Plumbing

Plumbing and drainage regulation in NSW

Standards Australia develops the overarching technical standards for plumbing and drainage regulation in Australia, namely:

• Technical standards for installation, prescribed in the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage
• Technical specifications for products, set out in Australian Standard AS 5200 Technical specification for plumbing and drainage products – Procedures for certification of plumbing and drainage products.

These Standards are available for purchase from SAI Global.

In NSW, however, technical requirements for all plumbing and drainage activities are set out in the New South Wales Code of Practice for Plumbing and Drainage (PDF 2 MB) (the NSW Plumbing Code).

The Committee on Uniformity of Plumbing and Drainage Regulations

The Committee on Uniformity of Plumbing and Drainage Regulations in NSW (CUPDR) prepares the NSW Plumbing Code. CUPDR membership comprises:

• NSW Office of Water (Chair)
• Country Energy (incorporating Country Water)
• Department of Health
• Department of Local Government
• Department of Planning
• Hunter Water Corporation
• NSW TAFE
• Office of Fair Trading
• Sydney Water Corporation.

A number of industry observers are also invited to attend CUPDR, as follows:

• Association of Hydraulic Services Consultants Australia
• Institute of Plumbing
• Master Plumbers and Mechanical Contractors Association of NSW
• Water Directorate.

When there are changes to the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3500, amendments to the NSW Plumbing Code are generally required. CUPDR issues circulars to notify industry and regulators of these changes, or any other state-based changes agreed by CUPDR. These circulars are available on the Plumbing and drainage circulars page.

NSW Plumbing Code

The current New South Wales Code of Practice for Plumbing and Drainage (PDF 2 MB) came into effect on 1 July 2006 and generally reflects AS/NZS 3500, but also allows for NSW variations and additional provisions to cater for local conditions within the state.

The 2006 update of the NSW Plumbing Code reflects the increasing popularity of water conservation devices such as rainwater tanks, greywater reuse and recycling systems. It outlines new requirements to help plumbers, builders and householders choose the safest, most cost-effective and efficient method to install water saving devices.

Review of arrangements for regulating plumbing and drainage in NSW

The NSW Government's review of the institutional and technical aspects of the plumbing and drainage regulation has been completed and its findings have been announced by the Minister for Water and the Minister for Regulatory Reform.

The review report (PDF 114 KB) sets out the findings of the review and provides a number of recommendations for reform including the formation of a single plumbing and drainage regulator and adoption by NSW of the Plumbing Code of Australia. The review report, as well as the discussion paper released for public comment in 2008 and the submissions on it are available on the plumbing review page and via the website of the NSW Better Regulation Office.