PLUMBING CODE OF AUSTRALIA 2004

1 PLUMBING code OF AUSTRALIA 2004 FINAL DRAFT N P R F National PLUMBING Regulators Forum CONTENTS AND INTRODUCTION GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION - 5 - GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS AND INTRODUCTION PAGE INTRODUCTION 7 SECTION A GENERAL PROVISIONS CONTENTS 13 PART A0 APPLICATION 15 PART A1 INTERPRETATION 19 PART A2 ACCEPTANCE OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION 27 SECTION B WATER SERVICES CONTENTS 37 PART B1 COLD WATER SERVICES 39 PART B2 HEATED WATER SERVICES 41 PART B3 NON-DRINKING WATER SERVICES 43 PART B4 FIRE FIGHTING WATER SERVICES 45 SECTION C SANITARY PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE

2 SYSTEMS CONTENTS 49 PART C1 SANITARY PLUMBING SYSTEMS 51 PART C2 SANITARY DRAINAGE SYSTEMS 53 SECTION C STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS CONTENTS 57 PART D1 ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEMS 59 PART D2 SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS 61 SECTION E HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING CONTENTS 65 PART E1 HEATING.

3 VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS 67 SECTION F ON-SITE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS CONTENTS 71 PART F1 ON-SITE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS 73 PART F2 ON-SITE LIQUID TRADE WASTE SYSTEMS 77 SECTION G MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS CERTIFICATION AND AUTHORISATION CONTENTS 83 PART G1 CERTIFICATION AND AUTHORISATION 85 - 6 - - 7 - INTRODUCTION THE PLUMBING code OF AUSTRALIA The PLUMBING code of AUSTRALIA ( code ) is produced by the National PLUMBING Regulators Forum (NPRF) on behalf of each State and Territory Government.

4 THE NATIONAL PLUMBING REGULATORS FORUM The NPRF is a co-operative arrangement between jurisdictions and has no executive powers. Forum members represent bodies responsible for regulation of on-site PLUMBING and/or occupational registration. The NPRF is the national policy advisory body with responsibility for the policy direction relating to technical matters associated with the code . The NPRF has a mission to provide benefits to Australian Governments, the industry and the public by striving for a consistent, efficient and effective regulatory environment for PLUMBING activities and for achieving appropriate levels of public health, safety, resource and environment conservation, sustainability and amenity, in the interest of all consumers throughout AUSTRALIA .

5 A principal objective of the NPRF is to develop a national policy framework that encourages and assists coordinated PLUMBING regulatory arrangements thereby protecting public interest in a cost effective manner. The NPRF was established subsequent to the expiry of the Memorandum of Understanding between the then Agriculture and Resources Management Council of AUSTRALIA and New Zealand and Standards AUSTRALIA for the establishment and maintenance of the Committee for PLUMBING Products Authorisation.

6 The Laver Report (2000)1 supported the establishment of such a Forum. THE PLUMBING code OF AUSTRALIA - CONTENT The goal of the code is to enable the achievement of an acceptable standard of installation at all times in order to provide for public health, safety and amenity, resource and environment conservation, sustainability and protection of public and private infrastructure for the benefit of the community now and in the future. The goal is applied so that the requirements in the code extend no further than is necessary in the public interest, are cost effective, easily understood and are not needlessly onerous in their application.

7 To achieve the above goal, the code : (a) creates an accountable and transparent framework for product authorisation; (b) establishes national objectives for PLUMBING work on a performance basis; (c) fosters water and energy conservation; 1 Review of the Australian building Codes Board, February 2000 P. Laver, L Butterfield & G Huxley. Published by Department of Industry Science and Resources - 8 - (d) encourages best practice; (e) references effective solutions; (f) calls up relevant Australian Standards; and (g) is compatible with the building code of AUSTRALIA (BCA).

8 This edition of the code sets out performance based technical provisions for the design, construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration and maintenance of PLUMBING and drainage installations throughout AUSTRALIA . It also sets out the requirements for the use of materials and products in PLUMBING and drainage installations and defines the processes for the certification and authorisation of materials and products that require statutory authorisation to enable their use in PLUMBING and drainage installations.

9 The requirements in the code are designed to ensure that any PLUMBING and drainage installation is fit for its intended purpose, do not have an adverse impact on the environment and can continue to function as intended without excessive maintenance. It is to be noted that the code may need to be used in conjunction with the BCA which contains detailed provisions for the design and construction of buildings and other structures relating to building integrity and occupancy. Some overlap necessarily exists between the code and the BCA.

10 Consistency between the two documents is maintained where overlaps occur. It is expected that unnecessary overlaps will be progressively reduced as each document is reviewed and revised with time through active liaison between the NPRF and the Australian building Codes Board. STATE AND TERRITORY LEGISLATIVE ARRANGEMENT The code is only given legal effect by relevant legislation in each State and Territory. This legislation consists of an Act and subordinate legislation which empowers the regulation of certain aspects of PLUMBING installation and contains the administrative provisions necessary to give effect to the legislation.