Regulatory Change Table—Proposed Plumbing Regulations 2018 2008 Regulation no. 2018 Regulation no. Short description of the regulation Proposed regulatory change Revoke No change/ no impact Update/ clarify Reduce Strengthen 1 1 Objectives Regulation 1 describes the objectives of the regulations. X The objectives of the Regulations remain the same. Wording changes reflect current drafting practice. 2 2 Authorising provisions Regulation 2 specifies the relevant sections of the Act under which the regulations are made. X N/A 3 3 Commencement Regulation 3 prescribes the date the regulations commence and come into effect. X The Regulations will commence 18 November 2018, noting the following exceptions: Regulation 36 (new class for TMVs) will commence on 18 November 2018. Clause 13 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 (new standard for hot water heaters) will commence on 1 May 2019. 4 4 Revocations Regulation 4 revokes the Plumbing Regulations 2008 and all subsequent amendments. X This regulation revokes the Plumbing Regulations 2008 to allow the Plumbing Regulations 2018 to replace them. 5 5 Definitions Regulation 5 defines terms used in the Regulations. X The definitions for existing and standards have been relocated into regulation 5 to reflect current drafting practice.
5 5 Definitions (cont.) Regulation 5 defines used in the Regulations. X Automatic or manual interchange device 1 building Class 1a building Class 10a building Climate zone 4 Climate zone 5 CO2-e/MJ Disposal point Electric resistance water heater Gas supply point Greenhouse performance benchmark Heat pump water heater Membrane Network utility operator Refrigerated air-conditioning systems) work Relining Replacement heater Roof covering Routine servicing Stormwater pit Tempering valve Temporary heated water service Thermostatic mixing valve Thermostatic mixing valve work Thermal energy load Type B appliance Water efficient shower head
6 6 Interpretation Regulation 6 provides guidance on interpreting terms used in the Regulations and what takes precedence in particular circumstances. X The provisions largely remain unchanged, with minor changes to improve readability. 6(4) 14(1)(b) & 14(2) This sub-regulation clarifies how directions and other instructions set out in incorporated documents are to be interpreted and applied. X Sub-regulation 6(4) has been relocated to regulation 14 and has been clarified (see regulation 14 for further information). 6(5) & 6(7) 6(4) &6(5) &6(6) This sub-regulation clarifies that when the Regulations refer to the ‘installation’, ‘repair’ or ‘replacement’ of a device or system, these words also mean the ‘extension’, ‘renewal’, ‘relocation’ or ‘removal’ of that thing. X This regulation has been amended to clarify that ‘installation’, ‘repair’ or ‘replacement’ of a plumbing system or plumbing product should also include ‘connection’, ‘disconnection’ or ‘removal’, in addition to the existing terms of ‘extension’, ‘renewal’, ‘relocation’. The only exception to this rule is where there is a clear contrary intention expressed in the Regulations. 19 5 & 6(7) This regulation clarifies that for the purposes of gasfitting, type B gasfitting and type B gasfitting advanced work, any technical terminology not defined in the Regulations has the same meaning as it does in the following Standards: AS 3814, AS 4575, AS 5601.1 and as 5601.2. X To reflect current drafting practice, mechanical changes have been made to relocate the existing regulation, with the impact remaining the same.
24 40 What is type B gasfitting advanced work? This regulation sets out the scope for type B gasfitting advanced work. X To improve clarity on the scope of work, amendments include: removal of references to specific types of type B appliances, such as ‘furnace’, ‘an appliance… for industrial manufacturing’, ‘a dryer or over’ and ‘kiln’ to accommodate technological changes in the industry. the definition of ‘type B appliance’ has been relocated to regulation 5 and has been amended to be consistent with the Gas Safety Act 1997. X To improve clarity on the scope of work, amendments have been made to reflect the specific and more complex types of work involved in this specialised class, including: adjustment of input parameters on a programmable burner management system associated with a type B appliance. the commissioning of a type B appliance in the absence of manufacturer-supplied commissioning data. any work on a type B appliance where the appliance is associated with volatile solvents or hazardous atmospheres. X Amendments have been made to clarify areas of work that are excluded from the scope as they are not considered plumbing work: any work on a component of a type B appliance which is not involved in the supply of gas, use of gas, or control of gas related hazards. the positioning of a type B appliance except where it involves a connection to the gas isolating valve. any electrical work within the meaning of the Electrical Safety Act 1998 that is not involved in the supply of gas, use of gas or control of gas related hazards.
N/A 36 What is thermostatic mixing valve work? This regulation sets out the scope of thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) work. X This new specialised class covers the maintenance of TMVs to ensure their ongoing reliability and safe operation. This new class is limited to activities (e.g. maintenance and servicing) to enable water supply practitioners to continue to undertake the installation and commissioning of TMVs. It is proposed that this new will not commence until 18 November 2019 to enable sufficient time for interested practitioners to undertake the prescribed training. N/A 37 Standards for carrying out thermostatic mixing valve work This regulation requires TMV work to comply with other technical requirements listed in Schedule 2. X This new regulation is required to support the prescription of appropriate standards for this new class of work. 37A 41 Prescribed of plumbing work required to carry out specialised plumbing work This regulation prescribes certain classes or specialised classes of work that a person must hold in order to be eligible for registration or licensing in a specialised class of work. X Minor drafting changes have been made to improve readability and reflect current drafting practice.
48 53 Former class of plumbing work taken to be class or type of plumbing work under these Regulations Clarifies that the classes of work set out in the current Regulations are equivalent to the classes of work set out in Table 1 in Schedule 6 of the proposed Regulations. X Minor changes to this regulation seek to establish that the classes of work set out under the current Regulations are equivalent to the classes of work set in the proposed Regulations (Table 1 of Schedule 6 sets out which existing class of plumbing work corresponds to each new class). 48 54 Former class of specialised plumbing work taken to be class of specialised plumbing work or type of plumbing work under these Regulations Clarifies that the specialised classes of work set out in the current Regulations are equivalent to the specialised classes of work set out in Table 2 in Schedule 6 of the proposed Regulations. X Minor changes to this regulation seek to establish that the specialised classes of work set out under the current Regulations are equivalent to the specialised classes of work set in the proposed Regulations (Table 2 of Schedule 6 sets out which existing class of work corresponds to each new class). This regulation does not apply to TMVs as this is a new class of specialised plumbing work. N/A 55 Former of specialised plumbing work taken to be class of plumbing work of the type of work under these Regulations This regulation clarifies that the specialised classes of work set out in the current Regulations are equivalent to the classes of work set out in 3 in Schedule 6 of the proposed Regulations. X While this is a new regulation, its inclusion is mechanical in nature and reflects that Schedule 6 now has an additional table. This new regulation establishes that the specialised classes of type B gasfitting and refrigerated air-conditioning work under the current Regulations are equivalent to the main classes of type B gasfitting and refrigerated air-conditioning work in the proposed Regulations (as set out in Table 3 of Schedule 6).
Sch. 2 Sch. 2 Standards in relation to plumbing work Schedule 2 sets out the technical requirements for plumbing work. X The structure of Schedule 2 has been changed such that Part 1 outlines standards relevant for all main classes of plumbing and Part 2 outlines standards relevant for all specialised classes of plumbing work. This is a mechanical change and has been done to more easily locate main classes and specialised classes in Schedule 2. To reflect current drafting practice: all existing definitions in Schedule 2 have been relocated to regulation 5 all standards referenced in Schedule 2 have been relocated to regulation 5. appropriate, the word ‘requirement’ has been changed to ‘standard’. N/A Sch. 2 Part 1, Div. 1 Standards for drainage work Division 1 sets out the standards for drainage work. X A new requirement has been included for the laying of ground sanitary drains that service more than one building. This has been inserted to provide compliance clarity for plumbers and to reduce the impact for consumers should issues arise with the sanitary drain in future. Sch. 2 Part 2 Sch. 2 Part 1, Div. 2 Standard for fire protection work Division 2 sets out the standards for fire protection work. X AS 1682.8 has been revoked as it covers work carried out on fire dampers installed in duct work. This work is not captured under the scope of fire protection and has therefore been removed. Sch. 2 Part 3 Sch. 2 Part 1, Div. 3 Standards for mechanical services work Division 3 sets out the standards for mechanicals services work. X The following standard has been removed: ‘HB 276-2004 A Guide to Good practice for Energy Efficient Installation of Residential Heating, Cooling and Air-Conditioning plant and Equipment’. This has been removed as this standard is associated with work that has been excluded from mechanical services and provisioned for in refrigerated air-conditioning (split systems).
Sch. 2 Part 4 Sch. 2 Part 1, Div. 4 Standards for refrigerated work Division 4 sets out the standards for refrigerated air-conditioning work. X The references to the AS/NZS 1677.1 series have been updated to refer to the AS/NZS ISO 817 series, and the reference to AS/NZS 1677.2 has been updated to refer to AS/NZS ISO 5149 Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4. N/A Sch. 2 Part 1, Div. 5 Standards for refrigerated (basic systems) work Division 5 sets out the standards for refrigerated air-conditioning (basic systems) work. X New standards are required to support the proposed new scope of work associated with refrigerated air-conditioning (basic systems) work. These are the same requirements currently prescribed for refrigerated work. Sch. 2 Part 5 Sch. 2 Part 1, Div. 6 Standards for roofing (stormwater) work Division 6 sets out the standards for roofing (stormwater) work. X The following standards have been revoked: AS 1562.1 Design and installation of sheet roof and wall cladding Part 1: Metal its content is now largely covered by the 2015 version of SA HB 39. AS/NZS 4200.1 Pliable building membranes and underlays Part 1: Materials is revoked as it is not relevant to plumbing work. The incorporation of AS/NZS 4200.2 Pliable building membranes and underlays Part 2: Installation requirements has been revoked as it is not relevant to plumbing work. SA HB 39—1997: Installation code for metal roof and wall cladding has been revoked and is replaced by SA HB 39: 2015 Installation code for metal roof and wall cladding, which is the latest version of this standard.
N/A Sch. 2 Part 1, Div. 7 Standards for sanitary work Division 7 sets out the standards for sanitary work. X To provide additional compliance clarity to sanitary practitioners working on caravans or vessels, two additional standards are prescribed that sanitary plumbers should be familiar with: Australian Design Rules (ADR) published by the Federal Government, which will assist in compliance clarity and consistency for sanitary plumbers working in caravans. AS 4995:2009—Greywater treatment systems for vessels operated on inland waters for plumbers installing grey systems on vessels. Sch. 2 Part 7 Sch. 2 Part 1, Div. 8 Standards for water supply work Division 8 sets out the standards for water supply work. X Two new standards are being proposed: a new hot heater standard for the replacement of these systems in existing Class 1 buildings (existing single dwelling homes). This standard seeks to encourage households to take up more efficient hot water heaters. A new standard for backflow prevention devices to be required when installing a tap near a toilet, except where the tap is connected to a sanitary fixture or in a male public toilet. This standard has been introduced to mitigate the risks of backflow when a consumer installs a flexible handheld spray on an existing tap that may not have sufficient backflow prevention protection. Sch. 2 Part 8 Sch. 2 Part 2, Div. 1 Standards for backflow prevention work Division 1 sets out the standards for backflow prevention work. X Minor drafting changes have been made to improve readability and reflect current drafting practice.
Regulatory change Revoke No change / no impact Update / clarify Reduce Strengthen The existing regulation will be deleted. No change to the regulation is proposed. An existing regulation has been updated or amended to clarify, improve, remove ambiguity and/or reinforce the policy intent of the regulation An existing regulation has been amended to reduce the burden (for example, compliance, administrative and other costs) associated with the regulation. An existing regulation has been amended, or a new regulation introduced, to respond to implementation (how a regulation is applied in practice) or new and/or emerging issues.