A letter from the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) to its registered plumbers, 9 December 2020:

Dear PIRB Registered Plumbers,

It has been brought to our attention that there are numerous rumours and misleading information doing the rounds that PIRB is closing down, and/or that the Certificate of Compliance has been removed from the standards.

Not only is this laughable, but it cannot be further from the truth. As the professional body for the plumbing sector, we can assure you that the PIRB is not only on solid ground, but our recent quarterly review reported to the board of trustee shows that we are growing in leaps and bounds, with better things yet to come.

We acknowledge that there is discussion at SABS regarding standards, however this is nothing out of the ordinary and it is a standard operating procedure within the SABS process, that standards are reviewed and updated on a continuous basis. If there are any significant changes to the plumbing standard(s) and or regulations, rest assured you will be the first to receive an official communication from PIRB.

Contrary to the misinformation being spread in the industry SANS 10254:2017 and other respective plumbing standards are unchanged and remains a legal requirement.

So, do not sweat, we certainly are not concerned, because nothing has changed, it is business as usual. In closing, the PIRB acknowledges and respects that freedom of expression is a basic human right, and PIRB encourages this expression.

However, this expression cannot and should not be factually incorrect, slanderous, defamatory and/or be of a destructive nature towards anybody or any persons. It is with this said that the PIRB cautions you not to just accept what is being said or being heard out there verbatim, without asking the appropriate questions, asking for supporting evidence or you doing your own necessary fact checking.

If you require any further information or fact checking, please feel free to contact the PIRB’s office.

Be Plumbing Proud,

Lea Smith – Chairperson of the PIRB