AHSCA November 1 pptx Novemb… · discussion on issues relating to Plumbing Design (detailed further in this presentation). • The Master Plumbers have made a formal submission

GENERAL MEETING

November 1, 2017

G E N E R A L M E E T I N G N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7

AHSCA NEW CORPORATE SPONSOR

VANESSA BEEVER


AHSCA RESEARCH FOUNDATION TRAINING COURSE

Congratulations to all members who participated in this f irst training course.

Victor ia, South Australia and Western Australia cha pters now completed.

PLUMBING REGULATIONS SUNSET – from the AGM

“An important regulatory issue that affects both designers and

plumbers has been the definition of "Standard" and "Complex"

plumbing. The classification of plumbing as either standard or

complex further determines whether the plumbing system requires a

Certified Design (for complex plumbing). The requirements for a

Certified Design also needs to be defined; that is what information,

details etc should be provided as a part of a Certified Design”.

“The AHSCA and fellow stakeholders have prepared advisory

documents which define Standard and Complex plumbing and also

the requirements for Certified Design”.

DRAFT PROPOSAL

“S tandard” and “Com plex ” p l um bing i s determ ined

accord ing to bu i l d i ng c l asses as def i ned by the NCC /

BCA.

A l l Com plex P lum bing i nsta l l a t i ons wi l l requi re a

Com pl i ance Cer t i f i cate f or the Design and a l so a

Com pl i ance Cer t i f i cate f or the Insta l l a t i on.

“Cer t i f i ed Design” docum ents shal l sat i sf y the

requi rem ents f or Com plex P lum bing design and shal l

be accom panied by a Com pl i ance Cer t i f i cate f or the

design.


PLUMBING REGULATION REFORM


THINGS TO KNOW

• The current Plumbing Regulat ions 2008 expi re in November 2018.

• The opportuni ty exists for industry stakeholders engaged in the plumbing industry to make

submissions to the Department of Envi ronment, Land, Water and Planning (DELW P) re lat ing to

the exist ing regulat ions and to out l ine proposed changes for considerat ion.

• AHSCA Li fe Member and former President, Mark Alexander has act ively represented the

AHSCA on Plumbing Regulat ion reform since 2012.

• The AHSCA in consul tat ion wi th the Stakeholders Group have prepared documents for

d iscussion on issues re lat ing to Plumbing Design (detai led fur ther in th is presentat ion) .

• The Master Plumbers have made a formal submission to DELW P on behal f of the

Stakeholder Group re lat ing to many issues in the plumbing industry including Plumbing Design

as i t re lates to L icensed Plumbers.



THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR PLUMBING IN VICTORIA

The Building Act 1993Defining Plumbing Work, Part 12A

Plumbing Regulations 2008Prescribing Regulated Plumbing

Work and Licensing Requirements

Plumbing Code of AustraliaReferencing Performance

Requirements as Alternative Solutions and/or AS3500 as

Deemed to Satisfy



In accordance wi th the Plumbing Regulat ions, design work carried out by a person in their capacity as—(i) a building practitioner; or(ii) an architect; or(iii) a draftsperson; or(iv) an engineer; or(v) a landscape architect; or(vi) a designerIs not inc luded as plumbing work as def ined by the Act and therefore does not need to be undertaken by a L icensed Plumber.

However, in accordance wi th the Plumbing Regulat ions, design work that is incidental to, or associated with the fo l lowing work is inc luded as p lumbing work as def ined by the Act .

Drainage;Fire Protection;Gasfitting;Irrigation (non-agricultural);Mechanical Services;Roofing (stormwater); Sanitary; andWater Supply

Plumbing designers don’ t need to be p lumbers, howev er p lumbers need to be designers.



THE KEY ISSUES

• The Plumbing Regulat ions include Design as a par t of the p lumbing work that L icensed

Plumbers are requi red to cer t i fy wi th a Compl iance Cert i f i cate.

• The ro le of the Hydraul ic Services Consul tant i s not recognised by the Bui ld ing Act or the

Plumbing Regulat ions.

• The Licensed Plumber is requi red to cer t i fy / take responsib i l i ty for a p lumbing design that

they did not prepare.

• The Licensed Plumber may not have the abi l i ty, exper t ise or exper ience to design a p lumbing

insta l lat ion that they are requi red to cer t i fy.



THE PROPOSED CHANGES – FOR DISCUSSION ONLY

The AHSCA in consul tat ion wi th the Stakeholders Group have prepared advisory documents

for d iscussion.

The proposed changes that re late to design include;

• Plumbing work shal l be def ined as e i ther “Standard” or “Complex” p lumbing to def ine and

separate both the design and insta l lat ion requi rements.

• Standard and Complex plumbing shal l be def ined by Bui ld ing Class in accordance wi th the

NCC / BCA.

• Standard plumbing wi l l not requi re separat ion of the design f rom the plumbing work, that i s

the L icensed Plumber must cer t i fy the design via a Compl iance Cert i f i cate as current ly

provided under the regulat ions.

• Complex plumbing wi l l requi re a Compl iance Cert i f i cate for the Design AND a Compl iance

Cert i f i cate for the Insta l lat ion to separate the requi rements for design and insta l lat ion.

• A Compl iance Cert i f i cate for the Design wi l l need to be issued by a “sui tably qual i f ied”

designer.

• A complex p lumbing design that requi res a Compl iance Cert i f i cate should provide the

informat ion necessary to cer t i fy the design and undertake the insta l lat ion.


STANDARD AND COMPLEX PLUMBING DEFINIT IONS – FOR DISCUSSION ONLY

The def in i t ions used by ESV for Complex Gas work have been adopted as a guide for

regulated plumbing work.







THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFIED DESIGN – FOR DISCUSSION ONLY

A complex p lumbing design that requi res a Compl iance Cert i f i cate should provide the

informat ion necessary to cer t i fy the design and undertake the insta l lat ion.

Switch to separate MS-Word document out l in ing suggested inclusions for Cert if ied Design.



WHAT ROLE DOES THE AHSCA TAKE FROM HERE?– FOR DISCUSSION ONLY

The AHSCA wi l l cont inue consul tat ion wi th i ts members and as a par t of the Stakeholders

Group.

Issues to be considered include;

• How wi l l Cer t i f ied Design be administered? Perhaps simi lar to Regulat ion 1507 Cert i f i cat ion?

• W i l l a Compl iance Cert i f i cate for p lumbing design be requi red by a Bui ld ing Surveyor in

order to issue a Bui ld ing Permi t?

• W hat ro le can the AHSCA play wi th respect to determining sui table qual i f i cat ions and

exper ience for design professionals?

• Does the requi rement for a sui tably qual i f ied p lumbing designer t r igger the introduct ion of

the Hydraul ic Services Consul tant into the Act or the Regulat ions?

• Does being a fu l l design member of the AHSCA fu l f i l the industry requi rements for sui tably

qual i f ied?

• Having to provide a Cert i f ied Design for Complex Plumbing can provide clar i ty to the

industry; i f the Compl iance Cert i f i cate for the design is provided by the consul tant then the

Licensed Plumber knows they don’ t need to provide i t – and vice versa. I f the consul tant

prepares documents to 60%, 80% etc wi thout a Compl iance Cert i f i cate then the Licensed

Plumber knows that they need to provide i t themselves ( i f qual i f ied to do so) or engage a th i rd

par ty for cer t i f i cat ion.

• Grandfather considerat ion for longstanding industry members and designers.

COMMENTS / QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS?

NEXT MEETING – CHRISTMAS. DECEMBER 13, 2017.


DOOR PRIZE

Corporate Sponsor Z ip Heaters (Aust) have very

k indly donated a HydroTap (boi l ing, chi l led and

sparkl ing) uni t for our Chr istmas meet ing.

They’ve even arranged for Santa to do the

insta l lat ion!

Documents

AHSCA November 1 pptx Novemb… · discussion on issues relating to Plumbing Design (detailed further in this presentation). • The Master Plumbers have made a formal submission