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Plumbers and drainers' responsibilities
Responsibilities of a licensed plumber or drainer
Plumbers and drainers have several responsibilities for ensuring work is professional.
Licensing
Plumbing and drainage work requires a licence. There are different types of licenses depending on the type of work done.
Advertising
When a licensed corporation, partnership or individual advertises their construction service, they need to include in the advertisement their name as recorded on their licence, their licence number and for a corporation its ABN or ACN number.
Insurance
You need to show evidence of the insurance you hold to a client before providing a service. This includes advising the person that you do not have insurance if that is the case. You may ask the client to sign an acknowledgment that they have been told about your insurance arrangements. The acknowledgment must state the time and date it was given. If the client signs the acknowledgement, you must immediately give them a copy.
Standards and legislation
The standards and legislation that apply to plumbing and drainage work are:
- Plumbing Code of Australia;
- Australian and New Zealand Standard 3500, National Plumbing and Drainage 2003 edition, for consumers' installations;
- the Water and Sewerage Act 2000 for plumbing and drainage work and plumbing products;
- the Utilities Act 2000 for technical aspects of water supply and sewerage networks;
- Plumbing Note 3 - Inspection shafts at property boundaries;
- Plumbing Note 6 - Installation of lawn watering systems - backflow prevention;
- Plumbing Note 18 - Hot water delivery temperature;
- Plumbing Note 19 - Requirements for on-site sewer manholes;
- Plumbing Note 22 - Plumbing solutions for multi-unit developments (excluding multi-storey developments);
- Plumbing Note 23 - Water supply pressure requirements;
- Plumbing note 24 - Grey water drainage separation and provision for rain water plumbing (single residential buildings);
- requirements for plumbing tie points when demolition is occurring, see Demolition publication (PDF 2.2MB);
- Rainwater Tanks - Guidelines for Residential Properties in Canberra;
- Domestic irrigation - Do-it-yourself systems; and
- Greywater Use - Guidelines for residential properties in Canberra.
Notifications and inspections
You must have plumbing and drainage plans approved by a plumbing plan certifier (appointed by the client) before the work is done.
Regulation
Anyone who believes a licensed or formerly licensed certifier has not fulfilled their obligations may put their concerns in writing by giving us feedback. Complaints may result in disciplinary action.
