Safety Files are brought to you by The Institute of Plumbing South Africa

www.iopsa.org.za | Email: info@iopsa.org | 0861 07586237

37 Linksfield Rd, Dowerglen

PIRB Statistics March 2016

Tue, 05 Apr 2016 11:32:58 GMT

Practical Guide - Electrical Geyser Installation Standards

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 09:09:59 GMT

Easy to read guide that simplifies the plumbing standards and references back to SANS standards that every plumber should have:

1. The purpose of a water heater installation

2. Certification / Compliance of components

3. General requirements & Maintenance

4. System pressures & balanced pressures

5. Electrical connections

6. Drip trays

7. Mounting of water heaters

8. Expansion control valve

9. Acceptable installation examples

10. SANS standards reference guide

11. Definitions & index

Download digital version for just R95.00

Purchase a printed copy for just R120.00

You can get this title and further merchandise from the IOPSA Plumbers Shop

The Practical Guide is brought to you by The Institute of Plumbing South Africa

2016 IOPSA Awards & Dinner

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:01:03 GMT

Some of Our Valued Guests and the Phenomenal MORGAN BEAT-BOX!

Plumbing Industry Survey 2015/2016

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 13:14:29 GMT

18% responded to of Plumbing Industry survey print and electronic.

The 2016 IOPSA Dinner & Awards Ceremony

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 12:48:02 GMT

Pictured at the 2016 IOPSA Dinner & Awards Ceremony, valued Service Award recipients with our President Mr Lea Smith. In recognition of Contribution and Service made to IOPSA; Mr Nick Joubert and Mr Gert Fraser. In recognition of Support toward the Plumbing Industry; German Development Cooperation and The Insurance Forum.

2016 IOPSA Dinner & Awards BIG REVEAL

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 09:31:04 GMT

The 2016 IOPSA Awards & Dinner saw the Big Reveal of the New and Improved IOPSA Logo.

Plumbing wall of shame

(Past member) — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 08:07:45 GMT

By: Steve Brown

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s Steve Brown, and industry members, look at all the ways that plumbing installations can go wrong.

What were they thinking? This type of practice has to stop!

Plumbers found the cold jet on the mixer cartridge totally blocked, only to establish roots growing in the jet.

Clearly, whoever installed this had no idea what they were doing.

Customer service is key (Part 2)

(Past member) — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 06:00:00 GMT

By: Steve Brown – IOPSA national operations manager

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) continues its campaign to help your business grow by helping you provide great customer service

Knowing and understanding your customers is the starting point, and key to delivering a good service. So the question is: how you get to know who your customers are or what customers you want to have? We believe that we are all experts at communication, but what is effective communication and how does this make the difference?

What is effective communication?

The process of sharing information either through speaking, writing or body language. With the result being that the instruction given was clear and precise and carried out as originally intended.

What is customer care?

Customer care is a chain of events designed to meet or exceed the customers’ expectations. In order to obtain this level, effective communication is a key element to customer care. As we are all unique, our level of interpretation of both good and bad service will differ from one individual to another.

We are quick to recognise fault in others and how we felt during this process. We are however slow to recognise these same traits in our own working environment or business. We therefore need to concern ourselves not with what we think, but how our actions will impact on those customers.

The buck stops here. I’m the ultimately responsible person in this organisation. Other people can pass the buck to me, but I can’t pass the buck to anyone else.

Definitions

Effective: ‘productive’ or ‘capable of’ producing a result.
Communication: the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
Customer: a person who purchases goods or services from another, buyer, patron.
Care: to watch over, be responsible for.

Businesses are built on sustainable business. Keeping your customers happy by providing exceptional service is the key to having a profitable and successful business. Keeping the lines of communication open at all times goes a long way to securing a customer’s loyalty. To lose one customer is not acceptable. If you do not look after your customers, someone else will.

Are your staff on board? Are they aware of your expectations? Our technicians are skilled in their trade, but they’re not equipped or trained to deal with customers and communicate effectively. This can and does affect the clients’ perception of your business.

Finishing the service call

Call the client and, if possible, view repairs done. Test the repairs a few times in the presence of the client and show the client that the faulty item has been replaced.

When the client is satisfied that repairs are complete ask if they want the redundant spares. By doing this, you show it has no value to you, and set the client at ease that they indeed have received new parts.

Once the client is satisfied that work is complete, ask if there is anything else you can assist with whilst on site:

Pack up and clean up. Ensure you clean up properly and remove all tools.
In every service truck a small dust pan and broom should be available.
Wipe down trap doors or clean area where excavations have taken place.
In general, leave it the way you found it.

The invoice/job card

If you have a trip sheet ensure that the client signed time and time out and explain to the client that the warranty/guarantee on the materials is carried out by the manufacturer.

In the event of a new geyser/product, provide the client with all relevant booklets and ensure these are filled out correctly and include these on your invoice.

Dos and don’ts of service

1. Always keep the communication lines open.

2. No matter how bad your day has been, have a positive attitude towards the client.

3. Never run other contractors or supplier products down.

4. Whilst on site, ensure all tools are placed in your carry box and not left to dirty the clients’ basins.

5. Bad treatment of staff on site, shouting, swearing and altercations are never acceptable.

6. Foul language of any kind is not tolerable.

7. Borrowing globes and batteries from clients is a no-go.

8. Using candles instead of a leadlight does not work.

9. Cell phones: whilst in the presence of your customers, never answer.

10. Multiple trips to the vehicle show the client that you are unprepared.

11. When arriving on site to carry out a service call, starting with lunch will not land you in the client’s good books or make them feel as though you’re interested in their problem.

There are many pitfalls when running service trucks. The level of service you provide should be the same high level across the board, extended to clients both old and new. This should be well above the level of service you expect.

Dealing with comebacks

The money is in the bank, client is happy, service was great. But two weeks later, it’s the dreaded comeback. Just as in taking a call, the procedure and response should be exactly the same. We all have comebacks – it is a part of our business. How we deal with it depends on how we keep a customer or not.

A complaint or come back should be treated like a fire. The sooner you put it out, the better. Many companies undo all the good work they have done by not having procedures in place or ignoring clients, hoping that they will go away.

Identify the nature of the complaint

1. Price

2. Workmanship

3. Lack of service delivery

4. Staff related

Deal with the problem. Make sure all correspondence has been documented and is available when dealing with a compliant. You will be better equipped to respond to the complaint and resolve it with factual information.

Playing the blame game

Passing the buck and blaming others does not bode well for good customer care. Take control of the situation if you are indeed at fault. Turn a bad situation into a positive PR exercise for your company.

Dealing with an abusive customer

1. Always be honest and upfront; don’t try and bluff your way through a problem.

2. Explain policies and point out references to warranty/guarantees in your terms and conditions.

3. If you are unable to deal with the problem, ask for help.

4. Abusive language: politely ask the client to refrain as you are there to help.

5. A helpful hint is to advise that you seek a ‘resolution’.

6. If abuse continues, advise the client that you will terminate the call or leave the premises.

7. Don’t try to out-shout a customer; let them vent and finish before you respond.

By ignoring these instructions, you may simply add fuel to the fire. Take a break and calm down.

Most importantly, deliver what you promise

Don’t over-promise and under-deliver. No matter the obstacles, frustrations and interferences your clients will support you if you deliver what you promise. Communicate effectively. If you’re late, let your client know.

Last but not least, making mistakes is okay.

We all make mistakes. It’s not the fact that we make mistakes; it’s how we deal with them. Sometimes we are embarrassed or those mistakes impact on our bottom line. Acknowledge your mistake, sort out the client straight away and most importantly, learn from the experience.

Geberit moves to new premises in Longmeadow

(Past member) — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:09:44 GMT

On 29th March 2016, Geberit Southern Africa will be moving its Head office, Training centre and Warehouse to 6 Meadowview Lane, Meadowview Business Estate, Longmeadow, Linbro Park, a larger, state-of-the-art facility.

In a strategic move to broaden its presence in the sanitary industry, the Geberit Group have expanded their product offering to include ceramics and bathroom furniture.

In addition to their advanced plumbing and sanitary technologies, they now offer a full bathroom solution - both behind the wall and in front of the wall. Sustainability, innovation and efficiency in both function and design remain at the core of all Geberit products, from design to completion. They are the key drivers for the continuous development of their product portfolio, reputation and product leadership. Geberit continue to innovate and set trends in the industry and are well-positioned for many more decades of design pioneering, both in-front and behind-the-wall.

The expanded premises in Johannesburg will house the full product offering and all aspects of the business under one roof, providing a world-class service, catering for all the needs of plumbers, installers, specifiers, merchants, retailers, architects, designers and end-users.

The new showroom will display the increased product lines for a visual experience to ignite everyone’s imagination. The improved, more advanced, training facility will ensure the trainees will experience both the theoretical and practical aspects of all the inner-workings of the various Geberit products. The larger, leading edge warehouse facility will provide a better, far more efficient service to the customer.

Combining all the facilities on one property will be of greater convenience and ensure that Geberit continues to provide their customers with unsurpassed service excellence.

IOPSA signs Code of Good Practice with short-term insurers

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 10:17:57 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa is proud to announce the signing of a new Code of Good Practice between IOPSA and short-term insurers across South Africa

25 February 2016 marked a historical occasion in the plumbing industry where short-term insurers and IOPSA, on behalf of our members, signed a voluntary Code of Good Practice towards sustainable plumbing services.

Back row: Michael Hetzel (Outsurance), Ernst Ledwaba (Mutual & Federal), Angela Vernes (Nedbank), Tiro Tlhwaele (ABSA), Chris Burgess (IOPSA), Ryder Rollinson (IOPSA) Seated: Gary Macnamara (IOPSA), Noluthando Ngqandu (Mutual & Federal), Malcolm Schnaid (Hollard), Maheer Jeva (Standard Bank).

This journey started 18 months ago when current IOPSA president Lea Smith led the way by implementing a sustainable review of the plumbing industry. The central question: what will it take to sustain our sector?

One outcome of the sustainability review highlighted that behaviours between short-term-insurers and plumbing service providers needed clarification. Therefore, the single minded purpose of the Code is to promote healthy, equitable and long-term relationships that provide consistent value for customers, plumbing service providers and short-term insurers.

The IOPSA Insurance Forum was put in place in October 2014. Participants to the Forum include IOPSA representatives on behalf of IOPSA members and seven of the top homeowners’ short-term insurers. Work on the Code commenced in May 2015 and was completed in November 2015, a process that involved healthy and vigorous conversation to seek understanding in creating a Code that would be supported and implemented by all signatories

IOPSA is delighted to confirm that the signatories include:

1.                   IOPSA;
2.                   ABSA Insurance;
3.                   Nedbank Insurance;
4.                   Outsurance;
5.                   Santam; and
6.                   Mutual & Federal.

By the end of March 2016, all IOPSA Insurance Forum members will have evaluated the Code and possible participation.

View the code of good practice for sustainable plumbing

IOPSA celebrates World Plumbing Day 2016

(Past member) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 11:09:48 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) invites its members to celebrate World Plumbing Day (WPD) on 11 March 2016

World Plumbing Day is an international event, initiated by the World Plumbing Council (WPC), and held on 11 March every year. This day recognises the important role the plumbing industry plays in sanitation, health and hygiene.

Statistics from the World Health Organisation show that globally, more people have a mobile phone than a toilet. Furthermore, one in three individuals lack access to improved sanitation, one billion still practice open defecation and only 64% of the world's population has access to improved sanitation.

South Africa’s water crisis and sanitation situation

In South Africa, the situation is no less dire. According to Stats SA’s 2013 General Household Survey, 89,9% of South African households have access to piped water, while only 77,9% have access to improved sanitation.

Currently 94.8% of South Africans have access to clean and safe drinking water. But approximately 1,4 million formal households require sanitation services and about 500 000 informal households are currently forced to make use of interim services.

Bearing these statistics in mind, IOPSA and World Plumbing Day are dedicated to promoting the benefits of safe plumbing and creating awareness about the importance of proper sanitation, health and hygiene. It provides individuals with the opportunity to get involved with relieving the crisis and make a difference.

The dire consequences of inadequate sanitation

Due to the lack of sanitation and access in the country's rural communities the threat of water borne disease is steadily increasing. Getaway and tourist destinations such as the Vaal River are becoming increasingly contaminated with faecal material due to the lack of sanitation supplies. This results in fewer tourists visiting certain destinations, and wildlife is being affected by the raw sewage run-off.

The role of plumbers

Plumbers are contributing their part to protect the environment by providing safe fresh water and sanitation through proper management, care, reuse and conservation of natural resources. The plumbing industry recognises the questionable balance mankind must maintain to guarantee its very existence and embraces efforts to ensure we are preserving every drop possible.

The role of the plumber

You can make a difference by getting involved with non-profit organisations such as UNICEF, who sponsor a wide range of activities and work with many partners, including families, communities, and governments. Also, get involved with local schools by volunteering to give talks and educate pupils about the importance of washing hands and using proper clean water.

IOPSA WPD initiatives

In 2016, IOPSA regions will be focusing on key upliftment projects and water conservation at schools in their respective regions.

IOPSA Gauteng will be involved in the Doug Whitehead Special School in Kensington. IOPSA members have donated and will be installing much-needed water and sanitation products.

The Doug Whitehead School is a special school for 189 children between the ages of six and 19 years old. All of them are severely mentally challenged. Many have multiple disabilities. Some are in wheelchairs, and many are epileptic. The school also has autistic pupils as well as pupils with visual and hearing disabilities.

The school strives to provide specialised teaching, training and therapy in a happy, nurturing environment so that each child can achieve his or her maximum potential in all areas of development. Children with disabilities have a right to learn how to become as self-sufficient as possible to enable them to integrate more easily into society.

The school recognises and responds to the diverse needs of learners, and has a functional school governing body and parents’ support, as well as a dedicated staff.

View: http://dougwhitehead.co.za/

Projects that you can get involved in

Community upliftment projects specific to regions
School and community education
IOPSA Video – water conservation
Board game advocating water conservation

IOPSA roadshows bring the Institute to your doorstep

(Past member) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 06:00:00 GMT

In an effort to help the industry stay connected, the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) has organised roadshows in 2016

In an effort to help plumbers across South Africa become more connected with each other, and to provide them with opportunities to better themselves through further learning and training, IOPSA will be hosting a series of roadshows across South Africa.

Roadshows will be held in all of IOPSA’s regions, namely Gauteng, the North West, Free State, Border, Eastern Cape, Southern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape. Stops are scheduled for major cities in these regions.

Each event will emphasise the achievements and benefits of the institute, will include continual professional development (CPD) activities and workshops, and highlight the institute’s current projects. Feedback will be provided regarding legislation, standards, building inspectors and products. New plumbing qualifications and trade testing will also be discussed.

As per the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requirements, Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) CPD activities will be compulsory from 1 March 2016.

Plumbing industry registered plumbers are required to acquire new and updated levels of knowledge and skills that will not only add measurable benefits to the practice of plumbing compliant with mandatory national standards and regulations, but also enhance and promote professional integrity of the industry.

Phase-in of CPD points system

For the first year, an individual will be able to obtain CPD credits from any category and only 15 credits will be required over a 12-month cycle. Each roadshow is aimed at uplifting the skills and knowledge of plumbers, and creating awareness about the industry.

IOPSA membership to be renewed annually

(Past member) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 12:19:24 GMT

As the new year really gets going, the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) keeps you up-to-date with new developments

As of March 2016, IOPSA members will be certified on an annual basis.

From March 2016, IOPSA member registration will be annual. Members will be issued with a new certificate and sticker each year. These certificates and stickers will carry the new registration date, which gives consumers, customers or property owners the ability to identify that the member is current. Your certificate will be issued electronically, which means it is secure (unlike paper which can be lost or damaged). This new system will also allow IOPSA to keep you, the member, up-to-date and informed on all the goings-on at the Institute, including Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities, fun events and meetings.

New members can join IOPSA at any time during the year, but membership runs from March to February. That means that if you join in July 2016, you will need to renew your membership in February the following year.

Winning the plumbing battle (part two)

(Past member) — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 10:54:04 GMT

From the executive director

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s executive director, Gary Macnamara, walks you through winning the plumbing battle

It all starts with you!

We often complain about how difficult the plumbing industry is and how much better it would be doing something else. The saying that the ‘grass is greener on the other side’ is unfortunately not our exclusive right. The fact is that all industries and countries have their own difficulties and challenges, especially in the current political, economic and social turmoil we find ourselves in.

So how do you decide on which battles to fight in your business? How are you getting yourself fit for the future?

How much of your personal mindset creates stumbling blocks in solving challenges? Are you supporting and stimulating yourself with options? Exploring all possible opportunities to implement solutions to your business challenges or are you stuck and a little overwhelmed at this point?

When last did you step back, reflect and brainstorm your options alone, with other entrepreneurs or with a mentor? How hungry are you to surround yourself with solution-seekers rather than people who will agree with how hard business is?

Take the plunge; treat yourself to the gift of stepping back and looking at where you are and where you want to go.

There is a simple concept referred to a ‘learned helplessness’ – where we are prevented from avoiding some repeatedly negative stimuli. We eventually reach a state in which it we become passive and depressed because we believe there is no action we can take to avoid the aversive stimulus. Essentially, we give up trying.

Whilst this sounds extreme, even a little of this at a personal level can play with our motivation… So how about building on the gift to yourself? Shift from ‘give up’ exercises to ‘I’m building solutions that make sense’, especially if you choose to give yourself a fighting opportunity to be fit for the future.

If you can shift your thinking even a little bit, you can shift from blaming yourself and others to learning from your past decisions. That old saying – ‘We can’t change our outcome if we keep doing the same thing’ – may start to make sense.

Let’s go into a little more detail and, by way of example, show you that everyone has the opportunity to be successful:

Round 1 – SIMPLE

FOCUS

Focus on what you do best, think simple. It’s that simple; don’t complicate your business for the sake of things. Controls, processes, products and services must make a difference to your vision for the business and client experience, otherwise why have them? You’re looking for excellence without unnecessary stress, effective use of your resources, management of your overheads and delivering a quality service.

STRENGTHS

Fighters keep their plans simple, so they can deliver – trying to implement many different techniques and moves can be tiring and often ineffective. A fighter knows his/her strengths and focusses on those to deliver the knockout blows.

TEAM

Your team is part of your business, they need to understand what you expect and how you measure service and client satisfaction.

BASICS

Get the basics right and build from there. Your unique offering must be a living experience for clients. Don’t focus on what people don’t use or want – ‘Focus on what you do best, think simple.’

Remember – ‘No-one wins a world title fight by throwing the same punches... Each fighter plays to their unique strengths to deliver the unexpected and to gain victory when their opponent least expects it.’

Coming soon to upcoming issues of Plumbing Africa:

Round 2: UNIQUE
Round 3: COMPETITIVE
Round 4: CONSISTENT
ROUND 5: EVOLVE
ROUND 6: SERVICE
ROUND 7: SUPPORT

What is the secret of success? ‘RIGHT DECISIONS’

How do you make the right decisions? ‘EXPERIENCE’

How do you get experience? ‘WRONG DECISIONS

Article contributors: Steve Brown, IOPSA operations manager; Debbie Donaldson, You are Worth It motivational speaker; Gary Macnamara, IOPSA executive director.

Become a solar water geyser or heat pump installer with IOPSA

(Past member) — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 07:58:29 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is paving the way for plumbers to become qualified solar water geyser and heat pump installers in terms of the new apprenticeship qualification.

The plumbing environment is changing and the question is are you ready? The Department of Energy (DOE) is gearing up to roll out a new solar hot water rebate system, coupled with the legislative requirements to install min 50 % alternative hot water heating technologies in new buildings. This means that the plumbing industry needs solar geyser and heat pump installers.

How can you, the plumber, upskill yourself and become a certified installer? There are two routes that you can follow to become qualified as a solar geyser or heat pump installer, which will allow you as an individual to be certified as a solar geyser or heat pump installer and issue a Certificate of compliance (CoC) as required by the National building Regulations.

The first route applies to qualified plumbers that have not completed their solar geyser / heat pump qualified (those who do not have the solar geyser or heat pump PIRB designation). You will be required to go through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route at an accredited skills development provider (SDP) ‘training provider’. Once the training provider has established that you have met all the requirements through the Recognition of Prior learning process the Skills Development Provider (SDP) ‘training provider’ can apply to IOPSA for you to complete the final summative assessment.

The second route as a new learner is that you must complete the training in order to be recommended for the summative assessment ‘Trade Test’ and receive your professional designation. Accredited solar geyser and heat pump SDPs can be found on the IOPSA website.

The Quality Council for Trade and Occupation (QCTO) has appointed IOPSA as the Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) for the solar geyser and heat pump qualifications. To carry out the summative assessment all learners will have to go through the new solar geyser and heat pump training programme.

IOPSA is rolling out a pilot project in January 2016, establishing test centres where summative assessments (Solar geyser /Heat pump ‘trade tests’) can take place according to IOPSA set standards and procedures. There will be two test centres, one in Johannesburg, and Cape Town to begin with.

Anyone who meets the requirements as detailed above can apply for either of these assessments and must do so through their SDP i.e. training provider, college or school, to IOPSA.

This qualification is made up of the following compulsory knowledge and practical skill modules, as well as work experience:

1. Knowledge Modules – 14 credits required

2. Practical Skills Modules – 23 credits required

3. Work Experience Modules – 30 credits required

4. Final Summative assessment (trade test) required to complete qualification

The summative assessment will comprise of two sections being theory and practical components.

Theory assessment will be carried out in a controlled environment at an accredited test centre. Candidates must successfully complete their theory assessment before they can progress to the practical assessment.

Practical assessment will also be carried out at an accredited test centre for new learners.

Qualified/licensed plumbers who have worked on solar or heat pump installation under adequate control and passed the solar geyser or heat pump theory summative assessment will be able to submit five CoCs as proof of practical and workplace experience of which two will be audited. If the audit report complies with regulations (i.e. no re-fix items are necessary), it will result in the awarding of the qualification.

Alternatively a temporary solar geyser / heat pump designation within PIRB system can be allocated and five training CoCs will be issued to a licensed plumber. The five installations will need to be completed and logged for their practical and work place experience submission of which two will be audited.

For more information, contact IOPSA on 0027 (0)11 454 0025.

The importance of Certificates of Compliance

(Past member) — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 07:50:32 GMT

Plumbers to be aware of the responsibility they take on when signing a PIRB Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for plumbing installation on the sale of a house

Consumer’s or property owner’s expectation of a Certificate of Compliance is that all plumbing work within a building complies with regulation and is in working order.

A PIRB Certificate of Compliance (CoC) certifies an installation is compliant in terms of regulation. In most cases this will most likely be on a specific installation and does not necessarily include all plumbing in a building and definitely does not certify that existing plumbing is in working order.

If you have been requested to issue a CoC on a new building or sale of a house take note of the following:

1. If an installation is not complaint do NOT issue a CoC. The consequences of issuing a CoC on a non-compliant plumbing work is the property owner will have legal recourse on the individual that issues and signs the certificate.

2. Notify the property owner that the plumbing work does not comply with the National Building Regulations and specifically what needs to be rectified.

3. Notify the property owner that a CoC is not a confirmation that products are in working order but specifically plumbing work has been installed in compliance with regulation.

4. Notify the property owner that plumbing work that is hidden in walls, floors, ground and concrete roofs are excluded from certificate as they cannot be inspected, unless one has carried out such an inspection such as with a drain camera inspection.

5. The PIRB CoC covers a specific installation and not the entire property plumbing work. We suggest that you download a comprehensive domestic property checklist (can be found under member information on IOPSA website) to guide you in what needs to be inspected and this can be given to a property owner as proof of what is non-complaint.

This will require a plumber to inspect a property comprehensively and they should allow enough time accordingly.

IOPSA Gauteng plumbers’ evening a success

(Past member) — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 07:26:38 GMT

IOPSA’s Gauteng plumbers’ evening was an enjoyable and educational experience for all

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s Gauteng plumbers’ evening, held at Three Oaks in Centurion on 28 October 2015, was a roaring success.

The plumbers’ evenings, which are held on a regular basis by IOPSA around South Africa, provide plumbers with the opportunity to socialise with one another and, in this case, listen to those who ‘have been there’.


Gary Macnamara, executive director of IOPSA, addresses attendees of the IOPSA Gauteng plumbers’ evening.	Plumber Dale Simon shares his story.

Debbie Donaldson, a motivational speaker, gets the attendees fired up.	Theuns van Aardt, from Powerz-On Solar, won the raffle.

Speakers at this event included Dale Simon, a plumber and business owner who talked about his experience in the industry; Debbie Donaldson, a motivational speaker and a consultant who talked to the attendees about what they need to do to take their business to the next level; and representatives from Nedbank, who presented attendees with the PocketPOS, a mobile payment system that will help small business owners deal more effectively with client payments on the go.

The evening ended with a raffle and dinner, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Plumbing tools at your fingertips

(Past member) — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 09:58:41 GMT

Download the first South African plumbing app - linked to the PIRB registration and COC, as well as access to installation guide, rates, on site data collection and plumbers tools.

The app is available to download for all Samsung, Nokia, Sony phones and tablets.

Plumbing wall of shame

(Past member) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:08:58 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s Steve Brown looks at all the ways that plumbing installations can go wrong.

What you mean the legs can move? Do I really have to put a pipe on the expansion relief?

What do you mean I must put another pipe on this geyser?

Do you think I've used enough flux?

I really nailed this job.

It seems spelling is of no concern to some plumbers.

This is not the way to discharge a pipe.

What do you mean I have to support this pipe?

How not to discharge the expansion relief valve.

Someone obviously can't measure correctly.

Business basics for plumbers

(Past member) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 11:04:06 GMT

This is the first of a new series of articles, entitled ‘The Plumbing Battle’, which will help you succeed in your business.

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) has highlighted business acumen as one of the challenges facing plumbing businesses.

IOPSA is therefore working constructively to educate existing plumbing companies on good business practice, in order to create a sustainable plumbing environment.

The Institute is not only developing content related to best plumbing business practise, but is also looking at different ways to communicate this content to the industry.

The key to fighting the plumbing battle is knowing the forces that you are fighting against. Some of the key challenges facing today’s plumbers are

Manufacturers, importers and merchants selling poor quality products;
Poor salaries and wages;
Bad plumbing businesses (i.e. unqualified plumbers) giving the industry a bad name;
Poor business practices;
Lack of skills and access to skilled resources;
Deceitful consumers who expect the best but are unwilling to pay for it;
Greed above need, profit above people;
A highly competitive industry;
Corruption and dishonesty;
A culture of no maintenance. and waste; and
Clients who don’t pay.

We often complain about how difficult the plumbing industry is and how much better it would be doing something else. But, the idea that the ‘grass is greener on the other side’ is not only the perception in the plumbing industry; the fact is that all industries have their own difficulties and challenges, especially in the current political, economic and social climate in South Africa.

IOPSA often get calls from lawyers and professionals wanting be plumbers. Their perception is that that plumbers make lots of easy money. On the other hand, plumbers often think that lawyers are making easy money.

So, how do you make a plumbing business successful? And which battles do you fight?

Firstly, the key may be to overcome your own personal interferences, which can create stumbling blocks in solving challenges. These challenges you face can be overcome if you focus your energy on the solution instead of the problem. Take a step back, and look at where you are and want to go.

Secondly, make the right decisions for the right reasons, and never give up. When you look for solutions, don't look to blame the person next to you. Change your thinking and learn from your mistakes. We live in a non-compliant society, a society that looks for the loop holes instead of being part of the solution.

Sometimes, we deceive ourselves. We convince ourselves we are making the right choice when we know it is actually the wrong choice. For example, we get upset with others when they drive through a stop street. We get upset with the taxis when they go through red robots, but we ourselves drive through stop streets and red robots.

What is the secret of success? Making the RIGHT DECISIONS.

How do you make the right decisions? EXPERIENCE.

How do you get experience? By making the WRONG DECISIONS and learning from them.

So, now that we are positive and ready to create solutions and battle the odds, here is a seven step guide to wining and building a successful plumbing business. We will cover each topic in the following issues of Plumbing Africa:

S is for Simple – Keep your business simple focus on what you do best.
U is for Unique – Don’t try be everything to everyone. Find your niche and put your energy into your unique offering.
C is for Competitive – Create opportunities to be different. Know your competitors and ensure your pricing is relative to the market.
C is for Consistent – Have faith that your business will succeed and persevere as there will be many obstacles and frustrations, which can always be overcome.
E is for Evolve – Know your client’s needs, understand your industry and continually adapt your business. No short cuts, learn from your mistakes.
S is for Service – Give clients what they want and the best service you can achieve. Deliver what you promise, don’t over promise and under deliver.
S is for Support – Employ the right staff and support them. Create financial support and find a business mentor.

IOPSA’s consumer complaint process and how it works

(Past member) — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:32:13 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) lays out how the consumer complaint process works and what value it provides Institute members

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s consumer complaint process is sometimes viewed in a negative light by members but Gary Macnamara, executive director of IOPSA, explained that the fact that consumers have an option for recourse should something go wrong with a plumbing installation etc., is merely another benefit that IOPSA members enjoy.

“A consumer can feel comfortable using an IOPSA member because there is recourse,” Macnamara said. The consumer complaint process that the Institute has put into place provides consumers and plumbers with an impartial adjudicator when problems arise.

The intention is not to usurp the plumber’s authority in anyway. If the consumer has a problem with the plumber, and they contact IOPSA for advice. The Institute’s first suggestion is always that the consumer talks to the plumber. It is only when every option has been exhausted and no solution can be reached that IOPSA will step in.

Not only does this provide the consumer with support, should something go awry, but this process is also intended to support the plumber, should the consumer’s claims be unfounded. “We can very quickly assess if the complaint is legitimate,” said Macnamara.

About 80% of the complaints that IOPSA receives are made about non-members.

“If you’re delivering quality, there’s value in that,” said Macnamara.

It is important to note that any complaints made to IOPSA must be made in writing. If a consumer phones in a complaint, they will be asked to put it in writing. The reason for this is to weed out spurious complaints, and to enable IOPSA to establish the accuracy of the facts of the case.

How it works for members

IOPSA will confirm that the contractor/plumber is a member and in good standing with the Institute.
A compliant form is to be sent out to the complainant with the instruction that it must be fully completed with all supporting documentation submitted.
Once complaint form has been received from the consumer and is fully completed, the complaint is allocated to the respective regional chairman to process.
The chairman will assess the complaint and send it to the member for an official response.
When the member’s response has been received, an inspection at the complainant’s property can be carried out and a ruling given if required.
Site inspections or meetings must be conducted in a professional manner at all times.
The ruling and written report must be given to the national administrator to close the complaint and give formal feedback to member and complainant within two weeks.

If the member is found to be at fault, disciplinary measures will be instituted. But only as a last resort – the member will be given every opportunity to correct whatever mistakes have occurred.

Making a difference from within

(Past member) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 10:58:25 GMT

Gary Macnamara, executive director of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), began his career in architecture after receiving a National Diploma in Architectural Technology. The first ten years of his working life were spent at an architectural firm, where he was involved in the design of buildings of every shape and size.

In 2003, he joined Interact Media Defined (IMD) a business-to-business publication company based in Bedfordview. During his tenure at IMD, Macnamara involved himself in every facet of the business. He left IMD in 2012 to develop his passion for digital media.

In 2014, Macnamara was approached by IOPSA to be part of their strategic plan to become a more effective plumbing body and to better serve the industry. “I jumped at the opportunity as it presented many challenges to overcome, making the career direction even more exciting and fulfilling,” Macnamara said. Macnamara’s experience in the building industry and plumbing trade media allowed him to become familiar with specialised trade industries and trade bodies, particularly IOPSA. This, coupled with his experience as a director and business owner, gave Macnamara the added skills and experience required to really make a difference. “Working for IOPSA has given me the opportunity to make a difference in the industry I started in and that I am so passionate about.”

Hands-on approach

Macnamara’s duties as executive director of IOPSA entails the implementation and management of the Institute’s constitution and strategic objectives. His main responsibilities include:

a. Developing and implementing the national executive vision and strategic plan of the Institute;

b. Developing an operational plan which incorporates goals and objectives that work towards the strategic direction of the Institute;

c. Managing the planning, implementation and evaluation of the Institute’s programmes and services;

d. Managing the implementation of human resources policies, procedures and best practices;

e. Administering the funds of the Institute according to the approved budget and monitoring the Institute’s monthly cash flow;

f. Communicating with stakeholders to keep them informed of the work of the Institute and to identify changes in the community served by the Institute; and

g. Identifying and evaluating the risks to the Institute's people (clients, staff, management, volunteers etc.), property, finances, goodwill, and image, and implementing measures to control risks.

Macnamara’s favourite part of the job is creating solutions to the many challenges the plumbing industry faces and dealing with individuals within the plumbing sector who are so passionate about their industry.

In the future

“What I have learnt over the past 12 months is that the plumbing industry cannot be changed overnight,” Macnamara said. “There is a hugely negative culture of plumbers within an untrusting environment between all role players of the plumbing supply chain, so it’s a long road with many goals to achieve.”

One of Macnamara’s main goals for IOPSA is changing the mind sets of plumbers to create a positive environment in which change can be facilitated.

Macnamara’s work philosophy is to keep it simple. “Do things the right way and for the right reasons, persevere and have faith that you can achieve what you want to no matter what the obstacles, as long as you know what you want.”

Solutions to South Africa’s plumbing skills shortage

(Past member) — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:24:56 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) offers up thoughts on what needs to be done to close the skills gap in South Africa.

After travelling across South Africa, and talking to plumbers as well as manufacturers and suppliers, it is clear to see that there is an obvious skills shortage in South Africa. This is not news, but the shortage has negatively impacted the construction sector, and consequences are now being seen with even more devastating implications.

Poor quality installations and non-compliance to industry standards is resulting in failure of products, failing infrastructure, growing non-compliant industry, and poor health and safety for all.

What is perhaps the scariest reality is that companies within the business sector are attempting to solve the skills shortage individually to minimise the impact on their businesses. Although this is a positive thing, the challenge that this creates is that it is a short-term fix and not a long-term solution. ‘If a farmer sees an unhealthy tree, they don’t look at the branches to diagnose it; they look at the root.’

Gary Macnamara, executive director of IOPSA.

We need to understand what the industry is doing to resolve this crisis and then align with these solutions, to achieve a common goal: ‘Skilled artisans’.

The industry has been working hard to develop the new apprenticeship qualification under the new Qualifications Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) framework which will solve the formal education from top down.

The Institute will also be focussing on the following areas which will reduce the skills gap in the industry

Coordinating the training efforts of all;
An overall plan to deliver projects which include the ‘on the job’ aspect is critical to the creation of skills. The output quality of artisans is dependent on increasing the quality of ‘on the job’ part of our training system;
Uplifting training colleges (facilities, facilitators and training material) and the alignment of public and private training providers;
Continued funding for training, which is critical and must be addressed; and
An apprentice programme to close the gap between employment market and skills required in the plumbing industry, including quality assurance of training and skills.

Industry members need to come together to solve the skills shortages that are sustainable. IOPSA will strive to support manufacturers’ initiatives to train installers relating to specific products and new technologies within the correct framework.

How members have benefitted from IOPSA

(Past member) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 11:45:26 GMT

The many ways in which members of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) have benefitted from their membership.

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is often asked: “What value do I as a plumbing company gain from being a member?”

IOPSA engages with members and consumers daily on a variety of topics which in essence add a great deal of value. These include training, technical assistance, pricing guidance, contractual support and dispute resolution.

You may not believe it but IOPSA also engages in counselling with members who are going through tough times. In many cases a complaint is resolved without the plumber being aware specifically where a consumer is at fault. Providing technical expertise when a problem arises saves the member time and money and educates industry as well as consumers.

Case one

A member was asked to price a high-rise building which entailed new cold water reticulation system, including a break pressure tank and booster pumps. The contractor was not entirely up to speed in terms of how the system operated and was unsure as to how to proceed.

The company contacted IOPSA, who arranged a site visit and inspection. With no lifts the IOPSA representative walked up 17 flights of stairs to conduct the inspection and provided the member with suggested solutions to the problems he was experiencing. In addition, IOPSA met with the member’s client and carried out further inspections until the project was handed over.

Case two

A supplier and plumbing contractor were involved in a project worth around R650 000. The scope of work was to install over thirty heat pumps at a bed and breakfast.

The project commenced and was problematic in terms of functionality. Numerous attempts were made to resolve the problems experienced on site. The client was receiving complaints from residents and, reaching the end of his tether, he requested that all heat pumps be removed and the installation be returned to the original hot water system.

Meetings were held between the client and the contractors to resolve the dispute, but no outcome was achieved. It must be noted that there were no payments made and a huge amount of money was outstanding.

As a member, the company requested assistance from IOPSA and a meeting was scheduled with the client in order to resolve the issues.

With the assistance of IOPSA, it was agreed that the project be broken up into sections and that, once these blocks of units were fully functional, payment would be made.

IOPSA then provided a programme with technical support and solutions to the problems. As each section was rectified, tested and deemed fully functional, payment was made.

The project was systematically completed over a period of three months, with regular payments being made on completion in terms of the programme.

This resulted in a happy client and both supplier and plumbing company paid in full.

IOPSA roadshows grow from strength to strength

(Past member) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:18:14 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s events in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg set the benchmark for all future regional events

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) has hosted a number of events over the past two months which saw plumbers and industry members from all over the country come out and show their support.

The regional events in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg, on 18 and 24 June respectively, set the benchmark for all future regional events. Both events were very well attended.

Tian Pienaar, Hansgrohe’s national training manager, talks electronic mixers at the first ever CPD workshop.

The Johannesburg event saw presentations by various members of IOPSA’s committee, including Steve Brown, IOPSA’s technical manager who said, “You are not alone in what you do.”

IOPSA’s purpose is to create an environment in which plumbers from all walks of life can seek guidance, assistance and support from the body.

IOPSA is the only body for plumbing companies in South Africa and is very involved in different levels of the industry. The organisation focuses on the value of the plumber, which even plumbers themselves sometimes don’t understand. Training and education are key to creating an equal playing field across the industry.

The regional event in Bloemfontein included a motivational talk by Christo Spies. Spies is a motivational speaker and performance coach whose presentation focused on enhancing one’s business by developing one’s own potential and managing interference.

IOPSA is also proud to have facilitated the first Continual Professional Development (CPD) workshop, held at Huddle Park golf club, in Johannesburg, on 24 June.

The workshop’s topic was Hansgrohe electronic mixers and related standards, and was delivered by Tian Pienaar, Hansgrohe’s national training manager, and IOPSA’s technical manager, Steve Brown.

IOPSA would like to extend its warmest thanks to the sponsors of these events, which include: Apex Valves, Berlesell, Benzomatic, Builders Warehouse, Comap, Copper Development Association Africa, Dry Force, Heattech, Geberit, Grohe-Dawn Water technology, Hansgrohe, On Tap, Marley, Ridgid, the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) and Plumblink.

Plumbing wall of shame

(Past member) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 11:23:38 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA)’s Steve Brown looks at all the ways that plumbing installations can go wrong

The vacuum breaker has been positioned incorrectly.

A strainer has been positioned incorrectly next to a heat pump.

Another strainer, which has also been incorrectly positioned next to a heat pump.

A plastic bag has been used to repair a joint on a geyser tray overflow pipe.

The pipework installed in this roof space is not supported.

IOPSA seeks a technical manager

(Past member) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 11:16:54 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is looking for a new technical manager

IOPSA is looking for an energetic, honest and reliable person to take up a position of technical manager.

Under the direction of the national technical officer, the candidate will be responsible for all Gauteng plumbing inspections and the administration of national technical complaints and queries, liaising with regional chairman, operations manager and regional inspectors to resolve.

Requirements

1. Minimum 5-8 years plumbing experience.

2. Qualified plumber.

3. Construction plumbing experience.

4. Maintenance plumbing experience.

5. Contractual knowledge and experience.

6. Knowledge of all SANS standards and regulations.

7. Excellent administration and organisational skills.

8. Good communication skills.

9. Must be able to initiate action.

10. Problem solver.

11. Good negotiation skills.

12. Computer literate is essential.

Salary will be based on experience. This is a full-time position and the successful candidate will be based at the national office in Edenvale.

Send CV to executivedirector@iopsa.org

IOPSA roadshows start off successfully

(Past member) — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 11:43:40 GMT

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) organised a series of plumbing roadshows that emphasised the achievements and benefits of the industry.

The institute national executive director Gary Macnamara and operations manager Steve Brown attended regional events in East London, Port Elizabeth, George and Mossel Bay from the 1 to the 5 June.

The objective of the institute road show is to communicate a common message specific to the direction that IOPSA is heading and the value that the institute has obtained and continues to achieve. In addition the institute gathered insight through meetings held with industry role players. This included engagement with local authority building and water inspectors, construction plumbers and IOPSA regional committees.

The importance of building trust within the industry was emphasised and is paramount to growing the institute and members benefitting directly. Furthermore communication of key areas of value in terms of industry representation indicates that the institute is strong and building even stronger support structures. Brown gave feedback on specific examples where IOPSA members have directly benefited through their institute membership which opened member’s eyes as to ‘what does IOPSA do for us’.

Macnamara highlighted IOPSA’s recent achievements and the importance of industry compliance, Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) awareness, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities, institute forums, current IOPSA projects and the 2016 World Plumbing Conference in Cape Town.

Consumer communication will be a focus in educating building owners on the value of plumbers and the benefits of using an IOPSA member. This will achieve confidence as consumer’s awareness that they can have recourse through IOPSA.

The need for effective occupation training and supportive informal training must be a focus to reduce the skills gap created in recent years. In addition engagement with building industry professionals will be a priority in creating awareness of industry concerns and challenges.

A highlight of the trip was delivering training on plumbing standards to the Mossel Bay building inspectors which also gave the inspectors an opportunity to engage with the local PIRB inspectors.

Member feedback from the first regional events was extremely positive with some key concerns highlighted that IOPSA will address in its overall objective to continue being the leading body for plumbing in South Africa.

Huge thanks must be given to regional committees for organising these successful events and the association believes that through the commitment of these volunteers IOPSA will grow from strength to strength.

IOPSA looks forward to the next road shows happening in Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Rustenburg, Durban and Cape Town over the next month.

The association will be having at least two roadshows a year to engage and communicate with members and the plumbing industry.

Thanks to sponsors of these past events which included: Apex Valves, Benzomatic, Copper Development Association Africa, Grohe-Dawn Water technology, Hansgrohe, On tap, PIRB, and Plumblink.

Take back your industry

(Past member) — Tue, 19 May 2015 08:41:40 GMT

Join the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) for a series of plumbing roadshows that will emphasise the achievements and benefits of the industry

IOPSA is planning its roadshows for 2015 and would like you to be a part of this incredible experience. Stops are scheduled for all major cities around South Africa.

Each event will emphasise the achievements and benefits of the Institute, will include continual professional development (CPD) activities and workshops, and highlight the Institute’s current projects. Feedback will be provided regarding legislation, standards, building inspectors and products. New plumbing qualifications and trade testing will also be discussed.

It is important for licensed Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) plumbers to attend CPD workshops. Such workshops will provide insights into the cost of being in business, updated skills and knowledge, and offer a solution for the best plumbing and business sustainability practices.

Each roadshow is aimed at uplifting the skills and knowledge of plumbers, and creating awareness about the industry.

Find out more at any of our plumber events taking place across South Africa in 2015:

East London, 1 June;
Port Elizabeth, 2 June;
Mossel Bay, 4 June;
Bloemfontein, 18 June;
Johannesburg, 24 June;
Rustenburg, 25 June;
Durban, 1 July; and
Cape Town, 8 July.

The roadshows are free events and will earn you two CPD points, so come and enjoy a relaxing and informative evening with IOPSA.

For more information about getting involved with a roadshow near you, contact IOPSA on 08610 PLUMBER or go to www.iopsa.org/events to register.

The cost of being in business

(Past member) — Tue, 19 May 2015 08:24:33 GMT

By: Gary Macnamara – IOPSA CEO

What are the benefits of continuing professional development (CPD) and the cost of being in the plumbing industry today?

Continual professional development (CPD) refers to systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of one’s knowledge and skills. It is also regarded as the development of personal qualities that are necessary for execution of professional and technical duties throughout one’s plumbing career. CPD is important for plumbers to acquire new and updated level of knowledge and skills. CPD does not only add measureable benefits to the practice of plumbing but also to the plumbing industry as a whole.

There are many benefits associated with CPD for the plumbing industry. It creates awareness, understanding, the advantages, disadvantages and any possible pitfalls that may arise from new technology. CPD emphasises any new and changing legislations that may affects one’s business and trade. It improves the skills of employers and employees within the plumbing industry. CPD offers professional business and technical development. It also offers solutions for the best plumbing practise.

The cost of being in business
Are you unsure of how to calculate a plumbing rate? Are you a tradesman or a businessman struggling to pay the bills; your clients are not willing to pay for your services; feeling stressed and unhappy about your business? Then perhaps your plumbing rates are in the competitive market. Joining IOPSA can help you overcome such setbacks. IOPSA offers business guidance and emphasises the cost of being in business.

Consequences of not charging the correct rates
The consequences of not charging the correct rates may result in an unsustainable and unprofessional business practice. Employers will not be able to employ qualified plumbers. Poor quality installations, non-South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)-approved products will be used, resulting in possible further problems for clients. This will lead to unsatisfied clients that will not return to your business. Employers will not be able to market their business as they do not meet the minimum legislations and standards for the plumbing industry, which may result in legal action.

Other consequences of inaccurate rates is a lack of administrative and financial support for the business. Both the employer and employees will not be entitled to business insurance cover, medical aid, pension fund, and income protection. All of these put your business at risk.

Did you know that if you have not catered for proper business costs, travelling time, sick and annual leave days, public holidays, non-working months, non-billable hours, and profiting your business, it may not survive or will become insolvent?

Workshops

If you know how, it’s that hard. Find out more at any of IOPSA’s CPD workshops available nationwide:

East London, 1 June 2015;
Port Elizabeth, 2 June 2015;
Mossel Bay, 4 June 2015;
Bloemfontein, 18 June 2015;
Johannesburg, 24 June 2015;
Rustenburg, 25 June 2015;
Durban, 1 July 2015; and
Cape Town, 8 July 2015.

Book now or miss out! The cost per workshop is R150 for IOPSA members and Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB)-registered plumbers; or R900 for non-members.

New solar-geyser installer qualification

(Past member) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:51:58 GMT

We chat to Gary Macnamara of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) to get his thoughts on the new solar geyser installer qualification

As of April 2014, the new age (A21 apprenticeship) qualification and assessment (trade test) for solar hot water installers came into effect. This means all plumbers who are not qualified and want to carry out solar installations will need to be qualified through the new learning path, in addition to being registered through the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB).

As of 2014, all plumbers doing solar hot water installations must issue a COC.

WHAT IS THE NEW AGE (A21) APPRENTICESHIP QUALIFICATION?

Plumber Occupation Certificate for Qualified Plumber (NQF4) is a three year qualification consisting of the following:

* NOTE: Entry requirements = Grade 11 (above 50% for maths & science) or NQF3 equivalent to N2 knowledge areas of engineering Maths, Science and building drawings.

Knowledge and practical modules + 1 year workplace + Trade Test = 3 years

Knowledge modules
Practical Skill modules
Work Experience modules

CURRENT LEGISLATION

As of 2014, all plumbers doing solar hot water installations, under the new Section 9 of SANS 10106: 2014, must issue of a certificate of compliance (COC). It is a requirement, the same as an electrician must issue an electrical COC for the electrical installation.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

Before an individual can issue a COC for solar hot water installations, they need to be a qualified plumber and been trained and assessed in the occupation of a solar hot water installer. There are various routes to gain this occupation qualification, depending on your current status.

Individuals who are qualified plumbers but not registered with PIRB as a solar hot water installer will need to complete the solar qualification. Once completed, a trade test for solar hot water installers will need to be assessed. The plumber will then need to register with PIRB in order to be able to issue a certificate of compliance on completion of a task.
Individuals who are not qualified plumbers and not registered with PIRB as solar hot water installer will first need to complete an Occupation: Plumber Solar hot water installer certificate. Once completed, a trade test for solar geyser installations will need to be assessed. The plumber will then need to register with PIRB in order to be able to issue a certificate of compliance on completion of a task.
Individuals who are new to the plumbing industry will need to obtain an occupation plumber qualification first. Then an occupation qualification for solar heating systems will be needed, followed by an assessment (trade test) and certification for solar geyser installations. Qualified individuals will then need to register with PIRB in order to be able to issue a COC on completion of a task.
Training providers wishing to train will need to be accredited through the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) as a skills development provider for solar hot water installer qualification. IOPSA has been appointed as the Quality Assessment Partner for this qualification and assessment. Contact IOPSA to get approval and be recommended for accreditation.

The purpose of such a specific qualification will be to prepare learners and plumbers to install solar hot water systems successfully and in accordance to the National Building Regulations (NBR). Obtaining the occupation solar certificate qualification will also improve the employability of individuals and level of salary.

This qualification resides as one of several new plumbing qualifications with varies learning paths to gain access to the solar hot water installer occupation.

The main benefits of this qualification for learners are that learners have an opportunity to be recognised as a qualified solar water heater installer with well-structured, relevant and current competencies and will be able to have access to entrepreneurial opportunities within the plumbing sector.

As a qualified solar hot water installer, you will be able to:

Prepare and plan for the installation of solar hot water systems.
Install solar hot water systems in a safe and compliance environment.
Diagnose and repair faults and maintaining solar hot water heating systems.

Under the new legislations, the practice of performing solar installations without being properly qualified, not using compliant materials and not issuing PIRB COCs is now illegal in terms of the National Building Regulations, Water Services Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Water and Sanitation By-laws, and the Consumer Protection Act. A solar water heating system is not SANS 10106 compliant if a certificate has not been issued. COCs will also be required for insurance cover of the installation.

Trench regulations to prevent fatal incidents

(Past member) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 09:00:57 GMT

IOPSA looks at trench regulations to prevent fatal accidents and save lives

On 12 February 2015, a 22 year old man died in Pinetown after sand at the side of a trench caved in on him. This incident has raised questions regarding the safety of construction and the regulation standards in South Africa.

The 22 year old man’s identity has not been revealed. It is believed he was working in the trench for a contractor at a private business premises in Manchester Road, Pinetown.

According to Doug Michell, health and safety manager for the Master Builders’ Association (MBA) north region, the current safety regulation standards for working in trenches include a process of procedures. The process should begin by appointing a competent person in writing to supervise the work. A competent person, in the context of the construction regulations, means having the required knowledge, training and experience, in respect of the work performed. In the case of plumbers where work includes excavations, it may not be the main task but is part of the work which requires special skills to be able to identify the potential dangers with regard to the excavation.

While working in a trench there are some pointers:

Evaluate the soil conditions, based on this identify what precautions should be taken (plan before you dig) – sloping, benching or shoring.
Monitoring the conditions, particularly water accumulation.
Inspecting the excavation before commencing work, not only at the beginning of a shift but also after breaks in the work.
Keeping spoil and machinery away from the edge of the excavation.
Provide convenient and safe access into and out of the excavation.
Erect barriers or fences to protect against falling into the excavation.

For the industry to prevent such incidents from happening is very challenging. However, incidents like this can be reduced by educating employers and employees, as well as through continuous developmental training courses provided by specialists for identification of excavation controls. In addition to education and training, every site should have a geo-technical report which would identify soil conditions. If these soil conditions can be communicated effectively, they could provide an early warning to contractors when performing their risk assessment.

Michell emphasised possible reasons for such incidents. These include the fact that safety is often neglected because the contractors have not ‘included the costs’ for safety measures. Sloping, benching or shoring excavations take time, effort and material which obviously results in additional costs. A lack of understanding of soil conditions result in the attitude that ‘there is no warning before and excavations cave in’. However, this is not true when; you plan before you dig, find out any information from the health and safety specifications or geo-technical report; ensure that a ‘competent’ person supervises work related to excavations; and provide training for contractors to identify signs of a possible collapse.

For plumbing companies: if the company is not responsible for the actual digging of the excavation and take access to it to install their materials, then the responsible person must be satisfied that the excavation is safe. If not, they should ensure that the excavation is made safe before they take access to complete their work.

For information regarding the latest construction building regulation standards contact employer associations who have specialists or access to specialists. These specialists will have access to either government committees or sites on government committees, which can keep members up to date with legislation changes. Alternatively, employers and employees can visit the Department of Labour’s web page for the latest legislation.

As a plumber, it is important to ensure you have completed the necessary training and trades tests in order to practise lawfully. In addition, it is the plumber’s responsibility to register with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB). Being a registered plumber with PIRB gives plumbers access to continuous skills development and to updated regulatory standards.

Sources:

Doug Michell - MBA North Region
Sihle Manda - 'Man Dies In Trench As Sand Caves In'. (2015): the Mercury. Print.
Deshni Ramkissoon-Pillay - '22-Year-Old Killed As Trench Caves In'. (2015): Web.

New IOPSA website to connect plumbers and consumers

(Past member) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 07:38:22 GMT

IOPSA launched a new consumer website that helps connect plumbers to consumers.

The Institute of Plumbers South Africa (IOPSA) has launched a new website which the Institute hopes will benefit the industry. The website is dedicated to creating awareness, educating the consumer and promoting Institute members.

This website is where you can view your company details, which IOPSA markets to consumers and property owners.

Consumers can search by service required, type of plumber and by city. Visitors to the website can also view members’ locations using Google Maps. Each member’s services are tagged and optimised for Google searches.

To check out the new website, go to www.iopsa.org.za.

IOPSA Free State golf day

(Past member) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:06:10 GMT

The Free State branch of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) invites you to their annual golf day, to be held on 10 September 2015 at Schoeman Park, Bloemfontein.

Complete your entry form today, so that you can take part in what will prove to be a day of fun, sun and excellent golfing!

For more information contact Tokkie Fraser on 051 430 2994.

IOPSA: Better plumbing for all

(Past member) — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 07:25:08 GMT

We take a look at the benefits members gain when they join the IOPSA institute

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is the only institute in South Africa that provides a voice for plumbers. Below is a breakdown of all the benefits members will gain when they join IOPSA.

IOPSA’s vision is Better Plumbing for All, and the institute’s mission is:

To represent the value proposition of the plumber.
To be the leading body for the plumbing sector.
To advocate best practice.
To promote sustainable business practices.
To actively support relevant skills development through training and education.

IOPSA top membership benefits
IOPSA top members can enjoy the following benefits…

1. Plumber training: The association is a Quality Council on Trades and Occupations (QCTO) Assessment Quality Partner for solar geyser and heat pump training, and can assist with trade testing and training provider accreditation. It is also a Continual Professional Development (CPD) activity co-ordinator and development of industry training as a whole.

2. Technical support: Includes member technical advice and standards guidance.

3. Consumer recourse: Promote consumer confidence, member code of conduct and consumer recourse.

4. Business guidance: Development an empowerment through business acumen and business tools.

5. Promotion of members: Advertising and promotion of members including the value of IOPSA members bring to the industry, marketing both nationally and regionally.

National membership benefits
IOPSA is the leading body for the plumbing industry and offers quite a few national membership benefits, including:

1. Industry training and uplifting of standards;

2. Plumbing industry projects;

3. Plumbing industry special interest groups;

4. Advocating of quality products;

5. Quality brand and registered installers;

6. Insurance panel recognised;

7. National marketing and promotions;

8. Networking and events opportunities;

9. Industry representation at South Africa Bureau of Standards (SABS), insurers, local and national government, South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and global representation Joint Acceptance Scheme for Water Services Installation Components (JASWIC); and

10. Association and collaboration with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB).

Regional membership benefits

1. Member’s online directory;

2. Vehicle decals;

3. Municipality engagement;

4. Plumber meetings and networking event opportunities;

5. Skills development and training;

6. Technical and business support; and

7. Regional consumer recourse.

SANS 10106 and the PIRB certificate of compliance

(Past member) — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 07:38:35 GMT

By: Martin Coetzee – technical officer at IOPSA

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) takes a look at South African National Standards (SANS) 10106 and how it affects solar water heating installations

Numerous laws, regulations, bylaws, contract and tender specifications, service level agreements, rebate terms of reference etc., require that solar water heating installations must comply with SANS 10106 for the installation, repair and replacement of domestic solar water heating systems.

It has been seen by some as a market disadvantage to the good plumbers who do correct installations but who then get undermined by the bad plumbers who either don’t know what the SANS standards require, or they are in the business of cutting corners and quoting lower prices by using materials that don’t comply with SANS standards. The enforcement mechanisms in the plumbing industry are the municipal water/sanitation and building inspectors and the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) certificates of compliance (COC) with built-in percentage inspection mechanisms.

Section 9 of SANS 10106: 2014 now makes the issuing of a COC a requirement, the same as an electrician must issue an electrical COC for the electrical installation. This section reads, ‘9.1 - A plumbing COC from the plumbing professional body registered under the relevant national body [the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)] shall be issued ...where work has been carried out on the hot water reticulation system which includes the installation of a solar system.’ The professional body for plumbing registered with SAQA is the PIRB.

A solar water heating system is therefore not SANS 10106 compliant if a PIRB certificate has not been issued. It is important for plumbers who are complying with the legal requirements regarding all solar water heating installations, to ensure that their clients and potential clients are aware that they are in fact PIRB registered and do issue PIRB COC in full compliance with SANS 10106, as required. Such COCs will also be required for insurance cover of the installation. This now levels the playing fields so that the minimum level for competing in the market are the requirements of SANS 10106, nothing less. It is therefore in your interest to obtain a copy of SANS 10106: 2014 edition 4 and make yourself familiar with its requirements.

The practice of doing solar installations without being properly qualified, not using compliant materials and not issuing PIRB COC is now illegal in terms of the National Building Regulations, the Water Services Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the water and sanitation bylaws, and the Consumer Protection Act.

IOPSA 72nd national meeting a success

(Past member) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 11:31:15 GMT

National executive committee members of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) came together on 5 - 6 March, at the St. George hotel in Pretoria for their 72nd national committee meeting.

On 5 March, the IOPSA 2015/2016 budget was presented and approved. The national executive welcomed the new IOPSA treasurer, Mark Pratt. Feedback was also given by the training, technical, and operations officers, and regional chairman. The SA Skills competition 2015 report was presented.

A report on the progress of the World Plumbing Conference (WPC) 2016 was all tabled and it was reported that all is on track. Thanks to Interact Media Defined, the event organisers, and the WPC 2016 organising committee.

A workshop was held on March 6, which included discussions surrounding the IOPSA master plan, various IOPSA projects as well as the communication plan going forward.

Overall, the 72nd national committee meeting was beneficial for IOPSA, regions and the plumbing industry and, as emphasised by the executive director, it was “well received, good progress and exciting times ahead”.

The Institute has a promising future. With the dedication and support of its members and volunteers, IOPSA will achieve its vision of plumbing for all and uplifting the standards of the plumbing industry in South Africa.

IOPSA shows value of plumbers with new pricing guide

(Past member) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 11:20:07 GMT

Representing the value proposition of the plumber
The Institute actively engages with and has the support of the plumbing supply chain participants such as manufacturers, merchants and retailers who recognise that the fulfilment of the plumbing supply chain is through the plumbers.

Why is IOPSA producing an industry pricing guide?
Challenges facing the plumbing industry have created the need to change the industry and the mind-sets of individuals within it.

The key challenges, such as a lack of qualified tradesman, development of historically disadvantaged tradesman and the use of non-approved products in the South African environment, have resulted in poor sanitation and infrastructure in South Africa. One of many factors that can be linked to this is the plumber’s lack of understanding of his/her value and how to run a sustainable business.

IOPSA pricing guide concept

In order to gauge the value of a plumber, the following aspects must be taken into consideration:

Plumbing qualification levels, experience and skills;
Standard of living;
Cost of being in business;
Medical aid and pension funds;
Level playing field for all.

IOPSA’s annual dinner and awards a ball!

(Past member) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:50:23 GMT

IOPSA members step out for a night of dancing, dinner and acknowledgment. The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) held their Annual Dinner and Awards, a masquerade ball, on 5 March at Stone Cradle in Pretoria.

The event, attended by IOPSA members dressed to the nines, was opened by the institute’s executive director, Gary Macnamara, who welcomed the attendees and thanked the industry for their participation in the glitzy affair. Macnamara thanked Geberit, On Tap, Cobra and Plumblink for sponsoring the event, and Lou-Ann Macnamara and her team from LimeOnline, who put the event together on IOPSA’s behalf.

IOPSA president, Lea Smith, encouraged industry members to be the managers of their own destinies. He said the future of the plumbing industry was in the hands of the plumbers and they must work together to ensure that future is bright. He said the institute has begun a journey to change the industry for the plumbers’ benefit. “What IOPSA has done for the industry, and in turn you, is enormous.”

Smith told those in attendance that exciting prospects loom on the horizon for IOPSA and the industry as a whole, and he urged South Africa’s plumbers to work together to help IOPSA uplift the industry.

The event also served as IOPSA’s annual awards evening, and three awards were given to those who have provided the industry and the institute with outstanding service.

The ‘Service to the Institute and Plumbing Industry’ award was presented to Martin Coetzee, for giving his time and dedication to the industry. Steven Brown was awarded with the ‘Service to the Institute’ award, for his dedicated service to IOPSA over the years. Plumbing Africa’s editor, Rory Macnamara, was presented with the ‘Contribution to the Plumbing Industry’ award. This award is given to an individual who is not an IOPSA member but who has contributed to plumbing industry as a whole. David Malematsa and Mbali Mabena from 0860Plumber won the award for ‘Best Dressed’.

Entertainment was provided by the Shakes Production, a glittering cover band that had everyone on their feet.

IOPSA CPD Calendar

Sat, 27 Sep 2014 05:19:39 GMT

IOPSA CPD calendar launching October 2014

Types of Catagories

Category 1: Developmental Activities:
Development CPD Activities are activities that are related to a structured educational and developmental meetings, seminars and training programs. All development activities must be approved and accredited by the PIRB before a CPD credit(s) may be allocated to the relevant activities and be awarded to the relevant registered person.

Category 2: Work-based Activities:
Work-based CPD Activities are activities that are related to any work-based related plumbingactivities. These activities may include but not be limited to, learner mentorship programs and issuing of plumbing certificates of compliance. All work-based activities must be approved and accredited by the PIRB before a CPD credit(s) may be allocated to the relevant activities and be awarded to the relevant registered person.

Category 3: Individual Activities:
As the name implies individual CPD Activities are activities that are related to activities under takenby the each relevant individual. These activities may include but not be limited to serving on a voluntary association related to the plumbing and or building industry, writing a technical article and or part-time lecturing/training. All individuals activities must be approved and accredited by the PIRB before a CPD credit(s) may be allocated to the relevant activities and be awarded to the relevant registered person.

Notes
25 Credits over a 12 month cycle

VIEW Category one Activities