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Revised AS/NZS plumbing standards - Transition period extended

Following the recent announcement from Building Ministers to delay the adoption of the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC), the VBA has extended the existing  transition period for plumbers to familiarise themselves with revised AS/NZS standards, before they need to be applied to plumbing practices on 1 May  2023.

On 28 May 2021, Standards Australia published the following revised plumbing standards:

  1. AS/NZS 3500.1: 2021 Plumbing and Drainage Part 1: Water Services.
  2. AS/NZS 3500.2: 2021 Plumbing and Drainage Part 2: Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage.
  3. AS/NZS 3500.3: 2021 Plumbing and Drainage Part 3: Stormwater Drainage.
  4. AS/NZS 3500.4: 2021 Plumbing and Drainage Part 4: Heated Water.

The above standards are referenced in the Plumbing Regulations 2018 and/or the Plumbing Code of Australia 2019.

Given the significant changes made in the revised standards, and following discussions with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the VBA has applied a

transition period before it requires the revised standards to be applied in practice. The VBA is calling on plumbers to use this transition period to familiarise themselves with the changes.

The revised standards will not be required to be used until 1 May 2023, which aligns with the commencement of the Plumbing Code of Australia 2022 edition. Between now and 1 May 2023, plumbing practitioners should continue to use AS/NZS 3500 Parts 1 to 4, the 2018 version.

From 1 May 2023, plumbing practitioners must use the 2021 versions of these standards.

You can purchase plumbing standards from SAI Global and Tech Street.

NCC 2022 VBA Roadshow

To communicate the detail of NCC 2022, the VBA is pleased to be hosting in-person seminars throughout regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne where there will be an opportunity to network with colleagues and speak to technical experts. View roadshow dates, times and locations.

Further Information

VBA will provide further information on these changes in coming months to support your understanding of the updated standards.

If you have questions about these changes, please contact Victorian Building Authority on 1300 815 127 or email your questions.