Urgent appeal for comments on paraffin aplliance standards
2007-01-25
LAST year it was new, compulsory standards for non-pressure stoves. Now, it’s revised standards for pressure stoves.
The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa warmly welcomes the South African Bureau of Standards’ (SABS) publication of the revised draft standard, namely the SANS 1243 for pressurised paraffin-fuelled appliances, that have been released for public comment.
For the man in the street this means that they will have safer and better products that are not blatantly harmful to their lives and will probably also make their paraffin fuelled appliances more efficient, so saving them money.
For manufacturers, distributors and retailers it means that it will be illegal for them to manufacture, stock, distribute or sell any products that are not compliant with the compulsory specifications.
Products for sale need to be tested by the SABS approved testing houses in order to be given a letter from SABS authorising them to sell compliant products. Failure to do so could lead to dire consequences from the regulating body, SABS.
The updated standard sets out to improve the health and safety aspects of the pressure appliances, such as the primus stoves, used by the poorer communities to avoid some of the most common design faults.
These would include minimum performance criteria relating to the pressure release time; leak-proofing of the unit; combustion efficiencies; fuel cut-off devices; and emergency self-extinguishing.
Commenting on the latest developments, Teri Kruger, Senior Projects Manager of the Paraffin Safety Association said: “This is a revised standard after vigorous campaigning by the Paraffin Safety Association and other concerned stakeholders, asking the SABS to enforce minimum safety standards for paraffin appliances.
“In most cases, paraffin is the only energy source available for cooking, lighting and heating for the poorest South African communities.
“Some of the paraffin appliances, especially stoves, have caused devastating fires, which have led to deaths and the destruction of property in communities across the country.
“The revised standard is now available from SABS and so we are encouraging all stakeholders to commit their comments in writing and submit them to SABS head office before the 2 February deadline.”
Interested and affected parties who wish to get a copy of this standard can visit the SABS website: www.stansa.co.za or call 012-428-6666. Any comments should be sent before 2 February either by mail, fax or email.
Send it to Standards South Africa, Attention: Compliance and Regional Policy Department, Private Bag X191, Pretoria, 0001, fax 012-344-1568 (Attention: dsscomments) or e-mail: dsscomments@sabs.co.za.
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