James Green – CEO of Ubersolar and Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (SESSA SWHDC) Not understanding the law of SANS10400 XA2 can have dire consequences for architects, quantity surveyors, builders and property developers – James Green as Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (SESSA SWHDC) points out what…
SANS 10400-Part P, Drainage, Plumbing, The Vital Role of Drainage and Plumbing in Ensuring Health, Safety, and Efficiency in Buildings Introduction: Drainage and plumbing constitute a critical aspect of building infrastructure, playing a crucial role in maintaining safety, health, and the efficient functioning of a property. While often hidden from view, the pipes responsible for…
Non-Waterborne Sanitary Waste Disposal Part Q The SANS 10400-Part Q deals with the sanitary waste and the healthy handling and treatment of effluent when there is no water-borne sewage system available in a particular area. Health is the major factor when it comes to effluent and any pathogens, pollutants or contaminants must not affect the…
By JANEK SZYMANOWSKI Air Gives False Readings Main picture above: Burst water pipe in Gauteng. Picture courtesy Pretoria East Record Every time a water pipe bursts, there’s a good chance that the municipality will rake in thousands of rands from false water meter readings. This is because air passing through consumers’ water meters and water…
Caption for pic above: There are no absolutes in bathroom design: your aim is to produce an environment that is comfortable, convenient and easy to maintain, and that works for the people who will use it. Know Your Plumber 1. You and Your Plumber The location and layout of a bathroom is invariably dictated by…
Tips on How to Remodel Your Bathroom A comprehensive survey of the functions and fittings of an existing or future bathroom will help you to organise your thoughts and will also give you a good idea of the size and cost to remodel your bathroom that lies ahead. Before you rush out and order hundreds…
Plumbing Projects You Can Tackle Legally Do you know that almost all the municipalities now require a plumbing COC (Certificate of Compliance) before they will approve the sale of any house in their area? The question is what DIY plumbing work can you do yourself that is legal and will not affect your COC? Plumbing…
Great Bathroom Layout and Design Ideas Over the years, the bathroom has earned a reputation as an area unworthy of attention, probably because it has always been regarded as no more than a room in which to wash. Nobody can deny that this is still its most important function but, nevertheless, it seems a poor…
Rapid Urban Decay in Jozi Blamed on Illegal Building The City of Johannesburg has lost control of town-planning infringements, according to an article published in The Star newspaper at the beginning of February 2013. It seems they simply can’t stop them from happening. The Accusations In the article, Ros Greeff, the City’s member of the…
Water Pipes Detector, Steel Reinforcing andElectric Cable Detector Even though instruments that detect pipes and cables have been around for a number of years, they are, I believe, underused. Detect pipes and cable detectors are indispensable tools for any contractors in the building industry from plumbers to electricians, and installers who have to drill holes…
Burst Pipe Plumbing Problems can Result in Water Water Everywhere It was a case of water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink recently when a burst pipe began to flood our rented home. Tensions were high as water dribbled out from under the fridge. Another appliance was clearly about to give up the…
IT’S PLUMBER PLUMBING CRAZYThe Plumbing Saga Continues – Not a Registered Plumber Not being a registered plumber, or even someone who would try to work with pipes and fittings, all I can do is read the relevant national standards when I want to check the legality of fixtures and fittings. Not that the owner of…
THE NEED FOR PROPER PLUMBING Burst pipes are unnecessary. I never cease to be amazed by people who ignore building rules and regulations, particularly when the regulations apply to plumbing or electrics. Not only are plumbing and electricity two of the most basic facilities in our homes, and vital for everyday life, but when installed…