ASSOCIATIONS: IOPSA/PIRB WEBINAR
57
IOPSA and PIRB Q&A feedback
on plumbing webinar
The following questions were posed to the panellists during
the recent Plumbing Industry Question and Answer session.
The panel discussion, held in October 2017, was chaired by Rory Macnamara (brand ambassador for Interact
Media Defined – Plumbing Africa), with Lea Smith (chairman of the PIRB) and Steve Brown (acting executive
director of IOPSA) responding to various questions. As not all questions could be responded to during the
session due to time constraints, some of the unanswered questions and responses have been included in
the table below.
QUESTION
I would like to ask about signing the CoC in Durban. Apparently, we are
not allowed to use the PIRB certificates? RESPONSE
Yes and no. Directly, Durban will not recognise the PIRB CoC; however, indirectly they have to. The reason being because
they have the South African National Standards embedded in their own by-laws, and the PIRB CoC is embedded within these
standards. We are, however, engaging with all municipalities on a continuous basis.
It is illegal to use rainwater harvesting for human consumption; it is just
to save water and only for general purposes in houses? Correct.
The current maximum number of points will not be changed and are embedded in the CPD policy —
see http://pirb.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/PIRB-CPD-Policy-September-2017.pdf).
What could change on a yearly basis is the number of points required for the registration cycle year; currently to phase in, it is
10 points.
Could the board change the maximum points? Yes, but it is highly, highly unlikely that the full board will change the number
ofpoints (bear in mind the bulk of the board members are plumbers). Further to this, it would be frowned upon by SAQA and
could result in the PIRB’s professional body status being revoked.
Why is there a need for a master plumber category when the licensed
As part of the SAQA requirements, PIRB had to reflect a progressive pathway from learner to qualified plumber and further.
As with the questions above, it could happen, but the likelihood that the board does this is highly, highly unlikely. Further,
plumber can perform all the required tasks and issue CoCs? Are we
trying to establish a section where in future only master plumbers will be the licensed plumber has been registered as the respective designation that can issue a CoC; if we change this, our PIRB
professional body status could be revoked.
able to perform certain jobs/installations? If the answer is no, then we
would require that to be set out in the constitution, or recorded so that
we do not face that problem later on.
In starting CPD, obviously the points may be lowered to get everyone on
board. What is the final number of points that CPD will require from us?
How do we know that this will then be the maximum and what stops
the board from increasing it at will? Is there something within the PIRB
constitution that addresses this point?
Can we get our points from any of the three categories and not be
limited to certain activities, or do we have to get points from all three
categories? This is especially so for rural plumbers or plumbers who
have certain impediments to certain activities, such as being computer
illiterate or unable to read or write. Currently, while phasing in CPD, plumbers can get their points across any of the three respective categories. However, going
forward, you will be required to get them across all three. This is because it gives a development spread and is not just in a
specific area or category. PIRB would agree, though, that circumstances may dictate what is possible and what is not, and for
this reason, the respective plumber simply needs to approach the PIRB and quantify why they are unable to obtain their points in
the respective category.
Why can we not display the PIRB logo on our vehicles? PIRB registration is the registration of an individual. Therefore, the registration/approval is linked to an individual and not a
company. Even though your intentions are good by displaying the logo on your vehicle, by using PIRB’s company letterhead and
marketing elements denotes that your company is registered with PIRB, which is not the case. Similarly, by displaying the logo on
a vehicle, you are denoting that all persons in that vehicle are registered with PIRB, which in all likelihood is not the case. Each
registered member is issued with a personal PIRB ID card, which may be used as proof of your registration. You may, however,
denote your PIRB registration number and category(ies).
Would PIRB/IOPSA ever provide a SANS checklist like the old Cobra
SANS 10254 checklist?
How are manufacturers monitored via IOPSA/PIRB?
There being a water crisis in Cape Town, many property owners are look-
ing to filter non-potable water; is PIRB/IOPSA looking at a regulation on
how such an installation should be carried out?
Cost-wise, depending on the type of work carried out, when do I issue a
certificate? For example, do I issue a certificate when I have replaced a
toilet or fitted a new tap?
Do I need to be qualified as an electrician to install a solar controller? I’m
asking as I am a solar and heat pump installer.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
Please see the IOPSA website:
http://www.iopsa.org/resources/Documents/Compliance%20Table%20for%20New%20replacement%20Repair%20and%20
Maintenance%20Geyser%20final%20march%202017%20ver2.pdf https://buildersshop.co.za/collections/frontpage/products/
non-compliance-notice-sans-10254-electrcial-geyser
It is not the mandate of PIRB to do this. However, indirectly, it does perform monitoring through the fact that only compliant
products may be installed. So, it is your responsibility as a plumber to ask the question when purchasing the product.
Yes, the City has been engaging PIRB and IOPSA, but not on the regulations but rather on best practices. Regulations are done at
a national level and takes years to unpack.
This information can be found on the reverse of the certificate. But in short: all jobs in excess of R1 500, or every time work is
carried out on a hot water cylinder, irrespective of the cost.
No, not as far as we are aware, but please contact the respective manufacturers as they will be the best place to know.
January 2018 Volume 23 I Number 11