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PLUMBING CONNECTION
AUTUMN 2015
it bluntly, if you do not have the knowledge, either obtain it
via a certified course or decline the work.
“There are training programs available and there have
been national accreditation programs since 1997. The
problem is – people don’t want to send their staff to training.
Typical excuses include, ‘it costs too much, we’re busy, our
blokes are out and we can’t take them off the job’. The other
major resistance towards training is the negative attitude
directed at staff that obtain training and then leave to join
someone else or start their own business,” Bob says.
“To them I say, ‘it’s a circle. You train someone and he
leaves you; however you also employ people who have been
trained elsewhere’. It’s swings and roundabouts.
“Times have changed and the old days when plumbing
inspectors went from job to job to conduct auditing work
on behalf of various water boards has gone. They were
the fall back in a lot of instances, no doubt saving a large
number of plumbers from making costly mistakes. Now the
onus is on the plumbers themselves to ensure all work and
tests are satisfactory. The best way to do this is to keep
up with regulations and Standards, as well as continuing
professional development (CPD).”
It isn’t all bad news though. Some commonalities exist
across the board that if taken into account and rectified,
can see the tide pushing in the opposite direction when it
comes to electrofusion installations on home soil.
DOING IT RIGHT
Contractors who have obtained the proper training and
continually follow the manufacturer’s installation guidelines
have managed to successfully complete projects and picked
up more jobs as a result of achieving a good reputation.
One such contractor is Ecoplumb from Melbourne.
Over the years the team has successfully completed
electrofusion welded jobs for the Melbourne Zoo, Rinoldi
Pasta fire service and the Melbourne Cemetery fire mains
among plenty more of similar scale.
Managing Director Peter Monahan suggests there are a
lot of one percenters that need to be ticked off in order to
ensure a safe and sound connection is made.
PETER’S TOP TIPS:
∫ Get yourself and your team trained up in electrofusion
through an accredited training company.
∫ Always follow the procedures provided by the suppliers,
especially in regards to cool down times.
∫ Select your pipe depth into the fitting plus 50mm and then
mark it back so you know the pipe is home.
∫ Ensure you know your pipe’s outside diameter (SDR)
and the wall thickness as this will determine which
electrofusion fitting can safely be welded.
∫ Cover the end of the pipe so the ambient air doesn’t blow
through the pipe while the weld is getting done.
Get the one percenters right and you will succeed in getting
the job right. Keep a check list of things to tick off and make
sure a supervisor is on hand to evaluate the work.
COVER STORY:
ELECTROFUSION