Established as a Non -Profit Organisation, headed up by a 10 Independent member industry representative board, the PIRB purpose is to proactively work to promote plumbing practices in an open forum, free of any political or commercial agenda, so as to protect the health and safety and well-being of the South African public, and protecting the integrity of the South African Plumbing Industry and Practices for ALL persons working in it and wishing to work in it. The PIRB is the formally recognised Professional Body for the Plumbing Industry.

It is important for the Plumbing Industry Registration Board to support both the consumer and the plumber within the plumbing industry, to ensure a safe and healthy environment. The Consumer Protection Act ascertains for the promotion of a fair, accessible, and sustainable marketplace for consumer products and services. In addition, the Act makes provision for improved standards of consumer information to prohibit unfair business practices. The PIRB’s Complaints Procedure creates a platform for consumers to raise concerns in cases of incorrect plumbing installations, which in turn gives an opportunity for those concerns/complaints to be addressed in a professional manner. This process should only begin once every attempt has been made to resolve the matter with the plumber who completed the work/installation. For the PIRB to address consumer grievances, the following ought to be considered:

• Complaints are registered only on receipt of a completed complaints form. Consumers are urged to fully complete the complaints form with as much detail as possible and to attach all supporting documents.

 

• To enable PIRB to implement its Complaints Procedure, the complainant must be willing and able to submit relevant evidence supporting the complaint.

 

• It is important to note that PIRB assists in facilitating a resolution between the complainant and the plumber. Ultimately, the plumber remains responsible for fixing any non-compliant plumbing work if such non-compliance is confirmed.

 

• If the complaint is received within the first six months of the initial plumbing work, the PIRB can authorize an audit depending on the merits of the complaint. Once the audit report is completed, the PIRB will engage with the responsible plumber about potential refixes.

 

• Should the complaint be received more than 6 months and less than 3 years after the initial plumbing work, the PIRB can only compile an audit report that the complainant may use if they wish to take further action in accordance with the CPA.
• For work done more than 3 years prior a motivation may be submitted to the PIRB to justify evaluation of the complaint. Such requests will be evaluated based on the merits of the motivation.
• All the communication between the plumber, the consumer and the PIRB is kept confidential. In addition, it is required that consent is given by the homeowner before any form of investigation is conducted.

For the purpose of resolving matters in a timeous manner, the PIRB requires the consumer to contact the plumber directly to resolve the matter before involving a third party (i.e. the PIRB). Should a matter not be resolved directly, then complainants are invited to formally register their complaint by completing the Complaints Form, which may be requested from the PIRB via email from pirb@pirb.co.za On receipt and validation of the completed complaints form, the PIRB will inform the plumber of the complaint and offer the plumber an opportunity to comment on the contents outlined in the complaint. In the case where the complaint is valid and requires further action, a compliance auditor may be allocated to inspect the installation. For installations that were done less than 6 months prior to the complaint, a PIRB audit report will be provided to the responsible plumber to attend to the non-compliances as noted on the audit report. If the plumber fails to rectify any non-compliance, disciplinary action will be taken against the plumber. The complainant will be provided with a report listing all outstanding non-compliances. Compliance of a plumbing installation is verified against the requirements of the applicable South African National Standards and local bylaws. All decisions, regarding the application and interpretation of PIRB’s Complaints Procedure, rest with the PIRB. The PIRB is committed to ensuring a satisfactory outcome for parties involved, and as such, there is a need to address complaints in a just, consistent, and methodical manner. The length of this process is dependent on the nature of the case which means resolution times vary on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please contact the PIRB on 0861 747 275 or email pirb@pirb.co.za.

With any regulations, standards or laws, if the policing of such is left unchecked it will result in the regulations, standards or laws, become meaningless. Just imagine if speeding on our roads or drinking and driving is left unchecked. Carrying out a physical inspection or audit ensures that plumbing the regulations, standards, and laws are upheld which creates a fair, accountable and an equitable environment for us all to operate in.

The PIRB auditing process is subject to the number of PIRB CoC’s that have been issued and logged. 5% of all PIRB CoC’s that are issued and logged are randomly audited. Furthermore, complaints received from the public or a random review of a licensed plumber may result in an audit been undertaken.

There may be a time that you may disagree with an auditor’s findings. You are welcome and encouraged to raise these concerns with the PIRB. This must be done by completing the disagreement with an audit form, however, you must submit the necessary evidence to substantiate your disagreement. The PIRB assures that unless it may be necessary, you will remain anonymous and will be protected throughout the investigation.

There may come a time that you feel that you may have been treated unfairly during the audit process. You are welcome and encouraged to raise your concerns by placing your concerns in writing substantiating it with the necessary facts. The PIRB gives the undertaking that unless it may be necessary, you will remain anonymous and will be protected throughout the investigation.

An audit will be carried out based on the relevant plumbing standards and regulations applicable to the installation and the local municipal by-laws.

A rectification notice is a notice that may be given by an auditor after an audit has taken place. The rectification notice will denote any particular findings of the relevant plumbing works. The notice may outline the failures and the rectifications required by yourself.

The rectification must be corrected within five working days, however, if a request is made to the auditor with valid reason and/or proof, extensions can be provided.

If a plumber does not complete the remedial action concerning the rectification notice or provide substantiated reasons as to why the rectification was not undertaken, disciplinary action will be taken against the plumber, which may lead to suspension of registration with the PIRB.  To safeguard the homeowner the PIRB may also need to provide the homeowner with the findings, and they may choose to take legal action against the plumber.

No, a plumber doesn’t need to attend an audit. However, it is highly recommended that all plumbers attend the audits as it allows for a valuable learning experience.

It is not the responsibility or mandate of an auditor to train you. This is like you asking the traffic enforcement officers to train you if he/she stops you for speeding. The responsibility for training or continuously developing yourself (CPD) lies with yourself. However, the auditor, whilst on-site with the plumber – if requested, may assist and guide you.

The PIRB auditing process is undertaken by an outsourced third party. In allowing the audit process to be carried out by a third party allows for the PIRB to be impartial and unprejudiced (i.e. being judge, jury, and executioner). Currently, IOPSA fulfils this function.

If you think that you have the necessary skills and experience you may apply to become a Compliance Auditor by submitting your request to the IOPSA compliance audit office.

Certainly, yes. The Auditors themselves are also audited to ensure consistency, fairness, and transparency.

No. An auditor may not differentiate between specific products and may not refer or impose any products onto you. If you find that an auditor has recommended or imposed a product on you, please inform PIRB immediately so that it may be investigated and if required the necessary corrective action will be taken.

An auditor may not engage with or attract work from your customer resulting from the PIRB audit process. If you find that an auditor has done this, please inform PIRB immediately so that it may be investigated and if required, the necessary corrective action will be taken.

The PIRB does not have or set any plumbing standards or regulations. The PIRB adheres to the South African National Standards (SANS) and the respective regulations. The SANS is developed through a consultation process with the plumbing industry, through various committees, which is administrated by the South African Bureau of Standards or SABS.

Please see your audit status by clicking on the ‘AUDIT STATEMENT’ option after logging in to your profile.

Yes, by clicking on the ‘AUDIT STATEMENT’ option after logging onto your profile. Here you will see if your audit is in progress, pending or complete.

You will be able to communicate with each other through the PIRB’s new system.

http://audit-it.co.za/login/auditor

Auditors can log into their profiles and click on ‘My Report Listings’, fill in the necessary details and click on the ‘add’ button.

Audit@pirb.co.za will be able to assist.