1. Building Codes Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Chris Harris Director – Plumbing Legislation and Standards Branch

2. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Overview Department of Housing and Public Works – what’s on the agenda Licensing for plumbing inspectors – where to from here Notifiable work Plumbing Industry Council

3. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Department of Housing and Public Works The Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 is now administered by the new Department of Housing and Public Works New Minister—Dr Bruce Flegg The Plumbing Industry Council (PIC) licensing counter remains at 63 George St All PIC contact details are unchanged

4. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Departmental priorities Notifiable work Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code Review of the Queensland Development Code National licensing

5. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Plumbing inspector licensing IPIQ is seeking the creation of a plumbing inspector licensing class to: –Align plumbing inspection with other similar industries –Determine a minimum skill set for plumbing inspectors –Recognise the distinction between plumbers or drainers and inspectors –Establish a career path for plumbers and drainers Current legislation provides for a plumbing inspector to hold a relevant qualification or licence that the local government deems suitable Consultation on the proposal will be starting soon

6. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Plumbing inspector licensing Percentage of plumbing inspectors with licences and endorsements

7. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Notifiable work From 1 November 2012, a new category of plumbing and drainage work known as ‘notifiable work’ will start.

8. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update What is notifiable work? Notifiable work and minor work will be prescribed under a regulation Expands the current categories of ‘notifiable minor work’ and ‘other minor work’ Notifiable work can be performed without local government approval or mandatory inspections No notifications or inspections are required for minor work

9. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update What is notifiable work? Expected to include all plumbing work undertaken after the initial construction of a house –eg. Fixtures installed in bathroom and kitchen refurbishments The public consultation period for the proposed schedules of notifiable, minor and unregulated work has closed. The finalised schedules will be released shortly

10. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Exemptions from notifiable work any work that is the subject of an application for compliance assessment plumbing and drainage work for installing a new fixture for a building with dual reticulated water supply provided by a relevant water service provider plumbing and drainage connected for trade waste plumbing and drainage work necessary for a new detached building on a lot with an existing building plumbing and drainage work necessary for new attached Class 1 buildings on, or proposed to be on, a separate lot plumbing and drainage work necessary for installing new fixtures on a lot connected to a combination drain plumbing and drainage work involving an alternative solution.

11. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Notifiable work schedule—part 1 ExistingEmergency work New Work necessary for extending, altering, replacing or removing existing water supply piping, other than a fire service, unless the fire service is associated with a development approval for building work New Work necessary for extending, altering replacing or removing existing sanitary plumbing New Work necessary for extending, altering replacing or removing existing sanitary drainage Part new Work necessary for installing, replacing or removing a temperature control device Part newWork necessary for installing, replacing or removing a water heater Part new Work necessary for installing, replacing or removing a dual check valve with an atmospheric port (DCAP) New Work necessary for replacing a greywater treatment plant relating to a Class 1 building

12. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Notifiable work schedule—part 2 New Work necessary for installing new plumbing fixtures in an existing Class 1 building, or in an extension to an existing Class 1 building New Work necessary for relocating fixtures in an existing Class 1 building New Work necessary for installing fixtures in an existing Class 2-9 building having a rise of no more than 2 storeys New Work necessary for relocating fixtures in an existing Class 2-9 building having a rise of no more than 2 storeys New Work necessary for installing fixtures in an existing Class 10 building that has existing plumbing and drainage work New Work necessary for sealing off a private sanitary drain, not at the connection point NewWork necessary for sealing off on an existing water service relating to a Class 2-9 building, not at the water meter

13. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Minor work schedule Part newWork necessary for maintaining, repairing, replacing or removing a fitting or fixture New Work necessary for repairing a broken or damaged pipe Part newWork necessary for installing, replacing, maintaining, repairing or removing an apparatus other than installing, replacing or removing a temperature control device, water heater, testable backflow prevention device or a DCAP NewWork necessary for sealing off on an existing water service related to a Class 1 building, not at the water meter Existing Work necessary for maintaining, repairing or replacing fire hydrants or fire hose reels Existing Work necessary for unblocking a pipe that is sanitary plumbing or sanitary drainage NewWork necessary for repairing or maintaining an on-site sewerage treatment facility Newwork necessary for repairing or maintaining a greywater use facility NewWork necessary for installing or replacing an automatic changeover device for rainwater tank installations

14. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Unregulated work schedule Existingcleaning or maintaining ground level grates to traps on sanitary drains Existing replacing caps to ground level inspection openings on sanitary drains Part new maintaining an above or below ground irrigation system related to the disposal of effluent as part of an on-site sewerage facility or a greywater use facility Existing installing or maintaining an irrigation or lawn watering system downstream from an isolating valve, tap or backflow prevention device on the supply pipe for the irrigation or lawn watering system Existingreplacing a jumper valve or washer in a tap Existingchanging a shower head Existing replacing, in a water closet (WC) cistern, a drop valve washer, float valve washer or suction cup rubber Newreplacing a domestic water filter cartridge

15. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Changes to the current system Inspections of notifiable work are not required However, licensees may still request a local government inspection –Local governments may charge an additional fee for inspections that are requested. Consistent fees and lodgment system across Queensland –Form 4s must be lodged with the Plumbing Industry Council –benefits plumbers working across different local government areas.

16. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Lodgment process Currently, when a licensee performs notifiable minor work a Form 4—notifiable minor work must be lodged with local government within 40 business days Under the new process, when a licensee performs notifiable work the new Form 4—notifiable work must be lodged with the PIC within 10 business days Forms may be lodged electronically or manually.

17. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Manual lodgment First obtain a Form 4 book from the PIC –copy: to the consumer –copy: submitted to the PIC within 10 business days –copy: retained by the licensee Proposed $35 fee for manual lodgment A receipt is issued to the licensee when the payment is processed.

18. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Electronic lodgment Form 4s can be lodged online Once the work is completed, the licensee must issue a receipt to the consumer and complete the Form 4 within 10 business days online Proposed $25 fee for electronic lodgment.

19. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Audit process Licensees must ensure that work is performed in accordance with relevant legislation, codes and standards To ensure that licensees are meeting their obligations the PIC and local governments will run concurrent audit programs.

20. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Audit program—Plumbing Industry Council The PIC will audit lodgment of Form 4s, and will have powers to: –require licensees and employers to supply certain documents –take disciplinary action against licensees who fail to provide documents Failure to lodge a form may result in disciplinary action, prosecution or the issue of a fine Significant penalties also apply for making a false statement to the PIC.

21. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Audit program—local government Local government audits will ensure licensees are performing work to the correct standard Local governments will receive funding to audit 5% of notifiable work May target categories of work considered higher risk Both local governments and the PIC will monitor compliance levels and direct auditing priorities over time

22. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Local government defect notices Where local governments find that plumbing work is defective they may issue a defect notice –provides 5 days for the licensee to rectify the work. –if the work is not rectified, the local government may issue a show cause notice and then enforcement notice –where the licensee does not respond, the local government may arrange for the work to be rectified If the defective work is found to be dangerous, the local government may issue an enforcement notice without a defect notice

23. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Roadshows The PIC will be conducting roadshows state- wide to ensure all licensees are aware of the upcoming changes More information on roadshows will be provided as soon as possible For more information on notifiable work call 1800 264 585

24. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Plumbing Industry Council activities Licence checks Investigating complaints – 4 stage process –Quick Audit –Investigations –Referral to the Plumbing Industry Council –Prosecution

25. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Investigation statistics Current open investigations: 16 Number of PINs issued: –205 in 2011/2012 financial year –101 so far in 2012/2013 financial year –180 of these PINs were for unlicensed work 8 appeals have been made recently to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) against PIC decisions about solar hot water installations. –All of these decisions were upheld by the Tribunal established to hear the case

26. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Plumbing Industry Council Connect Quarterly newsletter providing a direct link from the PIC to the industry Includes updates on major policies such as notifiable work and technical matters The newsletter will be emailed to licensees and available at the website www.dlgp.qld.gov.auwww.dlgp.qld.gov.au To join the mailing list email plumbers@dlgp.qld.gov.au plumbers@dlgp.qld.gov.au

27. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Pool sand filter used in treatment system

28. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Defective roof penetration for vent pipe

29. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Installation not inspected by local government

30. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Unapproved wastewater treatment system

31. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update No separation of water and electrical services Unlagged flow and return lines High risk of electrocution

32. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Unapproved hot water system stand and defective pipework

33. Building Codes Queensland, Department of Housing and Public Works Plumbing industry update Contact details 63 George St, Brisbane PO Box 15027, City East QLD 4002 Tel: 1800 682 021 Email: plumbers@dlgp.qld.gov.auplumbers@dlgp.qld.gov.au Website: www.dlgp.qld.gov.auwww.dlgp.qld.gov.au Department of Housing and Public Works 80 George Street, Brisbane GPO Box 2457, Brisbane QLD 4001 Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68) Email: feedback@publicworks.qld.gov.au feedback@publicworks.qld.gov.au Website: www.hpw.qld.gov.auwww.hpw.qld.gov.au