The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety – Building and Energy Division (Department) is inviting public comment on proposed reforms to plumbing regulation in Western Australia. The proposed reforms are contained in a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS) published by the Department on 1 May 2018.

Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS)

The CRIS contains 21 proposals which broadly cover the following issues:

• The introduction of a new and more efficient funding model to enable the plumbing regulator to carry out its compliance and enforcement functions more effectively.
• Expanding the scope of ‘water supply plumbing work’ to include non-metered supply and the supply of non-drinking water.
• New definitions for ‘sanitary plumbing work’ and ‘drainage plumbing work’ to better align with the definitions in the Plumbing Code of Australia.
• New requirements on owners of certain high-risk buildings to ensure that plumbing safety devices such as backflow prevention devices and thermostatic mixing valves are regularly tested and maintained in proper working order.
• Amendments to the scope of ‘minor plumbing work’.
• Removal of the requirement to submit copies of multi-entry certificates for ‘minor plumbing work’.
• Amendments to the scope of work permitted to be carried out by holders of a restricted plumbing permit.
• Removal of the requirement that licensed plumbing contractors must undertake business training as a condition of obtaining their licence.

The CRIS also seeks comment on other issues, such as:

• Whether there should be a registration requirement for designers of complex plumbing installations and for those who verify Performance Solutions under the Plumbing Code of Australia.
• Whether there is a case for introducing a licence category for those who carry out fire-fighting water services (Part B4 of the Plumbing Code of Australia).
• Whether the scope of ‘drainage plumbing work’ should be expanded to also include the construction/installation of on-site wastewater treatment systems, such as septic tanks and aerobic treatment units.
• The extent to which pre-fabricated and pre-plumbed modules are being used as a construction method in Western Australia.

Copies of the CRIS can be downloaded from Plumbing review webpage.

The closing date for the receipt of comment is 31 July 2018.

Information sessions

The Department will be running metro and regional information sessions to discuss the proposals and gather industry feedback in the following locations: Joondalup, Cannington, Rockingham, West Perth, and Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Broome, Karratha, Port Hedland, Albany, Esperance and Geraldton. Click belwo to register.

Events and seminars Click here for registration details

Enquiries regarding the sessions can be directed to be.events@dmirs.wa.gov.au.