SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Understand and apply basic plumbing principles 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
11780  Understand and apply basic plumbing principles 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Building Construction 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Building Construction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  8 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The purpose of this Unit Standard is to enable Plumbers to understand and apply basic plumbing hydraulics, to interpret and apply building drawings, apply basic pipe design and sizing, and to select Plumbing system components and materials. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
FETC NQF Level 2 literacy and numeracy competencies. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
1. The application of basic plumbing hydraulic theory, the design and sizing of piping, and the selection of components are according to the following qualitative specifications:
  • SABS 0254: 2000 The Installation, maintenance and repair of fixed electric storage water heating systems
  • SABS 0252: 1994 Water supply and drainage for Buildings:
  • Part 1: Water Supply installations for Buildings, and
  • Part 2: Drainage Installations for Buildings
  • SABS 0400: 1990 Code of Practice for the Application of the national Building Regulations, Part P: Drainage

    2. Pressure includes: absolute, gauge, atmospheric, and negative (vacuum) pressures, and their relationship to height.

    3. Water principles include: Hydrogen bonds; Surface tension; Capillary action; and Meniscus;

    4. Quality of water principles include: hardness/softness; solubility; suspended solids; salinity; turbidity; bacterial levels; scaling.

    5. Erosion principles include: damage to components, and the misapplication of components.

    6. Pollution includes for: Effluent, and backflow prevention.

    7. Pipe design and sizing includes: selecting one or two pipe designs; determining site and structural constraints; select practical routing; determining available supply pressure; determining required terminal pressure; determining friction loss factors; determine maximum design velocity; and determine probability of simultaneous use.

    8. Permissible friction losses are calculated per meter run and for the whole system.

    9. Pipe sizing includes for: selection from pipe manufacturers friction loss tables; checking against max velocity; checking against total permissible loss.

    10. Valves include: globe; ball; plug; float; butterfly; gate; RSV; diaphragm; control, air relief; vacuum relief; pressure reducing; pressure relief; temperature and pressure safety. Also: strainers/filters; fire/hydrant; actuators; and solenoids.

    11. Meters include: volumetric/rate of flow, Types: rotary piston; fan wheel - inferential; helix; woltmann; and turbine. Understand: vortex shredding; orifice plate; magflow; turbine; combination; and the legal requirements and restrictions.

    12. Pumps include: positive displacement, piston; diaphragm; mono; impeller, (centrifugal and primed); self-priming; turbine multistage; hot water circulating; submersible; borehole; basic pump installations, and hand pumps.

    13. Pipe and fitting materials include: Copper, High density Polyethylene (HDPE); Polypropylene, uPVC; Wrought steel; Seamless steel; Cast iron/Ductile iron; Fibre cement, etc.

    14. Hot water systems include: Pressurised storage; Roof tank fed; Combination; Push-through (open outlet); Instantaneous; Heat pumps; Storage calorifiers; Trace heating; Solar (direct and indirect) two part; Industrial; Insulation; and Circulating flow and return.

    15. Terminal fittings include: Screw down taps & mixers; Ceramic disc taps & mixers; Medical; Electronic; Thermostatic; Demand; Metering; Flush valves; Shower mixers; Disabled; and an understanding of Water and Energy conservation. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Understand and apply basic plumbing hydraulics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Pressure and flow principles are understood and applied. The basics of water and it's principles are understood and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Water quality principles are understood and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Corrosion of plumbing materials is understood and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Erosion principles are understood and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Pollution prevention principles are applied. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Interpret and apply building drawings. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. ISO metric systems are understood and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Basic area and volume formulas are applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Plumbing details and legends are interpreted. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Apply basic pipe design and sizing. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Pipe design criteria are established. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Permissible friction losses are calculated and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Pipe sizes are determined. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    System components and materials. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Valves are selected and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Meters are selected and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Pumps are selected and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Plumbing materials for pipes and fittings are selected and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Hot Water Systems are selected and applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Terminal fittings are selected and applied. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Assessment of learner achievements takes place at providers accredited by CETA (RSA, 1998b) for the provision of programs that result in the outcomes specified for the Certificate for Plumbers. CETA is responsible for moderation of learner achievements of learners who meet the requirements of this qualification. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Qualifying learners understand and can explain:

    1. Pressure and how it is expressed and measured, the use of pressure gauges; differential areas; effect on velocity; effect on flow rate; static pressure; flow/dynamic pressure; terminal pressure; pressure gradient; Bernoulli's theorem - application; flow restrictions/enlargements; differential pressures; friction pressure loss; reading flow rate/pressure loss charts; pressure/energy gradient; cavitation; velocity; flow rate; siphon; effects of entrapped air; pressure shocks; water hammer; laminar & turbulent flow; vortices; open channel flow, and flow in pipelines.

    2. Sound Waves in water.

    3. Air dissolved in water and how it is expressed.

    4. Temperature of water and how it is expressed and measured, as well as the concepts of: thermal expansion linear/volumetric; dew point/condensation; boiling point/steam; freezing point/ice; density graph; latent heat of fusion; latent heat of evaporation; super heated water.

    5. Corrosion and the causes and prevention of corrosion, material selection, and dezincification.

    6. The concepts and principles related to ground water and Grey water. 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems

    1. Understand and apply basic plumbing hydraulics.
    2. Apply basic pipe design and sizing.
  • Pressure and flow principles are understood and applied
  • The basics of water and its principles are understood and applied
  • Water quality principles are understood and applied
  • Corrosion of plumbing materials is understood and applied
  • Erosion principles are understood and applied
  • Pollution prevention principles are applied
  • Pipe design criteria are established
  • Permissible friction losses are calculated and applied
  • Pipe sizes are determined 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Manage information

    1. Understand and apply basic plumbing hydraulics.
    2. Apply basic pipe design and sizing.
  • The basics of water and its principles are understood and applied
  • Water quality principles are understood and applied
  • Corrosion of plumbing materials is understood and applied
  • Erosion principles are understood and applied
  • Pollution prevention principles are applied
  • Pipe design criteria are established
  • Permissible friction losses are calculated and applied
  • Pipe sizes are determined 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively

    1. Understand and apply basic plumbing hydraulics.
  • The basics of water and its principles are understood and applied
  • Water quality principles are understood and applied
  • Corrosion of plumbing materials is understood and applied
  • Erosion principles are understood and applied
  • Pollution prevention principles are applied 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Understand Contextual world-systems

    1. Understand and apply basic plumbing hydraulics.
    2. Interpret and apply building drawings.
  • The basics of water and its principles are understood and applied
  • Water quality principles are understood and applied
  • Corrosion of plumbing materials is understood and applied
  • Erosion principles are understood and applied
  • Pollution prevention principles are applied
  • ISO metric systems are understood and applied 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate scientific and technological competence

    1. Understand and apply basic plumbing hydraulics.
    2. Apply basic pipe design and sizing.
  • Pressure and flow principles are understood and applied
  • The basics of water and its principles are understood and applied
  • Water quality principles are understood and applied
  • Corrosion of plumbing materials is understood and applied
  • Erosion principles are understood and applied
  • Pollution prevention principles are applied
  • Pipe design criteria are established
  • Permissible friction losses are calculated and applied
  • Pipe sizes are determined 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  21853   National Certificate: Construction Plumbing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2007-09-12  Was CETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  66429   National Certificate: Landscape Irrigation  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Elective  64589   National Certificate: Community Water, Health and Sanitation Monitoring  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  EWSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Construction Resource Development College 
    2. ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD 
    3. ESKOM GENERATION - PALMIET PUMP STORAGE GRABOUW 
    4. Ikemeleng Training and Development Services 
    5. Leps Training Consultants 
    6. MOTHEO SKILLS ENTITY ( PTY) LLTD 
    7. Northlink TVET College 
    8. POWER SYSTEMS TRAINING, CAPE TOWN 
    9. Primeserv Corporate Solutions (Pty) Ltd 
    10. Schoolboy Training Centre 
    11. Tjeka Training Matters Pty Ltd 
    12. Tovani Traiding 299 
    13. Tshwane North College for FET - Central Office 
    14. Zama Training & Development cc 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.