Tender to SolaSure
“Result 3” Design of a code of practice for SWH installation, operation and
maintenance.
Background
South African solar water heating (SWH) industry is facing the challenge to develop the local
and the regional markets by increasing the number quality products and services. At the
moment the existing market is very fragile and underdeveloped and producing of quality
products is absolutely essential for the sustaining of the industry. Quality Management (QM)
is to play an important part in the above process and to strengthen the promotion of quality
SWH products and related installation, operation & maintenance (OM) codes of practices
(CP). The overview and updating of the latter is needed and to be presented for evaluation to
the relevant SABS committees.. On the other hand, establishment of the function of the
ombudsman for the SWH industry becomes essential for the support of independent quality
control and customer complains related issues. Thus the South African manufacturers,
retailers, installers and maintainers will follow a broadly agreed and accepted infrastructure
based on a new code of practice and ombudsman’s functions leading to product quality and
wider customer support on the local and export markets.
Desciption of work
Deliviries
3.A. Work plan - Design a code of practice for
SWH installation, operation and maintenance
Below is given the detailed work plan including
the deliveries for “Result 3.A” organized in
work packages (WP’s) according to the pregiven list of activities.
3.A.WP1 Discuss, revise and agree on detailed
work plan
WP.1.1. Revised work plan
WP.1.2. Agreement on detailed work plan
The work plan proposed below will be
discussed amongst all stakeholders at the kickoff meeting. The (revised) work plan will be
agreed upon at this meeting.
Mr. AS Sliep & Consortium (Mr. J.E. Nielsen and Prof. O.D.Dintchev)
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3.A. WP2 Review present codes, their application WP.2.1. Report: Overview of
and compliance amongst stakeholders
national/international codes of practice
An international survey of relevant existing
WP2.2. Report: Further analysis of a few of
guidelines and codes of practice for installing, the most relevant codes of practice
operating and maintaining DHW systems is
made. Work done already by international
expert groups (IEA) and projects (EU) will be
utilised. The most
relevant/promising/successful ones are chosen
for further analysis: Direct contacts are taken to
the people and associations with experiences in
the different codes in order to put up pro’s et
contra’s for each code
3.A.WP3 Incorporate lessons learned from
ongoing work in neighboring and appropriate
countries
Special attention will be given experience
gained and lessons learned in neighboring
countries. Contacts will be made and
information gathered. Possibilities for (future)
co-operation on “harmonized codes” in the
regions will be investigated.
WP3.1. Report: Status and lessons learned in
neighboring countries.
WP3.2. A framework based on contacts with
SADC countries established.
WP3.3. An advisory forum established based
on all potential key players in the field in the
region – for regional co-operation in the field
of SWH.
3.A. WP4 Attain consensus on an industry-wide WP4.1. A document containing principles
code of practice for SWH installation and
and overall content of new/updated national
maintenance
code of practice for SWH installation,
Discussion amongst stakeholders based on
operation and maintenance.
investigations done in 3.A.2 and 3. Agreement
on principles and overall content of
new/updated national codes.
3.A. WP5 Update codes
Update national codes of practice according to WP5.1. Updated national codes of practice
principles and overall content decided in 3.A.4. for SHW installation, operation and
maintenance.
3.A.WP6 Interact with SA SWH industry to WP6.1. A document containing inputs to
disseminate and introduce code of practice as promotion material
WP6.2. Organized participation in workshops
industry-wide standard
Assist South African SWH industry in the
and seminars in the related field..
promotion of new national codes of practice.
Give input to promotion material, participation
in workshops and seminars.
Mr. AS Sliep & Consortium (Mr. J.E. Nielsen and Prof. O.D.Dintchev)
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3.B.Work Plan - Design a quality assurance
system for SWH industry in SA
Below is given the detailed work plan including
the deliveries for “Result 3.B” organised in
work packages (WP’s) according to the pregiven list of activities.
WP1.1. Revised work plan
3.B.WP1 Discuss, revise and agree on
WP1.2. Agreement on detailed work plan
detailed work plan
The work plan proposed below will be
discussed amongst all stakeholders at the kickoff meeting. The (revised) work plan will be
agreed upon at this meeting.
3.B.WP2 Review international QS and QM
schemes (e.g. “Keymark”)
Product standards: ISO and EN solar thermal
product standards are reviewed and analyzed
with respect to applicability, complexibility,
costs, etc.. It is already at this stage
recommended to choose directly (parts of) the
international standards and not to establish
special national standards.
Product certification: Existing product
certification schemes (including the CEN Solar
Keymark) are evaluated with respect to
applicability, complexibility, costs, etc. The
relevance of different elements in the schemes
are analyzed and discussed (e.g level of factory
production control). It is already at this stage
recommended to consider starting with a simple
scheme.
Installer certification: Installer certification
schemes in other countries are reviewed and
analyzed with respect to applicability,
complexibility, costs, etc.. The relevance of
different elements in the schemes are analysed
and discussed. It is already at this stage
recommended to consider starting with a simple
scheme
WP2.1. Recommendations for product
standards
WP2.2. Recommendations for product
certification scheme
WP2.3. Recommendations for installer
certification scheme
Mr. AS Sliep & Consortium (Mr. J.E. Nielsen and Prof. O.D.Dintchev)
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WP3.1. A document containing decisions on
3.B.WP3 Prepare QA and QM pro forma for all the principles and overall content of
SWH role players
standards and certification schemes
The recommendations and analysis from
WP3.2. First draft document for the whole
WP3.B.2 are presented to all stakeholders and
quality assurance chain and its elements.
discussed. Decisions are taking on the principles
and overall content of standards and
certification schemes.Based upon this a draft for
the whole quality assurance chain and its
elements is developed.
3.B.WP4 Interact with stakeholders and obtain WP4.1. Presentation of first draft document
buy-in
WP4.2. Presentation of the second draft
The first draft for the whole quality assurance document
chain and its elements is presented to all
WP4.3. Completion of the Final version
stakeholders. Based on discussion/input and
document
comments from stakeholders a second draft and
finally the final version is made.
3.B.WP5 Develop ombudsman function and
procedures
The functions and organisation of the
independent body/bodies are discussed and
agreed upon with all stake holders
Procedures for complaints and appeal are
discussed and agreed upon with all stakeholders
WP5.1. Functions and organisation of
independent body/bodies defined and
described
WP5.2. Procedures for complaints
WP5.3. Appeal procedures
Mr. AS Sliep & Consortium (Mr. J.E. Nielsen and Prof. O.D.Dintchev)
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Requirements
on production
control
Inspection /
surveillance
Check against
requirements
QMS
Factory
Requirements
on manuals etc.
Check manuals,
marketing
material and
guarantee
Product
Inst. manual
User manual
Guarantee
Marketing
material
Guidelines /
code of
practice
Spot check
manuals,
marketing
material and
guarantee
Distributor
Product
Inst. manual
User manual
Guarantee
Training and
examination
Control of
examination /
censor
Requirements on
examination
Installer
Product
User manual
Guarantee
Installed
system at the
user
Installation /
Maintenance
Service
contract
Spot check
againts check
list
Test product
according to
product
standards*)
Guarantee
Test report
Check test
report/results
against
requirements
Requirements on
product
Check list
Flow chart: Example of a quality assurance scheme for solar water heaters.
*) Products for testing should be picked by independent body from stock or production line
Mr. AS Sliep & Consortium (Mr. J.E. Nielsen and Prof. O.D.Dintchev)
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Check/
control/
inspect ...

Blue box: Independent body (e.g., ombudsman, certification body).

Green box: Independent test institute.

Yellow box: Training “centre”. Could be the manufacturer, independent training centre or others (see also “Tender to
SolaSure - Result 4.2”)
Test ...
Train ….
NB. The “QA-chain” presented in the flow chart is just an example showing principles – it will be revised/simplified/extended according to inputs
from and agreement amongst stakeholders.
Mr. AS Sliep & Consortium (Mr. J.E. Nielsen and Prof. O.D.Dintchev)
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