Agreement South Africa: briefing

Meeting report

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WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
14 June 2000
AGREMENT SOUTH AFRICA: BRIEFING

Documents handed out:
Agrement South Africa: ACTMAP 3 Criteria and Test Methods for sanitation systems
Agrement South Africa: Guidelines for SMMEs
Agrement South Africa: Annual Report
Only available upon request

SUMMARY
Mr Theuns Knoetze briefed the Committee on Agrement South Africa for the Members' information. Agrement South Africa "is an independent body, established and funded by government, whose main purpose is the protection of the consumer from unsuitable or inappropriate construction materials, products or techniques that are not fit for the purpose for which unscrupulous or unknowing builders might use them." (Annual Report) Agrement promotes innovation by allowing creators to have their products certified for use prior to standards being set by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). This presentation was relevant to the Committee because Agrement has recently expanded into the area of non-traditional sanitation systems certification (ACTMAP 3: Sanitation Systems).

MINUTES
Mr Knoetze gave a presentation on Agrement South Africa. He described the role of Agrement as follows:

"The word "Agrement" is French and it means consent or approval. The Board of Agrement South Africa was established in 1969 as an objective, independent agency which evaluates the fitness-for-purpose of non-standardised construction products.

Agrement South Africa serves the national interest by being the internationally acknowledged, independent South African centre serving the building and engineering communities by providing assurance to specifiers and users via technical approvals of fitness-for-purpose of non-standardised and/or unconventional products.

The need for basic services and housing have encouraged a flood of innovative ideas.
• Since 1969 more than 620 applications have been received by Agrement South Africa for evaluation
• Authorities often lack the capacity to assess
• Agrement South Africa relieves the government of this responsibility
• Agrement certificates are recognised in the NBRs and by the NHBRC

Innovative construction and sanitation products are best judged on the basis of fitness-for-purpose.
• Agrement South Africa assesses performance in use
• Agrement South Africa certification ensures fitness-for- purpose
• Agrement South Africa maintains ongoing surveillance to ensure quality is maintained
• Agrement South Africa draws on local and international expertise."

Mr Knoetze then explained the linkages between his organization, the South African Bureau of Standards and the CSIR. The CSIR is a research organization and the SABS is concerned with the development of performance criteria and test methods. Agrement concentrates more on technology development by way of the testing and certification of non-standard products and therefore finds itself between the two organization in terms of product innovation and development.

Mr Knoetze then led his presentation into the relevance of Agrement for the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry. ACTMAP 3 for Sanitation Systems has recently been published. ACTMAP stands for Agrement Criteria and Test Methods Applicable to a Product and comprises the following in terms of sanitation systems:

" • Standardised means of evaluating sanitation products and systems
• Covers all aspects of the sanitation cycle - including the user and the environment
• Also community issues and cost
• Meet standards of National Building Regulations and Draft White Paper on National Sanitation Policy

."

The objectives of ACTMAP are to:
" • Protect consumers from products applied inappropriately
• Encourage innovation by setting criteria for assessment of products
• Ensure fairness by evaluating products on the same basis