report of the technical regulator · 11 waymouth street, adelaide 5000 postal address: department...

Report of the Technical Regulator This is the annual report of the Technical Regulator’s operations for the 2013-14 financial year, as required by Section 13 of the Water Industry Act 2012 (“the Act”).

The Technical Regulator is a statutory office established under Section 8 of the Act.

Mr. Robert Faunt has held this office since he was appointed as the Technical Regulator of Plumbing in 2012.

The Act requires the Technical Regulator to report to the Minister on the Technical Regulator’s operations after the end of each financial year and deliver to the Minister this report on the Technical Regulator’s operations during that period. The Minister must then lay a copy of the report before both Houses of Parliament within 12 sitting days after receipt of the report.

Technical Regulator: Robert Faunt

Office Address: Level 8, ANZ Building

11 Waymouth Street, Adelaide 5000

Postal Address: Department of State Development

Office of the Technical Regulator

GPO Box 320

Adelaide SA, 5001

Telephone: (08) 8226 5500

Facsimile: (08) 8226 5523

Office Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday

(Except public holidays)

Website: www.sa.gov.au/otr

Email: [email protected]

ISSN: 1832-8695

Front Cover: Depicts the various audit activities performed by the Office of The Technical Regulator- Plumbing Section in 2013-14.

Note: All photographs in this report have been used with the permission of the relevant provider.

1 Annual Report of the Technical Regulator 2013-14: Plumbing

mailto:[email protected]

Annual Report of the Technical Regulator 2013-14: Plumbing

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Preface

This section covers the Technical Regulator’s objectives and function as outlined in the Water Industry Act 2012 (the Act). The Technical Regulator is established by Section 8 of the Act

Section 3 of the Act states:

The objects of this Act are —

(a) to promote planning associated with the availability of water within the State to respond to demand within the community; and

(b) to promote efficiency, competition and innovation in the water industry; and

(c) to provide mechanisms for the transparent setting of prices within the water industry and to facilitate pricing structures that reflect the true value of services provided by participants in that industry; and

(d) to provide for and enforce proper standards of reliability and quality in connection with the water industry, including in relation to technical standards for water and sewerage infrastructure and installations and plumbing; and

(e) to protect the interests of consumers of water and sewerage services; and

(f) to promote measures to ensure that water is managed wisely.

Section 9 of the Act states:

The Technical Regulator has the following functions:

(a) to develop technical standards in connection with the water industry;

(b) to monitor and regulate technical standards with respect to—

(i) water and sewerage installations and associated equipment, products and materials (including on the customer’s side of any connection point ); and

(ii) plumbing;

(c) to provide advice in relation to safety or technical standards—

(i) in the water industry to the Commission at the Commission’s request;

and

(ii) in the plumbing industry;

(d) any other function assigned to the Technical Regulator under this or any other Act or conferred by regulation under this Act.

The aim of the Act is “to facilitate planning in connection with water demand and supply; to regulate the water industry, including by providing for the establishment of a licensing regime and providing for the regulation of prices, customer service standards, technical standards for water and sewerage infrastructure and installations and plumbing, and by providing performance monitoring of the water industry; to provide for other measures relevant to the use and management of water; to make amendments to various related Acts; to repeal the Sewerage Act 1929, the Water Conservation Act 1936 and the Waterworks Act 1932; and for other purposes”. The Technical Regulator is involved in a range of activities in liaison with the water industry and other Government agencies. The Technical Regulator’s operations in relation to these functions are dealt with in various sections of this report.


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Contents

Report of the Technical Regulator ................................................................................................................1

Preface ..........................................................................................................................................................2

Contents ........................................................................................................................................................3

Technical Regulator’s Commentary ..............................................................................................................5

The Office of the Technical Regulator...........................................................................................................7

Section 1: Plumbing Acts, Regulations, Standards and Scheme ..................................................8

1.1 Standard ........................................................................................................................................8

1.2 South Australian residential water heater requirements .............................................................8

1.3 Scheme for Plumbing Certificates of Compliance .........................................................................8

Section 2: Regulatory Reform .............................................................................................................9

2.1 Technical Standards ......................................................................................................................9

2.1.1 Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) – National Construction Code Series (NCC)..........9

2.1.2 Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Plumbing Codes Committee (PCC) .......................9

2.1.3 Plumbing Regulators of Australia (PRA) ............................................................................. 11

2.1.4 Master Builders Association (MBA) Technical Advisory Committee ................................. 11

Section 3: Plumbing Compliance ..................................................................................................... 12

3.1 Plumbing Certificates of Compliance ..................................................................................... 12

3.2 Plumbing Re-inspections ........................................................................................................ 13

3.3 Non Compliance Notices ........................................................................................................ 13

3.4 Plumbing Installation Audits .................................................................................................. 13

Section 4: Plumbing Audits ............................................................................................................... 15

4.1 Plumbing and Drainage .......................................................................................................... 15

4.2 Regional Plumbing audits ....................................................................................................... 16

Section 5: Non Drinking Water (Recycled Water) ......................................................................... 17

Section 6: Fire Fighting Water Services ......................................................................................... 19

Section 7: Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention ................................................. 20

7.1 Circumstances where backflow is more likely to occur ............................................................. 20

7.2 Circumstances where cross-connections occur ......................................................................... 20

7.3 Examples of contaminants that can enter network water mains .............................................. 20

7.4 Backflow and Cross-Connection Incidents in South Australia ............................................... 22


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Section 8: Property Interest Reporting ............................................................................................ 23

8.1 Encumbrances ........................................................................................................................ 23

Section 9: Consultations, Communication and Education ........................................................... 24

9.1 Consultation ........................................................................................................................... 24

9.2 Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) .................................................................. 24

Appendix 1: OTR Functional Structure ................................................................................................... 25

Appendix 2: Plumbing Standard ............................................................................................................. 26

Appendix 3: Scheme for Plumbing Certificates of Compliance .............................................................. 27

Appendix 4: Example of Plumbing Certificate of Compliance (CoC) Form............................................. 29

Appendix 5: Example of Internal Drain as Constructed Drawing ........................................................... 30

Appendix 6: Operating Statement ......................................................................................................... 31

Appendix 7: Glossary and Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 32

Technical Regulator’s Commentary

Cross-Connection Control and

Backflow Prevention Management

The Technical Regulator commenced

regulating on-site plumbing on 1

January 2013.

The Technical Regulator’s role includes

development of technical standards for

the water industry and conducts

investigations, audits, and other

plumbing industry monitoring activities

to ensure that the South Australian

public continues to receive the safety

and health benefits associated with a

well regulated plumbing industry.

For the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June

2014 the Technical Regulator’s

activities included:

Plumbing and Equipment Audits

The Technical Regulator published a

Plumbing Standard pursuant to section

66 of the Act. Accordingly all on-site

plumbing installations must meet the

requirements of this Standard. During

the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014

the Technical Regulator audited 9,177

plumbing and equipment installations

to ensure compliance with the

Standard.

The Technical Regulator’s

responsibilities include management of

cross-connection control and backflow

prevention devices installed in on-site

property water services connected to

water industry entity network

infrastructure.

The Technical Regulator’s activities to

enforce the Act and associated

regulations include the auditing of on-

site services. Property owners are also

instructed to engage licenced plumbers

to install and maintain backflow

prevention devices in on-site property

plumbing systems.

Product Certification

The Technical Regulator provides

advice to the plumbing industry on

matters involving product certification.

All plumbing products in plumbing or

drainage installations must, where

required under Section G of the

National Construction Code Volume 3

(The Plumbing Code of Australia), have

WaterMark Certification and be fit for

purpose. Australian Standards and Regulatory Committees The Technical Regulator provides expert technical involvement with the development of the Plumbing Code of Australia and the development of associated Australian Standards



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including the AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and Drainage series. The Technical Regulator established a Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) under section 15 of the Act. The advisory committee includes representatives from water industry entities, contractor and employee associations involved in the water industry, SA Health, Consumer Business Services (CBS), plumbing industry training organisations and the Local Government Association. Industry Communication

Communication activities include the

conducting of ten (I0) Technical

Roadshows within the metropolitan and

regional areas in conjunction with the

Plumbing Industry Association. These

Roadshows provided the plumbing

industry with updates to the Plumbing

Code of Australia and the AS/NZS

3500 Plumbing and Drainage Standard

and further highlighted information

associated with the regulation of on-

site plumbing installations.

Rob Faunt, Technical Regulator

August 2014


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The Office of the Technical Regulator

The Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) is independent of the plumbing industry and the water industry entities (privately-owned distribution and retail services). The OTR comprises 45 FTE’s (directly employed) within the Energy Markets and Programs Division of the Department of State Development (DSD). Of this number there are 16.4 full-time equivalent positions assigned to the Plumbing Section of the OTR.

Administration, safety promotion and legal support functions are shared within the Electrical and Gas Branches of the OTR.

The Technical Regulator upholds the safety of the community by enforcing safety measures and technical standards that apply to on-site property plumbing installations. These safety and technical measures aim to minimise the health risk associated with plumbing related activities. To fulfil this responsibility, the Technical Regulator carries out a wide range of activities. These responsibilities and activities are detailed in further sections of this report.

The Technical Regulator plays an important role in the development and monitoring of applicable national safety and technical standards and codes. The Technical Regulator also provides technical support and advice on matters relevant to the water industry to the Minister for Water and the River Murray, and facilitates discussion with industry participants to achieve the best possible outcome for South Australia.

The regulation of on-site plumbing installations ensures that they are designed, constructed, maintained/operated in a satisfactory manner, and comply with the objectives and performance requirements of the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA).

The flow chart in Appendix 1 summarises how the Technical Regulator fulfils his obligations under the Water Industry Act 2012 and Water Industry Regulations 2012.

Section 1: Plumbing Acts, Regulations, Standards and Scheme

The Water Industry Act 2012 and Water Industry Regulations 2012 provide the legislative framework for the regulation of the water industry and the plumbing industry in South Australia.

1.1 Standard

The Technical Regulator has issued a Plumbing Standard under Sections 66 and 67 of the Water Industry Act 2012 (Refer Appendix 2).

Water Industry Act

NCC Volume 3- Plumbing Code of Australia

Referenced Standards

Figure 2.1 for plumbing regulation under the Water Industry Act.

1.2 South Australian residential water heater requirements

Since July 2008, the types of water heaters installed in South Australian homes have been required to be low emission water heaters such as high efficiency gas, solar or electric heat pump systems, and outlets connected to the water heater water have been required to be efficient.

Following a review, new requirements commenced in January 2014 which are designed to improve affordability, on a lifetime basis to residential homes.

The new requirements were issued as part of the Plumbing Standard published by the Technical Regulator pursuant to sections 66 and 67 of the Water Industry Act 2012. They replace the SA Water Direction dated 18 June 2009, which was issued under the Waterworks Act 1932.

As from 9 January 2014, water heaters installed in South Australian homes are required to comply with the South Australian Water Heater Installation Requirements. This requirement covers water heaters serving established Class 1a buildings, established Class 1b buildings or single dwellings in established Class 2 buildings in South Australia.

1.3 Scheme for Plumbing Certificates of Compliance

The Scheme for plumbing Certificates of Compliance has been established by the Technical Regulator under Section 69(2) of the Water Industry Act 2012 (Refer Appendix 3)



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Section 2: Regulatory Reform

2.1 Technical Standards

The Technical Regulator is represented on a number of joint Australian and New Zealand Standards Committees that deal with plumbing issues and plays an important role in developing and maintaining these Standards. The Technical Regulator is further represented on the following Committees and Forums:

2.1.1 Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) – National Construction Code

Series (NCC)

The National Construction Code Series (NCC) is an initiative of the Council of Australian Governments developed to incorporate all on-site construction requirements into a single code. Building regulation is covered in Volumes 1 and 2 – the Building Code of Australia (BCA), Volume 3 covers plumbing regulation – the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). The NCC is model regulation, developed by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and takes effect through legislation of the States and Territories which administer and enforce building and plumbing regulation. The NCC is drafted in a performance format, for both building and plumbing.

Figure 2-1 Plumbing Code of Australia Structure

2.1.2 Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Plumbing Codes Committee

(PCC)

The PCC is the ABCB’s peak plumbing technical advisory body. The PCC is a valuable national forum for regulatory authorities and industry to consider technical matters relevant to plumbing regulation reform and plays an active role in assisting the Board in meeting its obligations under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Guidelines and the relevant Inter-government Agreement.

The PCC operates in alignment with the ABCB’s Building Codes Committee (BCC) to ensure a coordinated approach to building and plumbing regulatory reform. The ABCB is reviewing the WaterMark Scheme for the approval of plumbing products and materials. The WaterMark Scheme has been an integral component of the Plumbing Code of


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Australia and has significantly contributed to ensuring that plumbing installations are safe and that plumbing products are fit for their intended purpose. The review of the scheme presents opportunities to further refine and enhance its effectiveness and efficiency.

Figure 2-2: The plumbing industry in South Australia is regulated under the Water Industry Act 2012

Figure 2-3: The National Construction Code Series and AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage Standard


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2.1.3 Plumbing Regulators of Australia (PRA)

The National Plumbing Regulators Forum (NPRF) met in Adelaide in March 2014 to discuss various issues relating to the regulation of plumbing throughout Australia. With the transfer of the function of developing the Plumbing Code of Australia the NPRF identified a number of plumbing matters that would remain under the jurisdiction of the plumbing regulators. It was decided that regulators should continue to respond to plumbing related technological issues by:

Identifying and assessing the risks posed by plumbing and drainage work. These include but may not be limited to risks to public health and safety, consumer and environmental protection.

Identifying, developing, reviewing and advising on general policy matters, legislation, regulatory strategies, reviews and safety promotions and adopting a consistent approach to the interpretation of the technical standards.

Interpreting aspects of relevant standards and developing technical Advisory Notes that clarify the interpretation of “deemed to satisfy” provisions of various standards.

The National Plumbing Regulators, through the project called the ‘ASFlow Project’, conducted

research into scientific methodologies and processes to assess, predict and improve plumbing

and drainage system performance. This research involves trialling various low flow Water

Closets for drain line performance and assessing the effects of ‘Struvite’ on urinal plumbing

installations.

The OTR’s preliminary discussions with Tonsley TAFE in regards to the above matter have

now advanced to a stage where Tonsley TAFE have agreed to the installation of a number of

test rigs to validate the performance of a variety of stack installations to ensure they comply

with the deemed to satisfy provisions of AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage standard. It is

envisaged that students will construct the installations and support the monitoring of the

installations. The findings of the research will be reported to the WS-014 Standards Committee

for consideration when the relevant standards are amended.

2.1.4 Master Builders Association (MBA) Technical Advisory Committee

Monthly meetings with the MBA provide the OTR with the opportunity to provide the building industry with updates on Plumbing Regulatory matters including those in relation to the National Construction Code Volume Three (Plumbing Code of Australia), and the associated deemed to satisfy provisions. At the May 2014 MBA meeting the OTR presented an overview of the requirements to provide backflow prevention in the form of a single check testable device on all fire service installations. This resulted from consultation with the plumbing industry to ensure compliance with the performance requirements as set out in the National Construction Code Volume 3 have been met.

Interaction with the building industry enables the OTR to keep abreast of issues related to building construction that affect plumbing design and overall plumbing system performance.

2.1.5 Environmental Health Australia (SA Branch)- Wastewater Special

Interest Group

The Wastewater Group consisting officers from the State-wide Environmental Health (EHO), Department of Health and Ageing ( SA Health) and an the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) established a forum to share information relating to plumbing regulatory matters pertaining to the ‘On-site Wastewater Code’, the South Australian Public Health Act 2011 and associated regulations. These quarterly meetings provided the OTR with the opportunity to discuss clarification and updates of the National Construction Code and AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and Drainage Standard. The OTR has recently undertaken the provision of technical and on-site training for the EHO’s officers with the first of fifteen sessions being conducted at Onkaparinga Council


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offices. The training provided the EHO officers with information on plumbing standards and the opportunity to ask questions on technical issues that arise day to day within their areas of responsibilities. This training session also included visiting various onsite plumbing installations. .

Section 3: Plumbing Compliance

A licensed plumbing contractor must give due notice to the OTR where plumbing and the equipment installed is connected to SA Water’s water/sewerage infrastructure. The Technical Regulator’s role is to audit compliance of a percentage of those on-site plumbing installations booked for an inspection.

For the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014:

1,134 plumbing installations failed to meet compliance standards, required rectification and had to be rebooked by plumbing contractors for reinspection

9 interviews were conducted relating to compliance breeches 9 general plumbing non-compliance notices were issued. 1 expiation notice was issued

3.1 Plumbing Certificates of Compliance

The Plumbing Certificate of Compliance( CoC) is used by the plumbing industry to verify that plumbing and equipment (including water services, sanitary plumbing and drainage systems) complies with the Water Industry Act 2012 ( the Act) including regulations thereunder as applicable, and that the work falls within the terms of the plumbing contractor’s licence and plumbing worker’s registration. During the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, the Office of the Technical Regulator issued 683 CoC books to plumbing contractors totalling 34,150 individual certificates (50 CoC’s per book). Refer chart below

Figure 3-1: Plumbing Certificate of Compliance books statistics

The Plumbing Certificate of Compliance books are sold for a charge of $24.20 per book to the plumbing industry through Service SA’s customer contact centres located throughout South


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Australia and by the Plumbing Industry Association of SA Inc. (A sample of the Plumbing Certificate of Compliance form is shown in Appendix 4).

3.2 Plumbing Re-inspections

The OTR Plumbing Installations Officers have been undertaking a large number of re-inspections of plumbing installations that have been either non-compliant with the Plumbing Standard or not ready for inspection at the agreed time. To endeavour to reduce the number of re-inspections the OTR will be introducing a $98.00 service fee which will be issued to plumbing contractors when the OTR Plumbing Installation Officers are required to conduct onsite re-inspections. This will allow the OTR to utilise staff resources more effectively and efficiently. Regulation 35(1) (a) of the Water Industry Regulations 2012: If a person’s acts or omissions require the Technical Regulator (or a person acting on behalf of the Technical Regulator) to undertake a reinspection of any work, or to re-attend at any place for any other reason, in connection with the operation or requirements of a standard under Part 7 of the Act… the person is liable to pay a fee of an amount equal to the reasonable costs of the reinspection or re-attendance. The OTR has advised the plumbing industry of this re-inspection fee by issuing an Industry Advisory Note and an article in the Regulation Round Up magazine. This initiative is supported by the Plumbing Industry Association (PIA).

3.3 Non Compliance Notices

Regulation 41 of the Water Industry Regulations 2012 provides for the expiation of breaches of the Water Industry Act 2012 enabling the Technical Regulator to enforce compliance with regulatory requirements. Of the nine interviews conducted by the OTR for non-compliant plumbing installations during the 2013-2014 financial year, only one (1) required an expiation notice to be issued.

3.4 Plumbing Installation Audits

The OTR manages a plumbing inspection booking system called EMPIA (Electronic Management of Plumbing Inspections and Audits) that plumbers use to advise the OTR of their plumbing installation. The OTR primarily used this system to schedule the audit and investigations by an OTR Plumbing Installation Officer. Tables 4.1 and 4.2 show EMPIA statistics from plumbing audits and related site meetings performed from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014

Job Category:

Commercial /Industrial Jobs audited

Above ground sanitary 763

Building plan approvals 555

Drainage 902

Final inspections 84

Fire services 250


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Hot & Cold water 202

Recycled water in wall 242

Recycled water in ground 135

On-Site meetings 290

Trade waste installations 595

Under floor plumbing 675

Total inspections 4,693

Table 4-1: Commercial and Industrial plumbing inspections

Job Category:

Residential Jobs audited

Above ground sanitary 572

Drainage 1487

Building plan approvals 2

Final inspections 22

Fire services 8

Hot & Cold water 509

Recycled water in- wall 579

Recycled water in- ground 485

On-Site meetings 54

Trade waste installations 4

Under floor plumbing 1,501

Total inspections 5,223

Table 4-2: Residential plumbing inspections


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Section 4: Plumbing Audits

On-site plumbing installations are audited pursuant to a Standard published by the Technical Regulator (Refer Appendix 2).This Standard has adopted sections of the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). All plumbing installations must meet the performance requirements and objectives of the PCA.

4.1 Plumbing and Drainage

Plumbing and drainage audits include:

Sanitary plumbing and drainage in ground sewer drainage and waste pipework grey water plumbing and drainage Multi-storey above-ground sanitary stack systems Pumped sewer pipework and equipment

Water services Cold water pipework Fire services Recycled water Non-drinking water systems Treated grey water systems Cross-connection control and backflow prevention

Heated Water services Heated water pipework Water heater general requirements Solar water heater requirements Water temperature

Figure 5-1 Example of a Trade Waste Plumbing installation


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4.2 Regional Plumbing audits

The OTR Plumbing Section appointed a regional Plumbing Installation Inspector on 18 November 2013 to conduct audits on plumbing installations in the northern regions of South Australia. The Plumbing Installations Inspector is based at Port Pirie and conducts plumbing audits in the Mid North, Yorke Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula. Regional towns south east of the Adelaide metropolitan area connected to SA Water’s sewerage/ water infrastructure are managed on a programed rotation basis by the Adelaide Plumbing Installations Inspectors. The Department for Health and Ageing (DHA) and the South Australian Local Councils are responsible for auditing plumbing installations where the plumbing and equipment are not connected to SA Water’s sewerage/ water infrastructure.

Table 5.1 Regional Site inspections

377

588

1062

345

221

Regional site inspections

Barrossa & Murray

Fleurieu & Adelaide Hills

Northern

South East

Port Lincoln


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Section 5: Non Drinking Water (Recycled Water) Non drinking water (Recycled water) is water that has been treated to a satisfactory level so that it can be provided for reuse through a reticulated water system by a water entity. Properties supplied with a dual water supply, consisting of a drinking water supply used for personal hygiene usage and a non-drinking water supply used for garden watering and toilet flushing. Under current license approvals by Health SA for the supply of recycled water there is a requirement for recycled water system installations to have a be inspected for compliance by the OTR. Non-drinking water services must be installed so that the drinking water system cannot be contaminated by a cross-connection of supplies, and all the objectives and performance requirements of Section B3 of the Plumbing Code of Australia are met. In June 2014 the OTR advised all water entities and the plumbing industry of their responsibilities for supplying and installing non-drinking water systems. In particular the licensed water entities’ responsibility is to ensure the plumbing installations comply with AS/NZS 3500.1 and that a cross connection/ separation test is conducted prior to commissioning the non-drinking supply connection to the property. In addition water industry entities were advised in June 2014 that the OTR requires all Water Entities to prepare and provide a safety reliability maintenance and technical management plan (SRMTMP) for water infrastructure. The OTR will periodically audit the SRMTMP plans which will include requirements associated with non-drinking water cross connection/separation test documentation. Municipal areas which have a Non-Drinking Water service connected must have appropriate backflow prevention devices installed as close as practical to the Drinking Water (DW) metered services to the site. Drinking water must be supplied to drinking fountain/taps and personal hygiene use facilities. The OTR has assisted Local Councils with compliance issues relative to the requirements necessary to provide protection of the public drinking water network.

Wetlands Aquifer Recharge (MAR) system

On-site non-drinking water in-ground and in-wall water service installations from the point of supply to the point of discharge are monitored and regulated by the OTR. Non-drinking water service pipe-work is not to be covered or backfilled until it has passed a compulsory inspection or audit. In the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 the Technical Regulator audited 1353 non-drinking water installations. The use of non-drinking water schemes in new developments is increasing in Australia as jurisdictions and communities deal with water conservation and water efficiency initiatives.


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Using recycled and alternate water supplies is reducing the stress on the traditional drinking water sources including the River Murray and local reservoirs.

Figure 5-1: Non Drinking Water (RW) installation audits July 1 2013 to June 30 2014

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Jul

Au

g

Sep

t

OC

T

No

v

De

c

Jan

Feb

Mar

Ap

r

May Jun

Non-Drinking Water Installation Audits

Non Drinking (RW) audits


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Section 6: Fire Fighting Water Services

Table 6-2: Fire installation audits 1st July 2013 to 30th June 2014

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Fire-fighting water service installations must meet the objectives

and performance requirements of the Plumbing Code of

Australia (PCA).

The OTR has introduced an audit process to ensure that all fire

service installations comply with AS/NZS 3500.1, AS 2419.1

and AS 2441 where applicable.

The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, South

Australian Country Fire Service and the Fire Industry

Association were consulted prior to implementing this new

process.

All plumbing contractors installing fire service installations

connected directly to SA Water’s reticulated water infrastructure

must book the installation for an audit via the OTR booking

system. In the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 the

Technical Regulator audited 258 Fire Service installations.

The OTR ensures backflow prevention devices on fire services

are installed to meet the requirements of the PCA and provide

protection to the Water Entity drinking water networks.

Unmetered dedicated fire services must incorporate a

WaterMarked single check testable backflow prevention device

installed as close as practicable to the connection to the Water

Entity’s water network.

Figure 6.1: Fire Booster assembly with WaterMarked single check testable

backflow prevention valve and resilient seated gearbox operated isolation valves


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Section 7: Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention

All water supply systems shall be designed, installed, and maintained so as to prevent contaminants from being introduced into the water supply system. (AS/NZS 3500.1:2003 Water services). Where a risk to the water quality has been identified within a property, backflow prevention devices shall be installed to ensure hazards on a customer’s property do not contaminate the water infrastructure network. The OTR Plumbing Section manages a backflow prevention register (approximately 25,000 backflow prevention devices) that have been installed to property owner’s internal water system/s connected to SA Water’s water reticulation network. The OTR has developed an IT (CRM) based data program to manage the backflow prevention device register and the annual retest requirements.

7.1 Circumstances where backflow is more likely to occur

When there is a drop in pressure in a network water main, for example when a Water Entity is undertaking repairs to a water main in the street.

When the water pressure at the property is higher than at the main, for example if there is a pump connected to a property’s internal water supply or if 2 water meters are interconnected from independent Water Entity water mains set at dissimilar pressures.

7.2 Circumstances where cross-connections occur

Where a drinking water system is interconnected to a non-drinking water system.

Where a drinking water system is connected to equipment containing hazardous

substances such as those mentioned in AS/NZS 3500.1 section 8.3.

7.3 Examples of contaminants that can enter network water mains

Sewage (cross-connected and pumped at high pressure)

Fertilisers, herbicides and weedicides injected into irrigation systems connected to

on-site drinking water pipework (this applies to residential and commercial irrigation

systems)

Chemical injection unit systems & dispensers (high toxicity) connected to on-site

drinking water pipework.

Photographic developer mixing

Dental consoles

Sewage waste back siphoning from bidets

Hoses attached to toilets back siphoning

Mortuary autopsy table wash down facilities

The OTR is vigilant in managing and monitoring SA Water’s drinking water systems to ensure

the safety of the public’s drinking water supply is maintained. The Technical Regulator

enforces the requirements of the Water Industry Act 2012 through regular auditing of on-site

plumbing water service installations and instructs property owners to engage licensed

plumbers to install, test and maintain backflow prevention devices on their on-site plumbing

systems as required.


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Figure 7.1 Common residential/Commercial Subsurface irrigation system using Trifluralin

(Herbicide)

Figure 7.2 An example of a ‘venturi’ chemical dosing unit connected to network drinking water supply (this dosing unit was disconnected from the drinking water supply south of Adelaide)

Pesticide

supply

Drinking water

supply!

Mixing

tube!


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7.4 Backflow and Cross-Connection Incidents in South Australia

A backflow prevention device prevents the reverse water flow from a potentially polluted source

into the drinking water supply system.

Backflow prevention devices are available in three hazard ratings: high, medium and low.

Due to the nature of the hazard, high and medium hazard devices must be testable. Testable backflow prevention devices and registered break tanks must be commissioned and tested annually by a licensed plumber.

During the period from the 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 only one major backflow incident

occurred. This incident was associated with a northern regional industrial property. The OTR

and SA Water worked closely with the relevant property owners/representatives to mitigate the

risk to SA Water’s drinking water network by requiring the following measures to be introduced:

The property owner/s to install appropriate backflow prevention device/s on the

drinking water supply services connected to SA Water’s infrastructure

Commitment from the industry operator to undertake an assessment of the onsite

water services within their property to identify any potential risks to the drinking water

network (internally and externally, including fire services)

Note; the OTR requested that the offending water supply service/connection involved in this

incident was immediately locked off until the appropriate backflow devices were installed.

The OTR continues to be involved with resolving outstanding issues associated with the

complex and aged water systems linked with the relevant properties involved in this incident.

Figure 7.3 The drinking water metered supply that was found to be recording backwards (no backflow prevention device installed)

Nu

mb

er o

f re

ceiv

ed r

equ

ests

Section 8: Property Interest Reporting

The OTR is required to disclose any encumbrance notices recorded against a property prior to sale or on a change of ownership of a property, as required under Section 12 of the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Act 1994, Regulation 16 of the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Regulations 2010 and regulation 12 of the Water Industry Regulations 2012. The Technical Regulator provides interested persons with encumbrance information relating to a plumbing non-compliance issue or backflow prevention device installation registered on the OTR’s IT (CRM) system. The OTR provides this information through Property Interest Report (PIR) supplied by the Land Services Group (LSG) on the sale or change of ownership of a property. The OTR must respond to PIR requests within seven days.

8.1 Encumbrances

Maintaining and monitoring encumbrances is a role that was transferred from SA Water to the OTR on 10 April, 2013. The majority of encumbrances managed by the OTR relate to backflow prevention device/s installations (approximately two-thirds of all encumbrances) with the remaining relating to non-compliant plumbing installations, including internal water services/ sewer drains crossing allotment boundaries. Encumbrance information is updated when properties are sold, subdivided or when the information on the encumbrance is changed or no longer relevant to the specific property. Where an encumbrance has been issued against a property for a non-compliant plumbing installation, the encumbrance will remain on the property until the non-compliant plumbing has been rectified.

The OTR processed a total of 1,055 PIR requests and 1,133 Change of Ownership updates.

The 2013-2014 financial year statistics are shown in figure 8.1.

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

PIR's

Change of Ownership

40

20

0

Figure 8-1: Property Interest report monthly statistics for the 2013-2014 financial year.



24

Section 9: Consultations, Communication and Education

9.1 Consultation

The Office of the Technical Regulator provides information relating to Plumbing Standards and Codes and information on all the regulatory functions of the Plumbing Section. Consultation included the following organisations and groups:

Fire Industry Association (FIA)

Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS)

Country Fire Service (CFS)

Plumbing Industry Association (PIA)

Building Consultants Forum

Master Builders Technical Advisory Committee

Australian Hydraulic Association South Australia Chapter

Hindmarsh Plumbing Services.

Department of Health and Ageing

ESCOSA

Planning SA

TAFE SA

Peer Training

Backflow Prevention Association of Australia

9.2 Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC)

The Technical Regulator is establishing a Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC)

which will include representatives of:

Water Industry Entities

Contractor and employee associations involved in the water industry

Local Government

State vocational training organisations

Department of Health and Ageing

Consumer Business Services

The Hydraulics Association of South Australia (AHSCA)


25

Appendix 1: OTR Functional Structure

Figure A 1-1: Function Structure of the Plumbing Section within the OTR

Minister for Water and the River Murray

Technical Regulator

Water Industry Act 2012

Gas

Gas Act 1997,

Energy Products (Safety

and Efficiency) Act

2000 (Refer to Gas Annual report for

further information)

Plumbing

Water Industry Act

2012

Electrical

Electricity Act 1996,

Energy Products (Safety

and Efficiency) Act

2000 (Refer to Electrical Annual

report for further information)

On-Site Plumbing

Installations,

Backflow

prevention,

Recycled Water

and Fire Services

The OTR is represented on

the Australian Building

Codes Board Committees,

AS/NZS 3500 WS-014

Committee, AS 2845 WS-

023 Committee.

The Technical Regulator has

established a Plumbing

Technical Advisory

Committee

Plumbing

Encumbrance and

associated land

division referrals to

Land Services

group

Liaison with

ESCOSA on

technical issues

associated with

Water Industry

Entities


26

Appendix 2: Plumbing Standard

WATER INDUSTRY ACT 2012

Plumbing Standard

Technical Regulator

This Standard is published by the Technical Regulator pursuant to sections 66 and 67 of the Water Industry Act 2012 (the Act). This Standard comes into effect on the date on which it is gazetted. This Standard replaces the Plumbing Standard published in the Gazette on 20 December 2012. For the purposes of section 67(3)(a) of the Act , the work to which section 67(1) of the Act applies is the work referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof. For the purposes of section 67(3)(b) of the Act, the persons to whom section 67(2) of the Act applies are: (1) if a licensed plumbing contractor (under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995) or licensed building work contractor (under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995) has employed or engaged a

registered plumbing worker to personally carry out plumbing-to the licensed plumbing contractor or licensed building work contractor; or

(2) if a registered plumbing worker who personally carries out plumbing has not been employed or engaged to do so by a licensed plumbing contractor or licensed building work contractor- to the registered plumbing worker. A person who designs, installs, inspects, alters, repairs, maintains, removes, disconnects or decommissions equipment and plumbing within the meaning of the Water Industry Act 2012, including plumbing or equipment on the customer’s side of any connection point, must comply with: (a) Relevant components of the National Construction Code Volume 3 (Plumbing Code of Australia) (including any standards referred to therein) as amended from time to time, as follows: (i) Section A General Provisions, Parts AO, A1, A2 and A3;

(ii) Section B Water Services, Parts B1, B2, B3 and B4;

(iii) Section C Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage Systems, Parts C1 and C2;

(iv) Section F On-Site Wastewater Systems Parts F1 and F2;

(v) Section G Materials and Products Certification and Authorisation Part G1;

(vi) Appendix South Australia- Sections A-F. (b) The requirements outlined in the document South Australian Water Heater Installation Requirements

prepared by the Technical Regulator, as amended from time to time, which may be viewed at http://sa.gov.au/otrplumbing The Technical Regulator may grant an exemption from this Standard, or specified provisions of this Standard (with or without conditions) as the Technical Regulator considers appropriate. Dated 6 January 2014 R. FAUNT TECHNICAL REGULATOR


27

Appendix 3: Scheme for Plumbing Certificates of

Compliance

WATER INDUSTRY ACT 2012

TECHNICAL REGULATOR

Scheme under section 69(2)

Plumbing Certificate of Compliance 1. Title

This Scheme is established by the Technical Regulator under section 69(2) of the Water Industry Act 2012 (the Act) and may be cited as the Plumbing Certificate of Compliance Scheme (hereinafter also referred to as the “Scheme”).

2. Commencement

This Scheme will come into operation on 1 January 2013. 3. Interpretation

In this Scheme:

(a) Certificate of Compliance means the Plumbing Certificate of Compliance approved by the Technical Regulator;

(b) contractor means a plumbing contractor licensed under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 (PGE Act);

(c) equipment means has the same meaning as in section 4(1) of the Act. (d) Former Certificate of Compliance means the Certificate of Compliance approved

by SA Water as in operation immediately prior to 1 January 2013; (e) plumbing has the same meaning as in section 4(1) of the Act. (f) SA Water means the South Australian Water Corporation; (g) worker means a plumbing worker registered under the PGE Act.

4. Application

(1) The Certificate of Compliance must be used by contractors and workers.

(2) The Certificate of Compliance must be used to verify that equipment and plumbing (including water services, sanitary plumbing and drainage systems) complies with the Water Industry Act 2012 and/or the Public and Environmental Health Act 1987 including regulations and standards thereunder as applicable, and the work falls within the terms of the contractor’s licence and the worker’s registration.

5. Use of Certificates of Compliance

(1) The Former Certificate of Compliance may be used until and including 30 June 2013, but the copy that was to be provided to SA Water must, instead, be provided to the Office of the Technical Regulator.

(2) The Certificate of Compliance may be used as soon as it has been published, and

must be used on and after 1 July 2013.


28

6. Filling in the Certificate of Compliance The worker and the contractor must both sign the Certificate of Compliance where indicated, in accordance with the directions contained in it. All relevant information on the forms must be provided. The contractor must ensure that instructions (including “Internal sanitary drain as constructed” drawings and additional information as required) outlined in the book of official forms published under the authority of the Technical Regulator are complied with. 7. Copies of Certificate of Compliance Copies of the Certificate of Compliance must be provided to the Technical Regulator and the customer within 7 days and the relevant Council within 28 days. One copy must be retained by the contractor for not less than 5 years. 8. Official forms Subject to clause 5(1) hereof, a Certificate of Compliance must be completed using only an official form published or produced under the authority of the Technical Regulator. 9. Variation or revocation of Scheme This Scheme may be varied or revoked by the Technical Regulator. Dated this 21 day of December 2012 R. FAUNT TECHNICAL REGULATOR


29

Appendix 4: Example of Plumbing Certificate of Compliance

(CoC) Form

Figure A 4-2: Example of Plumbing Certificate of Compliance


30

Appendix 5: Example of Internal Drain as Constructed

Drawing

Operating Statement


31

Appendix 6: Operating Statement

Operating Statement for the year ended 30 June 2014 In the 2013-2014 financial year, pursuant to Section 24 of the Water Industry Act 2012, the licence revenue received for the OTR Plumbing function amounted to $2.434 million. This revenue was used to recoup the recurrent costs of the Office of the Technical Regulator. Total recurrent costs for the year amounted to $2.2 million. After allowing for other income there was an operating net surplus of $0.218 million.

Operating Revenues $

Intra-government Transfers 2 434 000

Approval fees 154

Other revenues 19 848

TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES 2 454 002

Operating Expenses Salaries and Wages 1 394 401

Goods and Services 841 477

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 2 235 878

TRANSFER TO EQUITY 218 123

Opening Equity – 1 July 2013 535 880

Operating Surplus – 2013-2014 218 123

Closing Equity – 30 June 2014 754 003

Represented By:

Other Assets (Net of Depreciation) 0

Cash 754 003

Total 754 003


32

Appendix 7: Glossary and Abbreviations

ABCB Australian Building Codes Board

AHSCA The Association of Hydraulics Services Consultants Aust. Inc. (SA )

AIBS

ASFlow

Australian Institute of building surveyors

Australasian Scientific Review of Reduction of Flows on Plumbing and Drainage Systems

AS/NZS 3500

BCC

Australian/ New Zealand plumbing and drainage standard

Building Codes Committee

CFS

COAG

Country Fire Service

Council of Australian Governments

CRM

DHA

DMITRE

DSD

DTEI

DW

EHO

Data based management program

Department for Health and Ageing

Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy

Department of State Development

Department of Transport , Energy and Infrastructure

Drinking Water

Environmental Health Officer

EMPIA Electronic Management of Plumbing Inspection and Audit

Equipment Includes (a) pipes, fittings and apparatus; and

FIA

(b) any component of any equipment

Fire Industry Association

ESCOSA Essential Services Commission of South Australia

LSG Land Services Group

MBA Master Builders Association

MFS Metropolitan Fire Service

NCC

NDW

National Construction Code

Non-Drinking Water

PRA Plumbing Regulators of Australia


33

OTR Office of the Technical Regulator

PCA Plumbing Code of Australia

PIA Plumbing Industry Association

PIR Property interest reports

Plumbing (a) water plumbing work, sanitary plumbing work or draining work on the

customer’s side of any connection point.

(b) any other work brought within the ambit of this definition by the

regulations

PTAC Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee

RPZ Reduced pressure zone device

SA Water South Australian Water Corporation

TAFE Technical and Further Education

The Act The Water Industry Act 2012

report of the technical regulator · 11 waymouth street, adelaide 5000 postal address: department...

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