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PLUMBING CONNECTION
AUTUMN 2015 43
Perhaps we need to stop talking about
sanitary ware and start referring to
it and other front-of-wall items as
bathroom furniture and appliances and
bring it some new found status.
One concerning trend that Patrick
highlighted was what is termed
“show-rooming” and it’s happening
in plumbing merchants’ premises
too. That’s where ‘browsers’ come in
and ask lots of questions, take smart
phone pictures, get prices - only to
never return – generally due to the
fact they’ve gone home and bought the
appliance on the web from somewhere
overseas – ignorant of the fact there’s
no warranty and it may not even have
the appropriate sized connections.
Patrick was followed by Dr Steve
Cummings, GWA’s leader in product
development and research. Steve has
for many years played the lead role
for GWA and the broader Australian
plumbing industry, in the development
of product standards and the timely
introduction of good design and water-
saving technologies both throughout
Australasia and internationally.
Steve reminded the audience of
why the plumbing sector exists first
and foremost – for the health and
sanitation of the nation.
Putting aside the known
shortcomings of health and sanitation
standards in third world countries,
he detailed how the developed world
every now and then also fails on the
sanitation front, even with our access
to the latest technologies and high
standards. The SARS outbreak in Hong
Kong which killed 43 people and the all
too frequent outbreaks of Legionella in
Australia and elsewhere are sufficient
reminders of what happens when
things go wrong with what the public
perceives as simple plumbing services.
Steve also gave the group a
refresher in the complexities of
bringing plumbing product to market
and paying to maintain it there.
With 34 Plumbing Product Standards
in existence and constantly requiring
technology updates from time to time,
plus 1497 WELS licensed products and
1756 WaterMark licensed products –
is it any wonder plumbing merchants
(and contractors) are over-run with the
complexities of the industry.
All this served to reinforce the
importance of sharing what should be
common knowledge.
It’s always interesting to bring
competitors together for mutual
benefit and hear new perspectives on
their ever-changing market - smart
move GWA.
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