By Tanya Olckers
Pipes are vital to the business of plumbers. How are they checked and what standards are applied to pipes? We take a look.
Pipe testing is key to reducing environmental impact. All images by SAPPMA
When taking a journey through pipes – particularly plastic pipes – the best place to begin is with the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA). The association has been around since 2004, and has provided technical information, product standards and quality assurance to the plastics pipe industry.
Jan Venter, SAPPMA CEO says that there are some pressing issues that the industry is currently facing. “There is the problematic inclusion of recycled polymer in certified pipes,” he says. “This violates national product standards.”
Venter also points out that there is insufficient focus and investment in infrastructure – a situation we see across a number of areas in South Africa.
For pipes testing it is vital to have a SANAS approved testing laboratory, and luckily in South Africa there is just such a thing. CEISLAB South Africa. This is affiliated with international regulator AENOR, providing this service so that local manufacturers can get their tests done in-country.
According to CEISLAB CEO, Federico Munoz Sanchez, having a facility in South Africa will help improve service for local manufacturers, reduce logistical costs and testing times, and ensure compliance with both regional and international regulations.
“We believe that CEISLAB South Africa will contribute to expanding the AENOR plastic pipe certification in the country and consequently, to spread the importance of quality control, testing and certification among the southern African countries,” he says.
CEISLAB South Africa lab offers multiple advantages. The primary benefit is the reduction of costs and lead times, as there is no need to send samples abroad for analysis. Additionally, proximity allows for better customer support, enabling testing processes to be tailored to the specific needs of the African market.
“Our local team, led by Justin Marsberg, also serves as a boost for the local manufacturers,” Munoz Sanchez states, “This promotes the production of certified, high-quality materials, which enhances the competitiveness of regional manufacturers. Ultimately, expanding into South Africa reinforces the commitment of our company to quality, innovation, and the development of emerging markets. With a modern facility and a team of testing experts, the new subsidiary will help raise industry standards and provide reliable solutions to meet the growing demand in the African market.”
Plastic pipe testing is essential to ensure safety, durability and performance in various applications. These evaluations help detect defects, leaks and structural weaknesses that could lead to failures, environmental damage or high repair costs.
“Pipe tests can vary greatly depending on the client’s needs. From quality control, certification and failure investigations there is a wide array of tests which can be used to assess the piping,” says Justin Marsberg, general manager of CEISLABS South Africa. “There are two main categories of tests which are material properties and fitness for purpose.”
Material properties focus on key processability parameters such as flow rates, melting temperatures etc, but can also include aspects such as additive compositions, dispersion, resistance to chemicals and a wide variety of other properties.
Fitness for purpose testing assesses the product to determine if it is able to perform its function which is typically stipulated in product specifications. These tests range from basic tests such as dimensional measurements to more intricate tests such as hydrostatic pressure testing which
Pipe testing is important for safety and durability.
“Pipe testing is critical on multiple levels. It is important for testing to take place at the point before the raw material is processed, all the way through to after the pipe has been manufactured, at regular intervals,” says Marsberg.
AENOR and CEISLAB have a strong relationship that is key to collaboration in the field of certification and quality assurance. These two companies have been collaborating in the conformity assessment of plastic pipes since 2001, when CEISLAB established the plastic pipes and fittings laboratory. While CEISLAB specialises in advanced technical testing to assess product performance and resistance, AENOR serves as a certification body, ensuring that products comply with European and international standards. This alliance strengthens the credibility of tested products and facilitates their recognition in global markets.
When it comes to the South African market, AENOR has already issued 76 certificates for seven factories in South Africa, one in Botswana and three located in Angola. “We are fully confident that with the support of CEISLAB South Africa the number of tested and certified products will multiply in the coming years,” he adds.
The pipe testing process follows a series of standardised procedures designed to ensure strength, durability and compliance with local, regional or international regulations. Among the main tests are pressure tests, which assess the pipe’s ability to withstand internal stress without leaks or failures; mechanical tests, which determine resistance to tension, impact and flexibility; and chemical analysis, which verifies the material composition to ensure it meets required specifications.
Additionally, visual and dimensional inspections are carried out to confirm the absence of visible defects and ensure precise measurements, while environmental tests simulate prolonged exposure to harsh conditions, evaluating resistance to aging, humidity and chemicals.
One of the primary objectives of these tests is to ensure the pipes’ resistance to extreme conditions, such as pressure, temperature and exposure to chemicals. Additionally, they play a crucial role in preventing leaks and structural failures, reducing risks for both the environment and the infrastructure where they are installed. Moreover, testing contributes to compliance with regulatory standards and quality requirements set by industry authorities, ensuring that products are safe and suitable for use. This not only extends the service life of plastic pipes but also reduces maintenance and replacement costs.
Laboratory testing should be used in conjunction with inhouse control testing to verify processes and provide reassurance to customers of independent, accredited, third-party testing results.
“We often experience the situation where a sample set of pipes will arrive at the laboratory to be checked for material properties and performance requirements even though a project may be well into the phase of pipe installation – or, even more perilously, after a failure has been detected on site. These scenarios, when failures are detected, lead to increased lead times and, naturally, have massive cost implications,” says Marsberg. “In most of these scenarios, the failure of the samples are due to easily rectified issues arising from material inconsistencies or processing errors.”
Finally, plastic pipe testing is key to minimising environmental impact by preventing contamination and hazardous substance leaks. In this way, it promotes the development of safer, more efficient and sustainable infrastructure.
Pipe testing is important, and so is the timing of the testing. In the best-case scenario, all tests pass and clients as well as manufacturers have peace of mind that their products will perform as expected for many years. In the worst case, errors can be detected early in the process and expert insight could provide clarity about what could have caused the problem, and what potential consequences could be if not rectified.
“At the heart of our goal is to try to be the best partners we can be to our clients,” says Marsberg. “As such, a crucial phase of any testing process is to understand our clients’ needs and help them timeously and accurately.”
To become a member of SAPPMA, a company needs to:
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