Notifiable Work

Plumbing - Notifiable work

Schedule 2 of the Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 defines Notifiable Work as:

1. Emergency work 

Emergency work is defined in the Standard Plumbing & Drainage Regulation 2019 as plumbing or drainage work that must, because of a failure in plumbing or drainage, be performed to stop a continuing risk to health and safety or damage to property. For example, it could involve work for a combined sanitary drain which would otherwise not be notifiable work.

2. Work necessary for extending, altering, replacing or removing existing water supply piping, other than extending or removing a fire service

It is intended that there be no limit on the amount of new piping that can be installed and overseen by a licensee for an existing building. For example, this item would allow an alteration to the water supply around a new door opening or replacement of old and corroded water supply pipes.

3. Work necessary for extending or removing a fire service if the work is associated with a building development approval as defined under the Building Act 1975, schedule 2

This item refers to plumbing work relating to extending or removing a fire service if it is associated with a building development approval. For example, if a building approval to alter an existing building requires the extension of the fire service water supply piping, the plumbing work associated with that building development approval is notifiable work. If an existing building is being extended, a compliance permit will always be required for plumbing work to extend or remove a fire service.

4. Work necessary for extending, altering, replacing or removing existing sanitary drainage, other than a combined sanitary drain, for a building classified under BCA as a class 1 or 10 building

This item provides that work for extending, altering, replacing or removing existing sanitary drainage for a class 1 or 10 building, other than a combined sanitary drain, is notifiable work. For example, this item would allow the removal, relocation and replacement of sanitary drainage for fixtures installed in renovations to kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.

Work for combined sanitary drains is excluded from this item as it can affect multiple properties and any changes to an individual property may impact on the performance of drainage for other properties.

5. Work necessary for extending, altering, replacing or removing existing sanitary plumbing for a building classified under BCA as a class 2 to 9 building

This item provides that work for extending, altering, replacing or removing existing sanitary plumbing for a class 2 to 9 building, is notifiable work. This item would, for example, enable an alteration to sanitary plumbing pipes where the internal area of the building is being remodelled. Sanitary plumbing does not include underground drainage. Underground drainage work for class 2 to 9 buildings is compliance assessable work.

6. Work necessary for installing, replacing or removing a temperature control device

This item is considered self-explanatory.

7. Work necessary for installing, replacing or removing a water heater

This item is considered self-explanatory. Note that an installation of a solar or heat pump hot water system can only be performed by a person with a solar and heat pump endorsement on their licence.

8. Work necessary for installing, replacing or removing a testable backflow prevention device

This item is considered self-explanatory.

9. Work necessary for installing, replacing or removing a dual check valve with an atmospheric port

This item is considered self-explanatory.

10. Work necessary for replacing a greywater treatment plant for a building classified under BCA as a class 1 building

This item provides that work for replacing a greywater treatment plant is notifiable work. A replacement plant should be of a similar type and capacity to the plant it is replacing.

11. Work necessary for installing a fixture in a building classified under BCA as a class 1 building

This item provides that work for installing a fixture such as a sink or a basin in a class 1 building for example, a house or townhouse, is notifiable work. There is no limit on the number of fixtures that may be installed.

12. Work necessary for relocating a fixture in a building classified under BCA as a class 1 building

This item provides that work for relocating a fixture such as a sink or a basin in a class 1 building for example, a house or townhouse, is notifiable work. There is no limit on the number of fixtures that may be relocated.

13. Work, other than work for sanitary drainage, necessary for installing or relocating a fixture in a building classified under BCA as a class 2 to 9 building, of 1 or 2 storeys

This item provides that plumbing work for installing or relocating a fixture (for example, a sink or basin) in a class 2 to 9 building of up to two storeys (for example a residential or commercial building) is notifiable work.

There is no limit on the number of fixtures that may be installed or relocated. Although this work does not require local government approval, licensees should consider whether some level of hydraulic assessment is needed to ensure that the work complies with the relevant design standards.

Plumbing work relating to an extension to a class 2 to 9 building is compliance assessable work due to the more complex hydraulic infrastructure involved in larger buildings and greater chance of potential impacts on existing drainage and water supply infrastructure. 

Underground drainage for a class 2 to 9 building is also compliance assessable work.

Work for a class 2 to 9 building of three or more storeys is compliance assessable. For example work on the second level of a five-storey class 2 to 9 building will be compliance assessable. As with extensions to a class 2 to 9 building, this work is excluded from notifiable work as it is considered that there is more complex hydraulic infrastructure involved in larger buildings and a greater chance of impacting existing drainage and water supply infrastructure.

14. Work necessary for installing or relocating a fixture in a building classified under BCA as a class 10 building

This item provides that work for installing or relocating a fixture in a class 10 building such as a garage, shed or carport, is notifiable work. For example, a licensee installing a toilet in a shed with existing plumbing and drainage will be able to take advantage of the new notifiable work provisions. 

15. Work necessary for sealing a sanitary drain upstream from the connection point for a service provider's sewerage system

This item provides that work for sealing a sanitary drain to allow, for example, the removal of a building, is notifiable work. The item is restricted to work upstream from the service provider's connection point to ensure that the work is confined to private drainage.

16. Work necessary for sealing an existing water service downstream from a water meter for a building classified under BCA as a class 2 to 9 building

This item provides that work for sealing an existing water service for a class 2 to 9 building is notifiable work. This item is restricted to work downstream from the water meter to ensure that the relevant water service provider's infrastructure is not affected. Notification ensures that the relevant local government is made aware that the fire services for the building may have been affected.

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