The Hindu Business Line : Plumbing new depths in construction

PLUMBING Seminar and Expo 2005, the global gathering of plumbing professionals, commenced here today with a call to create awareness on the crucial role played by plumbing in building services.

Speakers at the seminar, which commenced here today, were of the view that plumbing is generally the most neglected sector in construction in spite of it being an integral factor without which no building is complete.

The two-day seminar on `Emerging opportunities for plumbing services in hospitality, hospital and infrastructure sectors' has been organised by the Indian Plumbing Association and Construction Journal of India.

In his inaugural address, Mr George Bliss, Chairman, World Plumbing Council, the global body of plumbing professionals, pointed out that the plumbing and health care has direct co-relation. In the plumbing industry, he said the issue of public health and safety are of paramount concern throughout the world.

He emphasised that WPC is more and more concerned about water — one of the scarcest commodity.

The council has set a goal of expanding the number of countries affiliated with the organisation to enable co-operation between the nations to conserve water, he said.

Mr S.G. Deolaikar, President of the Indian Plumbing Association, said IPA would be addressing plumbing education, training and developing codes in plumbing and allied fields, which are in conformity with modern standards.

This is a grossly neglected subject and he hoped that these objectives could be achieved soon.

Mr Sudhakaran Nair, Executive Member of WPC and Chairman of Bangalore IPA chapter, said the plumbing industry in Kerala had undergone dramatic changes in the past four decades. The influence of a large number of non-resident Keralites changed the concept totally starting probably from the early 70's. All these developments in the building industry brought in awareness on need for reliable and technically correct plumbing installations, he added.

Dr P. Mohammed Ali, Chairman, Managing Director of Galfar Engineering and Construction LLC, Muscat, called upon the authorities to introduce engineering courses in universities and colleges on plumbing. The opening of such institutes is much needed to create good plumbers in the country, he added.

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