A few years ago when Halon gases were banned, the industry saw a brief rise of what it termed ‘Halon Bandits’. Unscrupulous companies would offer to remove Halon gas filled cylinders at no cost, only to grind off the serial numbers and re-spray the cylinders before labelling them as a new ‘Halon alternative’ that was then sold on to unsuspecting customers.
According to Alien Systems & Technologies (AST), yes, the Halon Bandits are back.
Though this time they are wearing the guise: Occupational Health & Safety Act: Pressure Equipment Regulations (2012) Regulation 6.2 – Duties of Users stipulates that the user must ensure that any pressurised equipment has a valid safety certificate that includes a verification signature by an independent SANAS accredited Authorised Inspection Authority (AIA). It is a legal requirement that all pressure equipment manufactured or imported into South Africa be categorised in terms of the OHSA: PER (2012) under Regulations 3, 4 & 5.
This regulation is applicable to all gaseous fire extinguishing systems in South Africa.
However, AST says that it is well aware that many of all gaseous fire extinguishing systems being sold and installed in South Africa, are not compliant with the above mentioned regulations. So what does this mean for the end user? For starters, it is illegal, but there is also a chance that the system may not work correctly when it is required. And, of course, any resulting insurance claims will not be met if the fire extinguishing system is found non-compliant with the local regulations.
The company confirms that its Pyroshield System’s pressure equipment, as defined in the OHSA: PER (2012), has been categorised as per South African National Standard 347: Categorisation and Conformity Assessment Criteria for all Pressure Equipment (2012) and has been verified by an independent SANAS accredited AIA in South Africa.
It is also able to confirm that all Pyroshield piping designs are signed off by a Professionally Registered Person with the Engineering Council of South Africa (Pr Eng, Pr Tech Eng or Pr Cert Eng) as per the requirements of the OHSA: PER (2012) Regulation 3.3 referring to the requirements laid out in SANS 347 (2012) Annexure B.
All gaseous fire extinguishing systems are subjected to these criteria, so it is in the best interests of consultants, contractors and suppliers to become well versed with these regulations. It is as important for end users, so that you are not caught breaking the law or conned into purchasing bottles of ‘snake oil’.
Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.
Read more...Pepperl+Fuchs Channel Partner Conference Pepperl+Fuchs
News
Pepperl+Fuchs recently hosted its Channel Partner Conference. Under the theme ‘Together, Breaking Ground in Africa’, the conference served as both a celebration of partnerships and a strategic forum focused on future growth.
Read more...Bühler celebrates expansion, innovation and sustainability
News
Bühler has marked another milestone in its dedication to regional support with the expansion of its Cape Town Service Centre. Hosting its annual customer day, the company showcased the facility’s new offerings and highlighted its commitment to service excellence, local innovation, and sustainability.
Read more...From the editor's desk: First break it, then fix it Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
Welcome to another year with SA Instrumentation & Control. May it be a happy and healthy one where you can rise to the challenges ahead and still enjoy all the good things we have in this country.
...
Read more...SEW-EURODRIVE’s new service and repair centre SEW-EURODRIVE
News
As part of its strategy to ‘close the loop’ in its service offering, SEW-EURODRIVE has broken ground on a new 17 000 m2 Service and Repair Centre. The establishment of the state-of-the-art facility plugs the gap for expert repair services for gearboxes in Africa.
Read more...EtherCAT Technology Group holds its annual Plug Fest
News
The 2024 EtherCAT Plug Fest of the EtherCAT Technology Group offered participants a valuable opportunity to test the interoperability of their 9 EtherCAT MainDevices and 10 EtherCAT SubDevices. Using the knowledge gained, they will be able to improve compatibility and optimise their products for use in the field.
Read more...Leading the way in industrial automation and digital transformation Iritron
News
As a pioneering engineering, integration, and manufacturing firm, Iritron has built a reputation as a trusted partner in critical industries such as mining, energy and manufacturing. By embedding innovation and expertise into its four foundational pillars, the company continues to deliver tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern industry.
printer friendly version