To my mind, the most important attribute of INOX CSSP is that there are no joints in the piping runs: from the heat pump to faucet, for example – therefore, no leaks, and a definite specification for House Crawford.
The local availability of the pipes stems from the opening of INOX Systems Boksburg factory in 2014. This heralded a big shift in the operation of the business, as prior to this most of its product had been imported from its sister company in Taiwan utilising the same machines that now find themselves on the shop floor in Boksburg.
Cape Town’s dire water crisis and the rapid approach of the much feared ‘Day Zero’ is shining a light on the role that corrugated, stainless steel water pipes can play in securing South Africa’s long-term municipal water supplies.
Case studies show that 95% of treated water leaks occur in small-diameter service pipes connecting the distribution pipes to the users’ water meters. Currently, approximately 40% of Johannesburg’s treated water supply is non-revenue water, equating to a loss of R1.1 billion per year.
Globally, as much as 35% of all treated water is lost to leaking piping systems with South African levels reaching as high as 60%. This has prompted a stainless steel test project to get underway in Paarl between sassda, local municipal authorities and South African manufacturers in search of the most environmental and economic solution for the country’s water-wise future.
“There is high value potential in using stainless steel material for service piping and all fittings predominately manufactured using grade 316 stainless steel.
A 30-year case study presented at the forum and documented in both Tokyo and Seoul, shows how stainless steel piping is non-corrosive, features sophisticated corrugated joints which prevent leakage and sophisticated leak detection monitoring systems.
Solid pipes, in certain applications, are more difficult to work with and require more space to store and transport, whereas their flexible product can be rolled up neatly.
The Southern African Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) is, along with the Drakenstein municipality in Paarl, in the Western Cape, and South African stainless steel product manufacturers, evaluating the use of stainless steel pipes to reduce water leaks.
