VBA Plumbing Technical Bulletin – November 2023
As we approach the final stages of 2024, we have many important alerts and updates to help you navigate our industry and the Victorian plumbing regulatory system.
Meet the VBA Plumbing Technical Team
Introducing the VBA Plumbing Technical team – from left Principal Plumbing Specialist, Anwar Gayed, Senior Technical Advisors, Ross Marshallsea, Matt Wilson, Neville Campbell, Greg Hodges and Warren James, and team leader, Phillip Locke.
The VBA Plumbing Technical team are dedicated and passionate about the plumbing industry, and play a pivotal role in technical and regulatory plumbing advice for Victorian plumbing practitioners.
The team works hard to deliver useful learning resources on our website, from Practitioner Education Series webinars, to new and updated Plumbing Practice Notes. I encourage you to utilise all our website has to offer, as it's likely to have the answers to any questions you may have.
The VBA Plumbing Technical team is incredibly motivated to help you get the answers you need, so if you need further assistance please give them a call on 1300 815 127 or send them an email.
We are actively recruiting to fill an additional role within the VBA Plumbing Technical team. If this is something you'd like to explore, I encourage you to submit an expression of interest by emailing Phillip Locke.
New Australian plumbing standards out for consultation
Standards are a vital cog in the wheel of our industry. They have safety, health and amenity at the forefront of what they set out to do.
For every standard developed, Standards Australia brings together key parties and stakeholders to form a technical committee, and makes each proposed change available for public consultation by the broader industry.
The below proposed changes to Australian Standards (Plumbing) are now available for public consultation:
- AS/NZS 3500.1
- Pipes & fittings
- Hose assemblies
- Rainwater tanks & water supply
- AS/NZS 3500.2
- Waterless urinals
- Multiunit development
- Materials & products for vacuum drainage systems
- AS/NZS 3500.3
- Eaves Gutters
- Valley Gutters
- Devices & appliances connected to stormwater drainage systems
- Rainwater harvesting systems
- AS/NZS 3500.4
- Hoses in heated water applications
- Pipes, fittings & connectors
- Isolation valves & hose assemblies.
I encourage you to have your say by heading to the Standards Australia website, where you'll need to login or create an account. Once logged in, head to the public comment platform and choose from the list of standards up for consultation. It's also a great place to learn about new standards in development.
Kind regards,
Andrew Cialini,
VBA State Building Surveyor
In this edition...
Non-compliant floor waste gully and fixture trap risers
Plumbing practitioners must ensure that gully risers, fixture traps and self-sealing devices do not exceed the maximum permissible distance of 600mm from the top of the water seal to the finished surface level.
New requirement for junctions in drains
On 26 September 2023, the 2021 edition of the AS/NZS 3500 series was adopted through changes to the Plumbing Regulations 2018, as part of the deemed-to-satisfy requirements for compliance with NCC 2022.
Prohibition on the installation of external above-ground multilayer pipe
Gasfitters are reminded that as of 30 March 2023, it has been a requirement to comply with the requirements of the 2022 edition of AS/NZS 5601.1
Reducing noise pollution caused by air conditioners through good planning and design
Good planning and thoughtful design can reduce the noise an air-conditioner makes, while improving its efficiency, performance and value for money.
Upcoming events
7 December 2023 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Plumbing: Sanitary Drainage – Fundamentals and common enquiries for graded drainage systems