Plumbing Certificates of Compliance can be purchased by licensed plumbing practitioners through any of the following methods: Directly from the PIRB: COCs can be purchased at the PIRB offices, or telephonically or digitally via the PIRB's Audit-IT system. From nation wide Resellers:

Gauteng
Reseller Name	Contact Nr	Address
Plumbalot	(011) 568-5325	7 Terrace road, Eastleigh, Edenvale
Plumberama cc	(011) 953-6312	Cnr Albertina Sisulu & Luipaard street Wentworth Park, Krugersdorp
Plumb Station PTY Ltd	(087) 822-1131	Unit A4, Canero Business Park, Jacaranda ave, Olivedale, Randburg
MRM Plumbing	(011) 450-2593	19 North reef road, Rietfontein Germiston
LJR Plumbing Supplies	(012) 333-0910	1232 Lawrance street, Queenswood, Pretoria
Unlimited Solar PTY Ltd ta Conschef	(011) 656-4530	Unit A, Woodmead Commercial Park,17 Waterfall Crescent , Woodmead, Sandton
Conschef pty ltd ta Premier Plumbing Supplies	(011) 485-1169	426 Louis Botha Avenue Highlands North, Bagleyston, Johannesburg
Water ways Vanderbijl Park ta Gir Trading cc	(016) 981-5001	9 Edison Boulevard , Vanderbijlpark CE6, Vanderbijlpark
Water Ways Northriding	(011) 794-4828	254 Honeydew West Road, Sundowner, Randburg
Waterways Alberton	(011) 907-4820	Shop 7, Alberton Lifestyle Centre, New Redruth, Alberton
Plumblink Springs	(087) 158-1615	198 Nigel Road,Selcourt View, Springs
Plumblink Krugersdorp	(087) 087-4591	Shop M07B Keywest Shopping centre cnr Paardekraal & Andries Pretorius, Krugersdorp
Plumblink – Germiston	(078) 285-5522	Shop 5 The Lake shopping center, Germiston
Plumblink Blackheath	(011) 793-1071	309 Pendoring street, Blackheath, Johannesburg
North West
Reseller Name	Contact Nr	Address
Plumblink Klerksdorp	(087) 285-9489	N12 Cnr Jolene avenue, Klerksdorp, Nort West
Plumblink Potchefstroom	(087) 2852488	BULT BOULEVARD STEVE BIKO STR CNR CHIEF ALBERT LUTHULI STR, Potchefstroom
Kwazulu Natal
Reseller Name	Contact Nr	Address
Plumblink Stranger	(076) 846-9803	8 Hayson road Ushaka Mall, Stranger
Plumblink Ladysmith	(087) 159-1475	389 Murchison Street, Ladysmith
Plumblink Manaba	(087) 285 – 0521	226 Marine drive, Manaba
Plumblink Kokstad	(087) 285-9525	1A Railway street, Kokstad
Plumblink Pinetown	(087) 285-6851	31 Oppenheimer road, Pinetown
Plumblink Riverside	(031) 579-9600	590 Riverside Road
Ontap Pietermaritzburg	(033) 394-0870	231 Greyling street, Pietermaritzburg
Western Cape
Reseller Name	Contact Nr	Address
One Stop Plumbers Shop Parklands	(021) 569-2888	22 Columbus Crescents Rivergate Business Park, Parklands Blouberg
Sunningdale Sanitary and Plumbing	(087) 997-1055	Block A Building 1 The Emporium, Parklands Blouberg
Durbanville Plumbing and Sanitary	(021) 975-1930	8 Cattle Baron centre Marais cres, Durbanville
One Stop Plumbers Shop	(021) 982-7480	BF01 Orion Park,cnr Orion &Old Paarl Road, Brackenfell
Bathroom4U Stellenbosch Pty Ltd	(021) 883-9861	15 George Blake Avenue, Stellenbosch
Megador 121 cc ta Stiles Plumbing and Sanware	(044) 871-3222	12 Commercial Close, George
CP and B Stilbaai	(028) 754-1548	Indraf sentrum, hoofweg wes, Stilbay
On Tap – Paarl	(021) 871-1656	25 Jan van Riebeeck Road, Paarl
On Tap Mosselbaai	(044) 695-2047	Gericke street, Mosselbay
On Tap George	(044) 873-0340	5 Market street, George
Plumblink Plettenberg Bay	(087) 283-2458	Shop 1 A and DU3 Upper Level, Market square, Beacon way, Plettenberg Bay
Plumblink Worcester	(087) 310-8425	Windpomp Motor City,Mountainmill drive, Worcester
CP and B Stilbaai	(028) 754-1548	Indraf sentrum, hoofweg wes, Stil bay
Eastern Cape
Reseller Name	Contact Nr	Address
Plumblink Beacon Bay	(071) 676-3272	Unit 9 Building 4 The Hub, Bonza Bay road, East London
Plumblink King Williams Town	(087) 285-7809	99A Cambridge Street, King Williams Town
Plumblink – Grahamstown	(043) 722-2531	4 and 6 High street
On Tap Port Elizabeth	(041) 367-5135	2 Springfield Road, Port Elizabeth
CP and B Cape Plumbing and Bathroom Supplies PE	(041) 364-0919	58 Pickering street
North Cape
Reseller Name	Contact Nr	Address
Vermeulens Build it Kimberley	(053) 832-9666	42 – 50 George street
Limpopo
Reseller Name	Contact Nr	Address
Plumblink Bela Bela Express	(087) 758-7858	Extention 20 ,R101  Bela Mall Shop No 59, Bela – Bela
Plumblink Mokopane	(015) 292-1604	35 Thabo Mbeki Drive Shop 5, Mokopane
Plumblink Louis Trichardt	(087) 285-1200	89 Kruger street, Limpopo
Plumblink Burgersfort	(087) 086-1186	Shop  Platcorn Building Cnr of R 555 & R 37, Burgersfort
Plumblink Tzaneen	(087) 288-0475	Shop 2 Veritas Building 34 Skierving street
Plumblink Thohoyandou Express	(087) 158-1783	Shop 15 & 16 Phangani Mall c/o R 524 Pundamana road
Freestate
Reseller Name	Contact Nr	Address
Plumblink Langenhoven Park	(087) 106-7270	The Towers Complex Shop 1, 1 Koppie road, Bloemfontein
Plumblink Welkom	(087) 288-4033	190 Jan Hofmeyer road, Welkom

A PIRB CoC is a self-certification and declaration by the PIRB licensed plumber that the work undertaken by them is up to standard and professionally conducted as per their training.

A Certificate of Compliance (COC) is required for most plumbing work where the total value of the work, including materials, labor, and VAT, exceeds R1500.00. It is also required, regardless of cost, with the installation, repair, or replacement of Electric Water Heating Systems, Hot Water Solar Water Heating Systems, Heat Pump Water Heating Systems; and the construction, installation, or alteration of any above or below-ground sanitary drain.

Part of the PIRB purpose is to monitor compliance of a plumber works. Through the CoC process, 5% of all plumber’s work is physically audited and if required the plumber is notified of any non-compliance. This physical audit and the associated administration functions bear a cost that is recovered through the associated cost of the PIRB CoC. The cost of the CoC has always been kept as low as possible without jeopardising the mandated functions of the PIRB and that of being a registered professional body. Click HERE to view costs

Licensed plumbers have not only met the prescribed requirements of PIRB registration but have undertaken and passed the required PIRB assessment. Furthermore, licensed plumbers have maintained their prescribed 25 CPD points throughout their registration cycle.

In terms of the PIRB requirements and a licensed plumber maintaining their PIRB registration, a licensed plumber must issue a CoC on all plumbing work undertaken by them which, includes but is not limited to geysers, solar water installations, heat pumps, etc.

Contact the PIRB as soon as possible to discuss the matter. If you suspect that it was stolen, or if it has already been fraudulently used by another party, please make sure you obtain all details about the incident.

All PIRB CoC’s are uniquely numbered. Once you have requested a PIRB CoC(s), the CoC will be allocated to you. A certificate allocated but not issued or associated with work undertaken by you is referred to as an “unlogged” certificate. Once a certificate is written out, issued and captured on the PIRB auditing system this certificate is referred to a “logged” certificate.  The action of capturing the details on the PIRB auditing system is referred to as “Logging”. A PIRB certificate is only logged once it is issued and captured on the PIRB auditing system.

Without logging a PIRB CoC, the PIRB considers that CoC to be unissued (although it has been allocated to you). You can only have a limited number of unlogged CoC’s in your possession, and in turn, limiting the practice of issuing without logging. It is a requirement that a CoC is logged within five days of issuing.

To log a CoC, log onto your profile on the PIRB system or the Plumbers App and navigate to the “CoC Statement” function for a list of your CoC’s logged and unlogged. Select an unlogged CoC and after completing all the necessary fields, click “Log CoC”.

A PIRB CoC’s must be “logged” within 5 working days after completion of the work. The physical issuing of the PIRB CoC must be done within a reasonable time frame or as agreed by the owner of the property where the work was undertaken.

You are not limited to the number of PIRB’s CoC’s that you can purchase, but rather limited to the number of “unlogged” PIRB CoC, that you may have in your name. This prevents a plumber from just purchasing CoC’s without logging and not allowing for the 5% auditing process to take place. For example, assuming your limit of unlogged PIRB CoC’s is 10, to be able to purchase 5 more you need to issue and log five, which will reduce you unlogged count down to 5 and put you in a position to purchase five more.

If you have your “own” driver’s license, it does not mean that you are legal to drive. Similarly, you can have and issue your own CoC, however subject to the requirements for issuing a PIRB CoC, a PIRB CoC must still be included and issued on all plumbing work undertaken by a Licenced plumber which includes but is not limited to geysers, solar water installations, heat pumps, etc. Furthermore, there are no real substances to a plumber having their own CoC. If this is the case they would be acting as the “Judge, Jury and Hangman”.

Because you can drive a motor car does not mean you can legally drive. In the same way just because you have a qualification in plumbing does not necessarily mean you can do plumbing work and or, more importantly, that you are complying with the respective South African National Standards and regulations. Your qualification merely denotes that you have met the requirements at a point in time. The PIRB process including that of the PIRB CoC and CPD denotes ongoing checks and balances of you as a professional. Only PIRB Licensed plumbers can issue PIRB CoC. Licensed plumbers have not only met the prescribed requirements of PIRB registration but have undertaken and passed the required PIRB assessment. Furthermore, licensed plumbers have maintained their prescribed 25 CPD points throughout their registration cycle.

If you can prove that the work undertaken by another “plumber” was done under your adequate supervision, then as the professional and accountable plumber you are allowed to. We do however like to draw your attention to the fact that once you have signed a PIRB CoC you are not only self-certifying that the work is done correctly and compliant, but YOU are personally and legally accountable for the said works. Signing a CoC without doing the actual work and or under your adequate supervisors is fraught with dangers, so beware.

A PIRB CoC’s must be “logged” within five working days after completion of the work. The physical issuing of the PIRB CoC must be done within a reasonable time frame or as agreed by the owner of the property where the work was undertaken.

Unless a contract prescribes and/or your client agrees otherwise, you may withhold the issuing of the physical PIRB CoC for payment, however, it does not detract from the fact that you must still “log” the PIRB CoC within five workings days after completion of the work.

No, each installation should have its own CoC issued. In terms of issuing a PIRB CoC on installation, the PIRB’s defines an “installation” as any plumbing works that is downstream of any installed water-meter. For example, in the case of a complex or group of houses, it is a legal requirement that each unit or house in a complex or group of houses must be individually metered with a water-meter. As such, each unit or house constitutes an installation and a CoC must be written out for every unit/house.

In terms of issuing a PIRB CoC on installation, the PIRB’s defines an “installation” as any plumbing works that is downstream of any installed water-meter. For example, in the case of a complex or group of houses, it is a legal requirement that each unit or house in a complex or group of houses must be individually metered with a water-meter. As such, each unit or house constitutes an installation and a CoC must be written out for every unit/house.

As the name implies, a non-compliance notice is a notice that will give notice of any non-compliance issues. In the case of plumbing, it is a requirement that a plumber undertaking plumbing works, is required as part of the work to notify the homeowner (consumer) of any issues of plumbing non-compliance. This notification must be done in writing.

The homeowner is responsible. Your responsibility as a professional plumber is to draw attention to the pre-existing non-compliance and the risk associated with it.

First and foremost, all notifications of non-compliance are a requirement of both the Consumer Protection Act and the mandatory standards. Not issuing the notice means you are falling foul of the regulations and further you will be issued with a rectification notice by the PIRB. Secondly, in the case of any future liability, you may be held jointly and severally liable for claims resulting from the installation.

Your duty as a professional plumber is to notify the homeowner of non-compliance. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to rectify the non-compliance. If the homeowner wishes for you to quote on the rectifying of the non-compliance and make use of your services, you are free to do so. You are not precluded from doing this in any way. We do however caution you that the notification and quoting should be done before any work been undertaken as this will most likely lead to a dispute if done after.

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

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.

The purpose of the non-compliance notice is twofold: firstly, so as to protect the consumer of any and or potential dangers and performance issue that are or may arise from the existing installation, and secondly, so as to protect the you the plumber in terms of any future liability of the homeowner of any pre-existing items of non-compliance. It is therefore critical that the licensed plumber is aware of the standards to notify accordingly. Notification of non-compliance is a requirement of both the Consumer Protection Act and the mandatory standards.