Plumbing Regulations 1998

Version No. 021

Plumbing Regulations 1998

S.R. No. 148/1998

Version incorporating amendments as at 1 July 2006

table of provisions

Regulation Page

Part 1—Preliminary Matters 1

1. Objectives 1

2. Authorising provisions 1

3. Commencement 1

4. Revocation 2

5. Definitions 2

6. Extended meaning of "installation, alteration or repair" 4

Part 2—Plumbing Work 6

Division 1—Plumbing Work 6

7. Plumbing work 6

Division 2—Classes of Plumbing Work 7

8. Classes of plumbing work 7

9. Plumbing (Draining) work 7

10. Plumbing (Gasfitting) work 8

11. Plumbing (Mechanical Services) work 9

12. Plumbing (Roofing (Stormwater)) work 10

13. Plumbing (Sanitary) work 10

14. Plumbing (Water Supply) work 11

Division 3—Specialised Plumbing Work 12

15. Specialised plumbing work 12

16. Plumbing (Residential and Domestic Fire Sprinkler Systems) work 13

17. Plumbing (Type A Gas Appliance Conversion) work 13

18. Plumbing (Type B Gasfitting) work 13

18A. Plumbing (Backflow Prevention) work 14

Part 3—Qualification and Experience Requirements for Licence or Registration 15

Division 1—Qualifications and Experience Required for Classes of Plumbing Work 15

19. Qualifications required for registration 15

20. Qualifications required for a licence 16

21. Experience required for a licence or registration 16

Division 2—Requirements for Plumbing (Residential and Domestic Fire Sprinkler Systems) Work 17

22. Qualification required 17

23. Experience required 17

Division 3—Requirements for Plumbing (Type A Gas Appliance Conversion) Work 18

24. Qualifications and experience required 18

Division 4—Requirements for Plumbing (Type B Gasfitting) Work 18

25. Qualifications required 18

26. Experience required 19

Division 4A¾Requirements for Plumbing (Backflow Prevention) Work 19

26A. Qualifications required 19

Division 5—Other Matters 20

27. Experience can be obtained over separate periodsetc. 20

Part 4—Obligations on Registered and Licensed Plumbers 21

28. Licence and registration documents must be returned on demand 21

29. Licence to be shown on demand 21

30. Certificate of registration to be shown on demand 22

Part 5—Standard of Work 23

Division 1¾Standard of Work 23

31. Standard of work 23

Division 2¾Cooling Towers 24

31A. Modification of cooling tower standards 24

Division 3¾Water Supply 25

31B. Definitions applying to this Division 25

31C. Performance requirements for the design and construction of coldwater services 25

31D. Modification of document referred to in AS3500.1.1 26

31E. Requirement for dual-flush cisterns 31

Division 4¾Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage 31

31F. Definitions applying to this Division 31

31G. Performance requirements for the design and construction of sanitary plumbing and sanitary drainage 32

31H. Modification of document referred to in AS3500.2.1 32

Division 5¾Hot Water Supply Systems 41

31I. Definitions applying to this Division 41

31J. Performance requirements for the design and construction of hotwater systems 41

31K. Modification of document referred to in AS3500.4.1 42

31KA. Modification of AS 4234—Evaluation of solar water heater performance 49

Division 6¾Evaporative Coolers 51

31L. Definitions applying to this Division 51

31M. Requirements for discharge system of evaporative coolers 52

31N. Requirements if discharge likely to cause injury or damage 52

31O. Other requirements 53

Division 7—Incorporation of Documents 53

31P. Incorporation of documents 53

Part 6—Fees and Other Amounts 54

32. Fees and other amounts 54

33. Exemption from fees 56

Part 7—Transitional Provisions 57

34. Definition 57

35. Conversion of former licences and registrations 57

36. Conversion of duct fixing licences and registrations 57

37. Saving of other licences and registrations 59

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SCHEDULE—Australian Standards 60

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ENDNOTES 62

1. General Information 62

2. Table of Amendments 63

3. Explanatory Details 64

Version No. 021

Plumbing Regulations 1998

S.R. No. 148/1998

Version incorporating amendments as at 1 July 2006

Plumbing Regulations 1998

S.R. No. 148/1998

Part 1—Preliminary Matters

1. Objectives

The main objectives of these Regulations are—

(a) to define the meaning of plumbing work, and to specify classes of plumbing work and specialised plumbing work, for the purposes of Part 12A of the Building Act 1993; and

(b) to specify the qualifications and experience that are necessary for a person to be eligible to be registered or licensed to carry out plumbing work; and

Reg. 1(ca) inserted by S.R. No. 66/2001 reg. 5.

(ca) to prescribe standards in relation to plumbing work; and

(d) to specify fees for the purposes of Part12A of the Building Act 1993.

2. Authorising provisions

These Regulations are made under sections 221ZZZV and 262 of the Building Act 1993.

3. Commencement

These Regulations come into operation on 28November 1998.

4. Revocation

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The Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainers Registration Board Regulations 1988[1] are revoked.

5. Definitions

In these Regulations—

"Act" means the Building Act 1993;

"apprenticeship" means a training agreement between a person and an employer entered into under Part 5 of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1990;

"AS" or "SAA" followed by a group of numbers or a group of one or more letters and one or more numbers, means the Australian Standard identified by that group of numbers or letters that is published by Standards Australia;

"Board" means the Plumbing Industry Board established under Part 12A of the Act[2];

"caravan" includes any form of movable dwelling other than a boat or houseboat;

Reg. 5 def. of "cooling tower" inserted by S.R. No. 15/2001 reg. 4.

"cooling tower" means a device for lowering—

(a) the temperature of recirculated water by bringing the water into contact with fan forced, or fan induced, atmospheric air; or

(b) the temperature of water, a refrigerant or other fluid in a pipe or other container by bringing recirculated water and fan forced, or fan induced, atmospheric air into contact with the pipe or container;

"drain" means a pipe or conduit laid above or below the ground surface, including all associated fittings and equipment, for the conveyance of sewage, trade waste, greywater or stormwater;

"gas" means any gaseous fuel (including petrochemical feed stock) other than a gaseous fuel that is declared under section 4 of the Gas Safety Act 1997 not to be gas for the purposes of that Act or any provision of that Act;

"gas company" has the same meaning as it has under the Gas Safety Act 1997;

"greywater" means treated or untreated domestic waste water (including any discharge from an appliance) that has not come into contact with sewage;

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"plumbing course 3212 C.D.A." means the plumbing course 3212 C.D.A. accredited under the Vocational Education and Training Act 1990;

Reg. 5 def. of "Plumbing (Backflow Prevention) work" insertedby S.R. No. 66/2001 reg. 6.

"Plumbing (Backflow Prevention) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 18A;

"Plumbing (Draining) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 9;

"Plumbing (Gasfitting) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 10;

"Plumbing (Mechanical Services) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 11;

"Plumbing (Residential and Domestic Fire Sprinkler Systems) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 16;

"Plumbing (Roofing (Stormwater)) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 12;

"Plumbing (Sanitary) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 13;

"Plumbing (Type A Gas Appliance Conversion) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 17;

"Plumbing (Type B Gasfitting) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 18;

"Plumbing (Water Supply) work" has the meaning set out in regulation 14;

"potable water" means water that is used or intended to be used for human consumption or for personal hygiene;

"sewage" means any human excreta or domestic waterborne waste, whether untreated or partially treated;

"trade waste" means any waterborne waste other than sewage;

"vessel" means any boat or houseboat that has a gas appliance or a sanitary or ablutionary fixture.

6. Extended meaning of "installation, alteration or repair"

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In these Regulations, a reference to the installation, alteration or repair of a thing includes a reference to—

(a) the construction of the thing if the thing is constructed at the premises at which it will remain once it is constructed;

(b) the commissioning, recommissioning or decommissioning of the thing;

(d) the maintenance of the thing;

(e) any work incidental to, or associated with—

(i) the installation, alteration or repair of the thing; or

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(ii) any activity described in paragraphs (a) to (d).

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Part 2—Plumbing Work

Division 1—Plumbing Work

7. Plumbing work

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(1) Part 12A of the Act applies to the following plumbing work—

Reg. 7(1)(aa) inserted by S.R. No. 66/2001 reg. 7.

(aa) Plumbing (Backflow Prevention) work;

(a) Plumbing (Draining) work;

(b) Plumbing (Gasfitting) work;

(d) Plumbing (Residential and Domestic Fire Sprinkler Systems) work;

(e) Plumbing (Roofing (Stormwater)) work;

(f) Plumbing (Sanitary) work;

(g) Plumbing (Type A Gas Appliance Conversion) work;

(h) Plumbing (Type B Gasfitting) work;

(i) Plumbing (Water Supply) work.

(2) However, Part 12A of the Act does not apply to—

(a) any work carried out on a supply or discharge reticulation system, a treatment plant, a laboratory or any other works, equipment or system (other than works, equipment or systems used mainly for administrative purposes) owned by, or exclusively vested in—

(i) a gas company;

(ii) a company that holds a water licence or a water and sewerage licence under the Water Industry Act 1994;

(iii) an Authority that has a water district or a sewerage district under the Water Act 1989;

(b) the connection for domestic water use of hoses from appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines to taps;

(c) the connection for domestic water use of hoses to taps for the purposes of activities such as cleaning or garden watering.

Division 2—Classes of Plumbing Work

8. Classes of plumbing work

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The following classes of plumbing work are specified for the purposes of the definition of "class of plumbing work" in section 221B(1) of the Act—

(a) Plumbing (Draining) work;

(b) Plumbing (Gasfitting) work;

(d) Plumbing (Roofing (Stormwater)) work;

(e) Plumbing (Sanitary) work;

(f) Plumbing (Water Supply) work.

9. Plumbing (Draining) work

Plumbing (Draining) work is the installation, alteration or repair of any drain, pipe, fitting, appliance or other item that is involved with the collection, conveyance, disposal or reuse of stormwater or sewage and that is underground.

10. Plumbing (Gasfitting) work

r. 10

(1) Plumbing (Gasfitting) work is the installation, alteration or repair of any pipe, appliance, flue, fitting, apparatus, control or other item that is involved with the supply or use of gas and that is downstream of the outlet of a gas meter or a consumer's gas storage container.

(2) Plumbing (Gasfitting) work includes the installation, alteration or repair of—

(a) roof sheeting and flashing that is necessary for the purpose of any work involving any flue described in sub-regulation (1); and

(b) any fixture in, or on, a caravan or vessel that is involved with the supply or use of gas.

(3) Plumbing (Gasfitting) work does not include—

(a) Plumbing (Type A Gas Appliance Conversion) work;

(b) Plumbing (Type B Gasfitting) work;

(c) any cleaning, painting or preparation work in relation to gas pipes or gas pipe joints that does not involve the connection, disconnection or alteration of those pipes or joints;

(d) the connection or disconnection of a consumer's gas storage container for the purpose of filling or refilling the container;

(e) any work in relation to any item that is involved with the supply or use of gas and that relates to the propulsion system, or any system that is powered by the propulsion system, of any motor vehicle or vessel.

(4) In this regulation—

"consumer's gas storage container" means a tank, cylinder or similar container owned, leased or hired by a consumer and from which gas is supplied to that consumer;

"gas meter" means a gas company's meter assembly.

11. Plumbing (Mechanical Services) work

r. 11

Reg. 11(1) substituted by S.R. No. 15/2001 reg.5(1).

(1) Plumbing (Mechanical Services) work is—

(a) the installation, alteration or repair of any valve, regulator, register, pipe, duct, flue, tank, heating or cooling line or surface, boiler, burner, solid fuel heater, coil or other item that is involved in the heating, cooling or ventilation of a building or vessel by mechanical means or by mechanical components;

(b) the installation, alteration or repair, in relation to a cooling tower, of any water pipe, valve, pump, automated dosing device or automated bleeding device or any other mechanical component that affects the cooling tower's water treatment, flow rate of water for cooling or waste water disposal.

(2) Plumbing (Mechanical Services) work includes the installation, alteration or repair of roof sheeting and flashing that is necessary for the purpose of any work involving any item described in sub-regulation (1).

(3) Plumbing (Mechanical Services) work does not include—

(a) Plumbing (Gasfitting) work;

Reg. 11(3)(ab) inserted by S.R. No. 15/2001 reg.5(2).

(ab) any work on a cooling tower drift eliminator;

(b) tapping into a water supply.

12. Plumbing (Roofing (Stormwater)) work

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(1) Plumbing (Roofing (Stormwater)) work is the installation, alteration or repair of any roof gutter, flashing, piping, sheeting, roof covering or other above ground item that is involved in the collection, conveyance, disposal, treatment or reuse of storm water.

(2) Plumbing (Roofing (Stormwater)) work also includes the connection of any stormwater piping to a below ground drain.

(3) Plumbing (Roofing (Stormwater)) work does not include—

(a) the installation, alteration or repair of non-metallic tiles or slates or of flat non-metallic membrane sheeting; or

(b) any cleaning, painting or preparation work in relation to any item associated with stormwater that does not involve the connection, disconnection or alteration of that item.

13. Plumbing (Sanitary) work

(1) Plumbing (Sanitary) work is the installation, alteration or repair of any drain, fitting, pipe, fixture, appliance or other item that is involved in the collection, conveyance, disposal or treatment of sewage, trade waste or greywater.