Solar geyser local content requirements create jobs

Solar water heaters, or solar geysers as they are commonly known, are in great demand as a more energy-efficient alternative to their electrical counterparts. This presents major growth opportunities for South Africa-based manufacturers, with the proviso that 70% of the components must be manufactured and sourced locally according to threshold stipulations by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

In this respect, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) was appointed as the local content verification body in terms of the amended regulations to the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (No. 5 of 2000).

“The SABS acknowledges that a number of manufacturers have their products tested and certified as part of a product certification scheme; however, it is the local content verification element that is missing. Currently, there are no local solar water geysers that meet the local content requirements,” explains Jodi Scholtz, lead administrator, SABS.

Manufacturers of components for solar geysers can have their parts locally verified as part of the SABS local content grading scheme. The main components of a solar water geyser are the collector, the heat transfer system and the storage vessel.

A grade from A to J is assigned, based on the criteria being met, where A has 90-100%

Local content verification for solar geysers local content and J from 1-9%. This is a is conducted and calculated in accordance five-year scheme and gives manufacturers with SANS 1286 ‘Local goods, services and works – measurement and verification the flexibility to incrementally increase the of local content’ percentage of local content in products over the period. “By having components sourced and manufactured locally, industries and economies can flourish. We further encourage suppliers to have their components verified for local content, as it will create a demand for manufacturers to meet the local content requirements,” adds Scholtz. Other products in the plumbing sector that need to meet local content determinations include ducting and structural pipework, gutters, downpipes and lauders, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes, polypropylene (PP) pipes, glass reinforced plastic (GRP) SABS_IMIESA-HP_11-2021.pdf 1 2021/11/23 19:47 pipes, valve products and actuators.

SABS has been driving Standardisation, Testing, Certification and Training in building and construction industry, such as: civil and

Development in the building industry is a continuous process. New materials become available, design methods are refined, and innovative building systems. Development of new policies and procedures within building and construction might impact regulatory requirements, these interpretations cannot remain static if they are to accommodate such policy changes and allow for the early use of innovation in construction. The current setup has introduced full test automation of tests that are performed on the test bench in both SANS 60335-2-21 and SANS 151 test standards.

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has been training individuals in organisations on various management systems for decades. Our accredited training modules include an overview of the relevant standards, creating overall organisational awareness and implementation of management systems such as: