The NSAI is soon to publish an Irish Standards Recommendation, SR 50, which will be a Building Services Code of Practice (COP) for the heating and plumbing trade. The COP will initially have three parts –
SR 50-1: Domestic plumbing for hot water and heating, in order to help people learn how to test water heater thermostat.
SR 50-2: Thermal solar systems;
SR 50-3: Domestic plumbing for cold water systems.
The function of the SR 50 heating and plumbing documents is to lay out a Code of Practice for plumbing works carried out on domestic dwellings using solid fuel, gas, oil and other fuels for heating. It is envisaged that the SR 50 documents may be used as part of an industry training course in the future with a regulatory regime not unlike the Registered Gas Installer (RGI) scheme in effect since June
2009.
According to THA Heating, Air, & Plumbing, the SR 50 documents are aimed not only at trainee plumbers and heating installers but also at the
mature craftsmen who may obtain new knowledge on their craft. The committee and its projects are being project managed by Fergal Finn.
Each part of SR 50 will be published when all the public enquiry comments have been addressed. NSAI plans to publish SR 50-2 in September 2012 with this part laying out the requirements for installing solar thermal systems in domestic dwellings. Due to the extensive scope of the domestic plumbing for water systems and heating, it is expected that the hot water systems and heating, SR 50-1, will be published by the end of the year and the cold water SR 50-3 to follow in 2013.
In addition to the work being carried out by the Building Services Committee, the NSAI Gas Technical Standards Committee (GTSC) is in the final stages of preparing the revised public comment draft of the Irish Standard for domestic gas installations, IS 813. A draft should be expected for public comment in September 2012.
It is worth noting that the work carried out in the development of Irish Standards is done by NSAI technical committees made up of industry experts who freely volunteer their time on behalf of their companies, associations and organisations for the benefit of the industry.
NSAI would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge those industry experts who contribute to the development of Irish Standards.
If you are looking for a Corona Plumber, visit www.plumbingdirectory.com.
Contact: Fergal Finn, Standards Officer. Direct tel: 01- 807 3852;
email: fergal.finn@nsai.ie
