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VBA plumbing inspectors find faults in one quarter of gas heating appliances assessed in May

One in four gas heating appliances inspected by the Victorian Building Authority in May failed to comply with Australian standards.

The gas heating appliances, all recently installed, were targeted by the VBA during its annual carbon monoxide awareness and testing campaign.

The inspection of 54 gas heating appliances came during another busy month of risk-based audit activity, with 552 routine audits and 70 drainage inspections completed.

Of the 622 total inspections, 95 risk-based audits and three drainage inspections failed for various reasons.

At the same time, VBA inspectors re-audited 227 instances of plumbing work, including seven drains.

Some common problems seen by the VBA in May include:

  • unmarked toughened safety glass installed as a splashback
  • installation of inappropriate backflow prevention devices
  • below-ground sanitary drains laid without appropriate bedding material; and
  • reconstructed property sewerage drains unable to withstand air testing requirements.

The data was released in the VBA’s monthly plumbing audit report.

For more information, contact the VBA on 1300 815 127 or email our plumbing team at PlumbingTechnicalAdvice@vba.vic.gov.au.