DESIGN: DEAR MR PLUMBER
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code of practice for engineers. It has over time also
been adopted by plumbers, which is excellent, as there
is excellent technical information that is valuable for
installation and even design for projects for which a
rational design is not required.
The only problem with SANS 10252-1 is that it does not
have a set of performance regulations/requirements like all
the other parts of SANS 10400 have.
Sometime in the 1980s, when we completed what is today
called SANS 10252-1, it was presented to all the large
municipalities to adopt it as a water design manual. Later,
it became SABS 0252-1 and then later, under the new
dispensation, it became SANS 10252-1 and compulsory
under the Department of Water and Forestry, but then never
implemented under the NBR until today.
It is essential to develop a set of performance specifications
that specify how the system must operate, which must
begin with the water supply connection. The water supply
connection and conditions dictate the rest of the design
and construction and it is formally regulated through the
local water services by-laws and cannot be ignored.
The design parameters are part and parcel of the
performance criteria and must form part of the
performance regulations. Some of them are as follows:
• The maximum working pressure
• The maximum hot water temperature
• The minimum hot water temperature in terms of
legionella
• The maximum cold water temperature in terms of
legionella.
Although regulation is important, it is also essential not
to regulate to such an extent that it stifles or prohibits
innovation. Therefore, the rational design is so important,
but it must be reserved for the qualified engineer to do it
with competence, care, and due diligence — for safety,
to preserve health, and also to economise. Without this,
there will be no progress and no new development,
resulting in stagnation.
If innovation, development, and progress were not allowed,
we would still be riding on a horse to get to the office and
have a long-drop outside the house. However, it must come
with responsibility and be done by qualified engineers
who are duly registered and whose competency has been
proven. An ex-draughtsman is not a competent design
engineer in terms of SANS 10400 and not competent to do
a rational design, unless he/she is a registered engineer.
SANS 10252-1 is a formidable document for the design
of water systems, but it is not the only document. In this
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
document, it is clearly stated that it is not the only method
to design a water system and that any other suitable code
of practice may be used.
There are many other excellent design codes that can
be used, such as those of Australia, New Zeeland, the
EU, and others. These will all render a well-designed and
constructed project.
The world climate deterioration and water situation require
that we wake up now and, after all the years, formalise the
design of water installations in buildings and take hands to
conserve water through the fixtures we specify, the piping
materials we use, and the competencies for construction
and design.
We can no longer have an administration that does
not care and allows incompetent people to do design
and construction as well as administer the institutional
requirements. We can no longer allow products that are not
approved or legal, nor allow work that does not comply with
the compulsory regulations.
If you asked me about my New Year’s resolution, then it
would be to say that by the end of this year, we would have
a section on water in SANS 10400, and this document
must include:
• a set of performance regulations;
• a set of deem-to-satisfy rules; and
• a boundary between what is deem-to-satisfy and
rational; and
• a set of water conservation methods; and
• how to safely use grey water; and
• how to safely use rainwater; and
• it must include fire water systems and how to
combine domestic water and fire water; and
• how to safely prevent legionella in hot and cold
water systems.
Lastly, my wish is that all of the above mentioned will be
managed, administered, and used by competent people,
from design, approval, and construction, and eventually to
the CoC. PA
Although regulation is important,
it is also essential not to regulate
to such an extent that it stifles or
prohibits innovation. If innovation
was not allowed, we would still
be riding on a horse to get to
the office and have a long-drop
outside the house.
March 2018 Volume 24 I Number 1