72 / 132
7 2
PLUMBING CONNECTION
WINTER 2015
Dr Steve Cummins (Chairman)
Research and Development Manager at
GWA Bathrooms and Kitchens, Member
of Standards Australia Technical
Committees
Stephen Movley (Secretary)
Secretary of the Institute of Plumbing
Australia, IPA Representative and
Member of Standards Australia Technical
Committees
Les Barnard (Retired)
Previously Government Policy Advisor;
Senior Technical Officer with Sydney
Water
Donald Boynton
Hydraulic Services Consultant, MEP Service Group Manager at GHD
currently working in Qatar
Dr Heri Bustamante
Principal Scientist Treatment at Sydney Water
Jeff Clark
Operations Manager Plumbing Technical Regulator, South Australia,
Member of Standards Australia Technical Committees
Mark Frazer
Manager Plumbing and Gas Inspectorate, ACT Government
Peter Hadfield
Senior Technical Officer Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board
Northern Territory
Stuart Henry
Principal Consultant at Aqua Global Consultants, Secretariat World
Plumbing Council and Secretariast PPIG
Bruce Klein
Team Leader Compliance Solutions, Building System Controls
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment New Zealand
Jeff Patchell
Managing Director of Connection Magazines, leading publisher of
technical publications including Plumbing Connection.
Mike Read
Senior Technical Officer with the Western Australian Plumbing
Regulator, Member of Standards Australia Technical Committees.
Matt Wilson
Senior Technical Advisor Victorian Building Authority
David Wood
Director Liquid Hydraulics Pty Ltd, AHSCA Representative and
Member of Standards Australia Technical Committees.
Colin Fox
Public Health Engineer, England UK.
THE EBB AND FLOWOF RESEARCH
RESEARCH IS CRITICAL IN ANY INDUSTRY, AND PLUMBING IS NO EXCEPTION.
JUSTIN FELIX
CATCHES UP WITH
ASFLOW CHAIRMAN STEVE CUMMINS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE RESEARCH TEAM HAS BEEN UP TO AND WHAT
PROJECTS ARE TABLED FOR THE FUTURE.
INDUSTRY RESEARCH
T
he name ASFlow is one you might remember from a
story we ran a number of years ago – circa 2009 – when
the National Plumbing Regulators Forum (NPRF) for
Australia and New Zealand formed the Australasian Scientific
Review of Reduction of Flows on Plumbing and Drainage
Systems (ASFlow) committee to conduct research into the
effects reduced flows were having on drainage systems.
The NPRF ASFlow project committee conducted a number
of laboratory and field tests which identified the potential
for fitting and drainline blockages from struvite (magnesium
ammonium phosphate or urine).
The trials demonstrated that added flows to main pipes
servicing waterless urinals will prevent rapid build-up of
struvite, but highlighted the need for ongoing maintenance
of the urinal’s outlet pipe at regular intervals to control the
build-up of struvite.
The team has been relatively quiet since; however, as can
often be the case with industry groups or bodies, the wheels
have been turning in the background. So long as the fire in the
belly remains, results will come and goals will be met. Such is
the mantra of ASFlow, a not-for-profit research committee
whose work intends to benefit the industry as a whole.
As mentioned above, the ASFlow project was formerly
endorsed by the NPRF. This relationship has since discontinued
and ASFlow has moved away from their former linkages.
“ASFlow made some progress in the area of waterless
urinals. As a result, other projects have risen to the surface.
They aren’t large scale projects at this stage but they’re
still important nonetheless,” Dr Steve Cummins, ASFlow
Chairman says.
“We continued doing the work in the background and
regularly met as a group to discuss future projects. It was
agreed by all members to keep the research group going.”
Speaking of which, all members are volunteers and
experts in their respective fields. The team is comprised
of members around the country as well as one from New
Zealand. While still on the path it originally set out, it is
looking to broaden the scope.
“We’re looking for other partners to assist in any number
of ways. It has been difficult to get financial support and
assistance in what is an important field – research that aims
to make plumbing better in this country. It would appear as
though water boards, government and others are just not
that interested or supportive of research. No one has been
willing to provide pro bono support either.
ASFLOW STEERING COMMITTEE