Australian Plumbing - Spring 2020

plumbing AUSTRALIAN

S P R I N G

Let’s talk about health Mandatory CPD for Vic Get your business seen Your industry magazine

2 0 2 0

NEW MACVALVE WATERLESS TRAPS

SELF-CLOSING, ONE-WAY, WATERLESS TRAP When small space is a big issue When installation space is an issue and traditional traps just don’t fit, Abey’s McAlpine Self-Closing, One-Way, Waterless Waste Valve is the answer. A simple solution that eliminates awkward and time consuming fabrication work. | Compact design can be fitted in horizontal or vertical position. | Membrane opens under water pressure to allow discharge to flow freely, then closes to seal out odours and gases. | Macvalves offer a solution to working in confined spaces where traditional traps just won’t fit.

Example below of MacValve-2 installed in pedestal vanity.

Abey’s range of MacValves include:

MACVALVE-2 1 ½" BSP Inlet and Compression Outlet Self Sealing Trap

MACVALVE-5 1 ½" Universal Inlet and Outlet Self Sealing Trap

MACVALVE-20 2" Universal Inlet and Outlet Self Sealing Trap

ABEY AUSTRALIA LTD | VIC 03 9747 7777 | NSW 02 8572 8572 QLD 07 3805 7000 | WA 08 9446 8255 | SA 1800 809 143

abeytrade.com.au

TCC 20371

Abey Australia manufacture and source the best of breed plumbing products the world has to offer. Their range of Fantastic Plastic plumbing products provide plumbers superior quality plumbing solutions to save them time, space and money.

30

YEARS

Go with the brand Australian Plumbers trust. t Built to last t No power required t No battery replacement required www.bosch-climate.com.au

t No flow restrictor required t Pilot and Hydro models available

Contents

Qualified gasfitters are the only people who should be servicing gas appliances

8

16

Features

Regulars

8 After COVID-19

20 Snapshot around the nation

There may be some silver linings

34 Marsh Insurance

10 WaterMark or not

36 Member news

15/306 Albert Street Brunswick VIC 3056 australianplumbingindustry.com.au

Confusion aplenty when it comes to compliance

38 Product news

Subscription changes

12 Start with safety Smoke and other toxins can be just as damaging as fire

14 Get behind CPD in Victoria One step closer to mandatory CPD for plumbers

16 Our industry at a crossroad Facing serious skill shortages

30 Australian Plumbing Industry magazine

To change your details or to unsubscribe, call 1800 133 871 or email info@plumber.com.au Print post number: PP100019076

COVID-19 has changed everything, and Plumbmaster has found safety the best asset

See page 32

26 Get your business seen Time to up your digital game

Contacts Publisher The Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) E australianplumbing@plumber.com.au

Advertising Marc Wilson T 0419 107 143 E advertising@plumber.com.au

Suppliers People in the plumbing industry are not immune to mental health issues, particularly with the impact of COVID-19. The Bluehat initiative is just one way of raising awareness.

Full story, page 24.

Disclaimer API is published for the plumbing industry and Master Plumbers Members by the Master Plumbers’ and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) ABN: 56 296 473 997. Responsibility for comment in respect of elections in Master Plumbers is taken by Peter Daly of 15/306 Albert Street, Brunswick, VIC, 3056. Advertising: No responsibility is accepted by the publisher for accuracy of information contained in advertisements in API. Publication of any advertisements does not constitute endorsement by the publisher of any product, nor warrant its suitability. Advertisements are published as submitted by advertisers. Copyright: No part of this magazine may be produced without the publisher’s written permission Contributors: The views of external contributors and advertisers are not necessarily the views of Master Plumbers. Master Plumbers supports green printing initiatives. This magazine has been printed on FSC® certified paper using vegetable based inks by Southern Colour under ISO 14001 environmental certification.

4 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

saltcreative.com.au southerncolour.com.au ddmail.com.au

New HiLux Awaken Your Unbreakable Bolder look, smoother drive and more powerful.

Pre-production model shown

New HiLux invites you to awaken your unbreakable and experience the legendary performance, durability and bold design. With more power1 and more torque1, the enhanced best-selling HiLux engine2 is stronger and more capable than ever. An upgraded suspension system builds upon Hilux’s legendary off-road capabilities, offering drivers superior comfort and handling even in the harshest conditions.

It’s the ute built for real Aussie businesses. Whatever’s around the corner, HiLux is ready for the challenge.

To find out more, visit your Toyota Fleet Specialist or call 1800 444 847

toyota.com.au/fleet

1

2.8L Diesel AT variants. 2 Rogue and Rugged X models.

Master Plumbers Association membership details required to redeem Gold Fleet Discounts.

T2020-014816 MPA VIC 06/20

Easy Insurance for Hard Working Tradies Competitive premiums No height restrictions Errors and Omissions (Products) cover Meets Victorian Building Authority insurance requirements Get a quote online quickly Get your Certificate of Currency straight after you have successfully arranged insurance Visit www.marshplumbers.com.au and arrange your Plumbers Public Liability Insurance online.

Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 31 081 358 303, AFSL 238 369)(Marsh) arrange this insurance and are not an insurer. When arranging Public Liability Insurance, Marsh act under binding authority on behalf of Pacific Underwriting Corporation Pty Ltd (ABN 77 091 225 535, AFSL 237 270), who act as agent of the insurer, Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL 239 687). This brochure contains general information, does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs and may not suit your personal circumstances. For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the covers and before making any decision about whether to acquire the product, refer to the specific policy wordings available from Marsh. The Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia receives a financial benefit when an insurance policy is arranged by Marsh LCPA 20/479 S20-1268

Copyright Š 2020 Marsh Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

We encourage members to keep checking in at our dedicated COVID portal

Welcome

from the President and CEO

National licencing needs industry-led regulations and training The National Licencing scheme for

holders vary greatly between

and designers to have a higher level

plumbing has become a hot topic

jurisdictions. Although our various

of design knowledge and experience

once again. The Australian Building

licensing systems protect the health

than they currently hold and this

Codes Board has released a

and safety of the people within

must also be thought through in

discussion paper on a National

each jurisdiction, they are often

any changes.

Registration Framework for building

incompatible with each other. For

practitioners, and the Federal

example, in Victoria, plumbers work

Treasurer wants to introduce a new

under a system of self-certification,

national occupational licensing

a requirement to lodge certificates

scheme (including plumbing) across

and hold appropriate insurance

Australia from January 2021.

cover. This differs to other states

Master Plumbers has long argued for greater consistency and uniformity for plumbing occupations across Australia. So, we support these initiatives.

But it is with a sense of déjà vu, we reiterate that any national licensing or registration scheme cannot become a ‘race to the bottom’. There are inevitable risks to the safety and protection of the community if changes are not implemented thoughtfully and in consultation with our industry.

While we acknowledge that the current mutual recognition between states and arrangements for those who work on both sides of a border could be improved, primarily through better communication between jurisdictional regulators, we do not accept that means throwing open the borders without the requisite regulatory oversight.

and territories, especially those that work under a mandatory inspection

We maintain that although reducing red tape to simplify business operations and improve labour-force mobility may seem attractive to some, it should never be undertaken in a way that comprises public safeguards.

process. And in terms of coverage,

Over the course of 2020, plumbing

few jurisdictions have Roofing and

businesses across Australia have

Mechanical Services plumbing within

been impacted significantly by

their scope of plumbing work as is

COVID-19, none more so than

the case in Victoria.

in Melbourne, which has been

It is imperative that we have a

operating under stringent Stage 4

better model than currently exists.

Restrictions. We are incredibly

There are licensed plumbers (Scott

grateful for the support and best

for example) who need to hold an

wishes sent by our colleagues across

individual License in every state of

the country to those contractors

Australia and New Zealand – and

doing it tough.

must pay license fees each year

Master Plumbers has devoted

to each regulator. This does not make sense.

a huge effort to ensuring that members have access to the best

The ABCB proposal is examining

possible advice, information and

design aspects of the building

tools through this ongoing crisis.

industry, including plumbing design.

We encourage members to keep

Licenced plumbers generally

checking in at our dedicated COVID

hold requisite qualifications and

portal at plumber.com.au/covid19,

experience to carry out most of the

look out for our email updates

plumbing design that they are likely

and get in touch if you need

to encounter and Master Plumbers

further support.

continues to strongly oppose any

Scott Dowsett

Training and licencing regimes

change which would remove their

across Australia’s states and

capacity to do this. In more complex

territories are inconsistent and this

plumbing systems, there is an

Peter Daly

means the competencies of licence

increasing need for plumbers

CEO, Master Plumbers

President, Master Plumbers

www.plumber.com.au | 7

After COVID-19

The pandemic is forcing many plumbers to pivot and there may be some silver linings to celebrate at the end. Kate Jones reports.

Victoria’s construction industry has pivoted to endure each blow the coronavirus pandemic has dealt out, and the road ahead will continue to bring new assaults.

Latest research shows growth in the industry will slow during the next financial year as the full impact of COVID-19 takes its toll. For plumbers, it means being prepared. Resilience has never been so important.

Data commissioned by industry redundancy fund Incolink shows an estimated decline in economic activity of $291 million (8.6 per cent) during the next financial year, with a predicted loss of more than 2000 jobs in Victoria.

The research, by economic consultants ACIL Allen, shows social distancing is hindering operational efficiency, particularly for high-rise construction, and demand for construction of commercial buildings is set to decline as more businesses embrace working from home and flexible work options.

Changing policies, developed to stem the community spread of COVID-19, have also led to unclear and often conflicting advice with small businesses hardest hit by the confusion.

Federal and state government initiatives such as JobKeeper, HomeBuilder and the creation of Building Victoria’s Recovery Taskforce, which will bring forward more than $1.2 billion of building and development projects are easing the 8 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

Far left: Michael and Karen Tomlinson; left: Tom Lawson and Breanna Szitarity

an increasing number of routine maintenance thanks to less office activity in many buildings.

Geelong plumber Michael Tomlinson, who specialises in maintenance and service work, said there could be upsides in the COVID-19 situation for small businesses like his.

impact and to some extent staving off the threat of industry closure.

But Incolink chief executive Erik Loke said more State Government support was needed to create a reliable pipeline of work into the future.

“We ... think the government should be working out ways to build a bridge, as they keep saying, because there’s large-scale infrastructure projects that employ a bunch of people and take a long time to get started, and a long time to deliver,” he said.

“There’s HomeBuilder and not a lot in between at the moment. We want approvals fast tracked for medium and high-density projects so that we have a better pipeline in residential construction.”

Since mid-March 2020, nearly $5 billion in building and construction packages have been announced by the State Government to stimulate economic activity. But the research points to a new opportunity in social housing stimulus, which may counteract some of the contraction in private demand.

“We would like to see the government seize this opportunity to address some long-standing issues like social housing in Australia and that could form a really good pipeline of work for the industry,” Loke said.

Despite the bleak outlook, there are some opportunities the pandemic has highlighted for the construction sector. The data reports one specialist company performing

“I can see that in about six to 12 months, with a lot more people working from home, it could change some of the homes which are becoming workplaces,” he said.

“Some people might want to set up a home office in the garage and would like a kitchen in there and maybe a toilet, hot water and heating.

“That’s what I’m looking at for the future and we’ve already had a few phone calls regarding that.”

Tomlinson, who works throughout Torquay as well as the wider Geelong area, said the pandemic had definitely decreased his workload. He puts this down to people being cautious about who comes into their homes.

“It has made a big difference,” he said. “At this time of the year we would be five to six weeks booked in advance, but we’re currently down on that, booked to about three weeks in advance,”.

“But we’re steady, we have work and we’re grateful for that.”

Like most tradespeople, being careful with the jobs he takes on and prioritising health protocol are his top priorities.

“Some days you wake up and have a little bit of anxiety because you’re not sure what’s happening,” Tomlinson said.

“But you’ve just got to check to see whether the area you need to work in is having issues and how they might impact us.

“So for example, the other side of

our business is we do drain camera inspection. But with the COVID situation we’ve stopped doing that at the moment, because of the bacteria that they’re saying from the infection could be in the sewers. So we’ll give that a miss for a while.”

“During rapidly evolving situations like COVID-19 many businesses turn to their industry associations to understand the most relevant information, provide support services and advocate on their behalf,” Master Plumbers chief executive Peter Daly said. “Our organisation has been right behind its members since COVID-19 began impacting the plumbing sector at the beginning of the year.

“I think we’ve done our very best to support members through this crisis, through our COVID portal, our regular updates, through some practical resources that help them manage their business and through strong political and sector advocacy.

“Half of the plumbing businesses are either sole traders or small businesses. These guys in particular need support around them and that’s where Master Plumbers comes in.

“Pulling together and guiding members towards online resources has helped more plumbing organisations to strengthen their businesses, Peter said.

“Is this a silver lining to the cloud?

Yes, I think there is,” he said.

“There has been a forced cultural shift in understanding the benefits of technology and collaboration tools that will benefit a lot of businesses and it’s probably forced a lot of businesses to reflect on their business model, everyone from the sole trader up to the massive corporate plumbing companies.

“To understand where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and how they can use that knowledge helps them be better prepared for the future.” www.plumber.com.au | 9

WaterMark There is confusion aplenty for consumers and problems for plumbers when it comes to compliance. Plumber and Master Plumbers’ technical expert Gary Bath explains.

Plumbers often talk about the number and variety of Australian Standards they must comply with when installing water and sanitary drainage work.

However, how many plumbers would have AS/NZS4129 fittings for polyethylene (PE) pipes for pressure applications or AS/NZS4936 air admittance valves (AAVs) for use in sanitary plumbing and drainage systems?

The answer: very few.

Why? Plumbers have been conditioned to refer to WaterMark as the required approval for any products used in a plumbing system.

A fixture, fitting or pipe that carries this symbol or certification details has met the required Australian Standards for use in that installation.

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) licenses and manages the WaterMark scheme and develops the certification requirements for each product that requires WaterMark.

Not all products used for plumbing installations require WaterMark certification. Fixtures such as basins, sinks and baths do not require a WaterMark approval, however the waste outlets used in each of these fixtures does. Other exclusions include evaporative air conditioners,

10 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

bain-maries and domestic dish and clothes washing machines.

Stormwater pipes and fittings also do not require WaterMark certification, but many of these products are still required to meet an Australian Standard specification.

To meet the ‘deemed to satisfy’ requirements of plumbing installations for sanitary drainage and water supply, plumbers must only install products that carry the WaterMark certification. It is not however illegal to sell plumbing products without a WaterMark certification. This adds to the confusion for many consumers who buy these products only to find their plumber refuses to install them.

It then falls to the installing plumber to police the use of appropriately certified products, rather than the responsibility of the merchandisers who sell them. Further complications arise when some of these products are bought online or from overseas. Certain popular hardware merchants will have both WaterMark and non-WaterMark products sitting side by side with obvious price comparison being the choice offered to the consumer.

Even with a WaterMark product, the installing plumber often must

ascertain additional installation requirements to ensure the work is compliant with the AS/NZS3500 requirements. A good example are bidet seat douches, which are gaining popularity with consumers panic buying toilet paper during COVID-19.

All bidet douche seats must have a WaterMark and must be installed by a plumber, although some products advise otherwise. If the outlet or spray on the seat is less than 25mm above the rim of the toilet, a high-risk backflow solution is required. A reduced pressure zone device or the installation of a registered break tank is appropriate, but would leave the consumer facing additional costs.

Further complications arise when we look at the WaterMark certification for bidet douche seats set out in WMTS-051:2016 WaterMark technical specification. This technical requirement relates to toilet douche seats used in commercially available WC pans and intended for direct connection to the water supply.

These douche sets must be supplied with a low hazard mechanical backflow prevention device (complying with AS/NZS 2845.1).

or not There is an extensive list of products that do require WaterMark: Appliances: glass washing machines, bedpan sterilisers, commercial clothes washing machines, among others.

Each has specific certification requirements to meet WaterMark approval.

Sanitary fixtures: cisterns, water closets, bidets, and bidet douche seats.

Tapware: taps, flexible hose assemblies, thermostatically controlled taps, and showerheads.

Devices and controllers: flow control valves, rainwater connections, flow sensors, leak protection valves, prefabricated cold-water storage tanks and water hammer arrestors.

Valves – backflow prevention: non-return valves, single check valves, RPZD and pressure vacuum breakers.

Valves – general: pressure ratio valves, pressure reduction valves, pressure limiting valves and tempering valves.

Fire service: fire sprinkler heads (domestic only).

Jointing products: brazing alloy, solder, lubricant, priming fluid and solvent cement, and roll groove fittings.

Pipework: all products, metallic or otherwise approved for use in sanitary drainage or water supply installation.

Pipe fittings: all fittings for use within sanitary drainage or water supply installations.

Heated water devices: instantaneous water heaters, water storage heaters, boiling water dispensers, solar water heating systems and heated water circulating devices.

Shafts and pumping stations: inspection shafts, maintenance shafts.

Valves/isolation: ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, globe valves, hot water isolation valves and solenoid valves.

Systems: purpose-built bathroom modules, bathroom appliances, modular heated water systems.

Sanitary waste flushing and dosing systems are a growing category of Watermarked products and one Master Plumbers believes should be under further scrutiny.

Concern should also be around the difference between a manufacturer’s warranty, which in some cases is two years, and the responsibilities of the installing plumber, which can be up to 10 years in insurance coverage.

WaterMark ups and downs WaterMark as a certification has a unique role to play and at its best should supply the public and the installing plumber with the assurance it is compliant with the National Construction Code.

At its worst, there is the potential for whole plumbing systems to be manufactured and WaterMark compliant without requiring any of the construction to be completed by a qualified plumber.

www.plumber.com.au | 11

Start with safety Further regulation required for passive fire installations in Victoria, as Gary Bath explains.

Passive fire protection (PFP) is valuable for the safety of people in a building and to minimise damage to a building. Through effective compartmentalisation, the structural integrity of a building can be maintained to ensure the safe evacuation of occupants during a building fire.

Just as importantly, passive protection stops smoke and other toxins from spreading throughout the building, which can be just as damaging as fire.

What is PFP? Passive fire protection (PFP) is an integral part of the structural fire protection and fire safety in any building. PFP systems are designed to contain flames in certain parts of a building and resist ignition in the first place. This resistance is structural and designed to compartmentalise a building and isolate a flame, preventing the spread of fire from room to room and floor to floor. These systems range from fire walls, doors, and floors to protect the room surfaces, to fire-resistant sealants and intumescent products to protect plumbing services throughout the building.

Why do we need better regulation?

For something that is so important to the integrity of a structure and the safety of people, it is worrying to note the inadequacies that exist in training, inspection, certification, and compliance for installation of PFP systems in Victoria. This is a position long held by the plumbing industry in Victoria.

Issues around training, compliance, certification, and reporting must be addressed to ensure that passive fire systems are: Identified as a 12 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

necessary part of the building construction; Installed correctly by trained individuals; Inspected and certified by trained personnel; and reported to the right industry bodies such as building surveyors/certifiers.

What about training?

There is currently a lack of training at any level within the plumbing industry for passive fire controls.

Training would need to be developed specific to plumbing systems that addresses an individual’s knowledge and skill base to: • Apply rules and regulations to installation operations; • Prepare for system installation; • Prepare the fireproofing substrate or fire stopping opening for the system; • Install the passive fire and smoke containment system; • Label or mark and certify the passive fire and smoke containment system; and • Complete the installation.

Neither Plumbing nor Construction qualifications contain any competencies that cover PFP systems. The only existing training competency is CPPFES3040A – Install passive fire and smoke containment systems. It is hosted with the Property Services skills sector and it is currently under review.

Further work is needed to identify plumbing-related training within this scope of activity. Overseas training courses that may be suitable for transition can complement the existing content produced by manufacturers of passive fire controls to form the basis of an industry training model.

Initially, this would be classed as

post-trade training but there would be sufficient support for training set at Certificate III level or below that could be included as a core or elective within plumbing apprentice training.

What inspection, certification and reporting models are available?

There are a diverse range of inspection and certification models that exist to address the needs of passive fire installations in Victoria.

These range from well-documented and recorded site-specific models, where the building certifier for that building took a hands-on role in documenting and recording both the installation and manufacturer specification on the type of passive control used, to ‘independent’ inspection certifications that are carried out by the manufacturer on the product used.

What’s Master Plumbers’ view?

Master Plumbers is advocating for the self-certifying model for our plumbing industry in Victoria. This is where appropriately-trained individuals take responsibility for the work they perform. Master Plumbers argues the Plumbing Regulations must incorporate this model to ensure PFP is part of the scope of plumbing work.

Additionally, a detailed database that records all the necessary information required by building certifiers will form the cornerstone of a system that enables oversight and maintenance of passive fire installations across the state both now and into the future.

An industry-developed program would provide consistency around compliance and mitigate the need for building certifiers to conduct postinstallation compliance inspections.

This will also allow our industry to drive greater awareness and conformity in this area within a suggested training and compliance pathway.

Cut installation time in half with the Evolution MKIII Pump from Kingspan The Evolution MKIII pump comes already installed on a Kingspan water tank to save YOU time. The unit fits neatly on top and inside of the tank, resulting in a more efficient use of space and a better overall appearance.

Add an Evolution MKIII to your Kingspan steel water tank today.

EXCLUSIVE 4 YEAR WARRANTY Comes with up to 4 years warranty: 2 years standard + 2 years bonus when registering at kingspan.com.au/tankwarranty

1300 736 562

sales.au@kingspan.com

kingspan.com.au/water

Residential | Rural | Commercial

MARKS OF DISTINCTION

IAPMO issued conformity assessment has helped plumbing and gas manufacturers make their mark in the marketplace for years. Partner with the only organization that can rapidly grant product certification based on your needs: WaterMark, GasMark or OceanaMark seals of conformity. Choose IAPMO for the best service. Contact us today for more details. www.iapmooceana.org +61 03 8684 9580

Oceana Ad_HalfPg.indd 1

www.plumber.com.au | 13 7/30/19 8:28 AM

Get behind CPD in Victoria Victoria moves one step closer to mandatory Continuing Professional Development for plumbers.

The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is considering submissions on a consultation paper outlining options for a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme.

The Department received submissions from across the industry, including Master Plumbers, and plans to release Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) at the end of 2020 or early 2021. The Statement will outline costs and benefits of three options explored and recommend a preferred option.

The RIS will be open for further comment and Master Plumbers will strongly support the introduction of mandatory CPD to ensure ongoing competency and improvement of our industry.

Master Plumbers President Scott Dowsett welcomed the open process and encouraged the entire industry to endorse the move to make the scheme mandatory.

“The plumbing industry provides the community’s first line of defence against a whole series of hazards, diseases, toxins, and other harms,” he said. “Each of us relies every day on the skills and knowledge of plumbing professionals to ensure our water is clean, our public and private sanitation systems work and prevent disease, and that the heating, cooling and fire protection systems in our built environment are properly installed and safely maintained.”

A well-structured and implemented CPD scheme can help plumbers keep up-to-date as standards and regulations change, technologies launch and business requirements alter.

Scott said CPD would build industry capacity and resilience. “If the COVID crisis has taught us one

14 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

What is CPD? CPD is the recognition of ongoing learning and training. It is how plumbers can maintain, update and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence.

thing it is that ensuring key industries are resilient and have the capacity to adapt and not collapse under pressure, is key to our long-term outlook.

“The key is to design a scheme which is relevant to all practitioners, has the right mix of technical and industry and professional development units and is designed to gain and retain practitioner buy-in and not become compliance driven.”

A CPD framework for Victoria: The options Three high-level options have been put forward by DEWLP for consideration: 1 Maintain the current situation – do not introduce mandatory CPD 2 Introduce a mandatory program, without any compulsory subjects 3 Introduce a mandatory program with a mixture of compulsory and non-compulsory subjects CPD is currently mandatory in Tasmania for all licensed plumbers and gasfitters. However, it is voluntary in all other jurisdictions including Victoria. Schemes, including Master Plumbers’ CPD, in Victoria (plumber.com.au/cpd) deliver benefits to many practitioners, and by extension consumers and the community.

Scott said voluntary programs were unlikely to deliver the sorts of industry wide, compliance, consumer protection, or professional development outcomes, which the industry requires.

“They tend to attract those who are already keeping on top of industry developments rather than those who are most likely to need upskilling.”

Master Plumbers is advocating for Option 3 The mixed model proposed as Option 3 in the Discussion Paper would allow a balance to be struck, by mandating some units, while allowing practitioners the flexibility to choose and tailor the balance of their CPD units. Master Plumbers believes that the framework should include both technical as well as professional support units (noncompulsory) in areas such as business management, compliance and taxation or practical training in things like hygiene and disease prevention.

The broad framework to establish CPD should be set out in the Plumbing Regulations, but the specific units of competency required should not be prescribed in regulation. Doing so would make the operation of the scheme difficult, would limit its flexibility and therefore utility, leading to reduced industry and practitioner engagement.

An industry committee or body, made up of suitably skilled representatives across the sector, should have the responsibility for deciding the units which make up the CPD course offerings, especially any compulsory units. The role of the regulations would then be to empower and enable that decisionmaking body, rather than to prescribe the actual units of CPD.

The benefits of mandatory CPD In an industry as dynamic as plumbing – where new innovations, technologies, systems, techniques, and materials are being developed, refined, combined, and incorporated into the built environment every day – ongoing, post trade qualification training is not a “nice to have.” It is vital and necessary to ensure currency.

Scott said Master Plumbers believed that mandatory CPD would be a valuable addition to the existing framework for the regulation of plumbing in Victoria. “Ongoing practitioner competency verification through CPD, is a particularly important consumer protection/ compliance measure in regulatory settings such as Victoria’s, which relies so heavily on self-certification,” he said.

Flexibility and relevance are key to the scheme’s success Introducing a CPD scheme is a significant change for the industry, and Master Plumbers has advocated that its implementation should not be rushed.

To have the best chance of being effective and enduring, the scheme needs to have relevance and value for all industry participants. Scott said industry participants must be confident the units of learning undertaken have relevance to their work, now and in the future.

“Employers will only embrace a scheme, which will cost them time and money to support, if they are convinced of the value of the units of training required.”

A regulated CPD scheme would place requirements on all license (or registration) holders. “The scheme must therefore be flexible enough to accommodate the variability in work types, skills classes, skill breadth and level, within and across the various license classes of plumbing and fire protection.

“While individuals may have a license in common, it would be wrong to view all practitioners within those license or registration categories as homogenous groups.

“I look forward to Victoria having a strong and flexible CPD in place in the future.”

www.plumber.com.au | 15

The plumbing industry has faced serious skill shortages, both in Victoria and across the country, for many years. Kathryn Kernohan reports.

In Victoria in 2018, less than one quarter [22 per cent] of plumbing vacancies were filled. A report by the Productivity Commission four years earlier found that Victoria had been facing skills shortages in its building, civil and construction occupations for at least a decade.

The Federal Government’s National Skills Needs List also highlights the industry shortfall, alongside similar 16 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

skills shortages in bricklaying, stonemasonry, carpentry, and painting.

A new report, commissioned by the Office of the Victorian Skills Commissioner (OVSC) in partnership with the Industry Workforce Development Group (IWDG), highlights a range of workforce issues for the Victorian building, civil and construction industry

and identifies a suite of recommendations.

Master Plumbers’ CEO Peter Daly, one of the experts who contributed to the report’s collective vision for the future of the industry, says it finds that the building, civil and construction industry is at a crossroads.

“The contribution the industry makes speaks for itself – the building, civil

Our industry is at a crossroad and construction industry in Victoria is the fourth largest employer overall and also the largest employer of full-time workers in the state. The industry added close to $35 billion in value to the economy in the 2018-19 financial year,” he says.

“However we know that finding qualified workers remains a significant issue for employers, this is true in the plumbing industry and other parts of our sector. This report finds that there are no quick fixes to the problem and that a transformation of the industry

must focus on addressing longstanding workforce issues.”

The report makes recommendations including growing the pipeline of workers, participation in training, assessment, licensing and registration, and continuing professional development (CPD).

“A greater supply of tradespeople is required to meet demand, in areas including plumbing but also plasterers, bricklayers, surveyors and carpenters,” Mr Daly says. “Master Plumbers has joined our industry

colleagues to highlight the need to make the industry an attractive choice for both young people and those interested in switching careers.

“Both course commencements for construction trades, and completions for constructionrelated apprenticeships have declined in recent years and the true impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to be felt. It is vital that employers continue to offer pathways to apprenticeships and traineeships to ensure a pipeline of new skilled workers,” says Peter. www.plumber.com.au | 17

Improving the industry Some of the key recommendations highlighted by the report include: Increasing recognition of the more than 22,000 Victorian building, civil and construction employers, and the key role they play in developing industry skills More robust processes to better inform and prepare apprentices to support them on successful pathways to careers in the industry, and reducing multiple course changes

It is vital that employers continue to offer pathways to apprenticeships and traineeships to ensure a pipeline of new skilled workers

Peter says that the report also proposes the development of a public awareness campaign to promote available opportunities in the industry, targeting school leavers, adults, parents and carers, and highlighting diversity within the workforce.

The report found that 2019 was the first year in six years where the number of new apprentices (individuals that were not already in the sector) declined. Additionally, it finds that many apprentices who completed an apprenticeship required multiple commencements before completion, and that 30 per cent of apprentices did not complete their apprenticeship.

To address this, the report recommends better support of apprentices that have had a contract cancelled or withdrawn to ensure they are not lost to the industry long-term. Consideration of the current role of skills and jobs centres 18 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

Reviewing occupations that do not use apprentices, and ensuring suitable alternative training pathways are in place

and apprenticeship support officers and where they may or may not be fulfilling this need, would be one way to achieve this.

The report also highlights some of the Victorian Government’s initiatives such as Free TAFE, the Skills Uplift – Civil Construction pilot program, Careers Education Reforms and the Victorian Skills Commissioner’s establishment of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Taskforce, however notes the mixed success rates of these initiatives to date.

“Ultimately this report provides the framework for Government and stakeholders to work in a collaborative, coordinated way to address workforce issues and skills shortages across our industries,” says Peter.

“This means better outcomes for everyone – including employers, plumbers, apprentices and customers.”

Partnering with industry bodies to increase the number of businesses that can take on and support apprentices to completion Introducing mandatory requirements for continuing professional development across the industry

Victoria’s building, civil and construction industry: the stats More than 300,000 Victorians work across more than 100,000 businesses that make up the state’s building, civil and construction industry Victoria’s building, civil and construction industry added $34.8 billion in value to the economy in 2018-19 The building, civil and construction industry is the largest in Victoria by number of firms, second largest by value added and the state’s fourth largest employer

1

2

3

4

5

6

Door to conceal pump

Melbourne’S one Stop Jetting SHop SaleS > Service > acceSSorieS > repairS 6 astro crt Hallam vic

call (03) 9792 2350

www.plumber.com.au | 19

Snapshot

from around the nation Victorian news Gas Heater Safety webinars Master Plumbers in conjunction with the Victorian Building Authority and Energy Safe Victoria recently delivered a series of free Gas Heater Safety webinars to all plumbers in Victoria.

These training sessions have previously been delivered successfully face-to-face. To make this information available to as many practitioners as possible, regardless of location or availability – and in light of COVID – a new digital format was launched this year.

More than 1500 plumbers joined the webinar series,

which provided attendees with all the latest information, including responsibilities and legislative requirements, when dealing with carbon monoxide testing and the safe operation of gas appliances.

Feedback was extremely positive.

Attendees commented on the ease of connecting to valuable information from the comfort of their own home or office, with many requesting future sessions on different topics.

Master Plumbers will provide more online training options.

Keep up to date with new sessions at plumber.com.au

Online learning to save lives: Chase and Tyler founder Vanessa Robinson understands the true cost of carbon monoxide poisoning. She lost her boys as a result of a faulty gas heater. Pictured above left with Master Plumbers’ CEO Peter Daly. Also left, Master Plumbers webinar in progress.

Australia and New Zealand news Concerns raised about national licencing Master Plumbers Australia and New Zealand (MPANZ) is warning that a national occupational licensing scheme announced

by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in August comes with potential risks for community safety and consumer protection.

The scheme aims to cut red tape for businesses and improve workforce mobility. It will allow licences held by tradies, including plumbers, to be automatically recognised across Australia regardless of which state or territory issued them.

While MPANZ and its member associations support the principle of national licensing, they argued

20 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

it must be coupled with a consistent national training scheme and regulations.

MPANZ Chairman Robert Pearshouse said: “It may be natural to assume that plumbing licences issued in different jurisdictions are equivalent to each other and the holders have equivalent training and skills. This is not the case.”

“Plumbing and gasfitting work regulated in one state is not necessarily regulated in another,” he said. “There are also inconsistencies in the types of licence each state issues.

“The plumbing industry is highly regulated because the services

are essential for public health.

Efforts to reduce red tape and improve labour force mobility should never occur in a way that compromises public safeguards.”

For more information, please contact secretariat@masterplumbersanz.com

Find your local association

Master Plumbers & Gasfitters Association of Western Australia T (08) 9471 6661

Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia T (03) 9329 9622

Master Plumbers Association ACT Inc T (02) 6112 8630

Master Plumbers Association of Queensland T (07) 3273 0800

Master Plumbers Association of South Australia T (08) 8292 4000

Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania T (03) 6272 2199

Master Plumbers & Mechanical Contractors Association of New South Wales T (02) 8789 7000

New South Wales news

Queensland news

New fund for plumbing

Meet Ben Featherston

Plumbing and pipe trades workers in NSW can now benefit from a new safety net. The Plumbing and Pipe Trades Entitlement Fund (PPTEF), launched in July, is a full-service entitlement scheme incorporating redundancy, insurance and health, and wellbeing.

Ben Featherston was appointed

by Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) as one of four plumbing ambassadors in March 2020. Ben shares his own plumbing story.

Powered by Incolink, Australia’s oldest and largest entitlements fund, this fund provides significant benefits to employers and workers.

In 2018/19 Incolink returned more than 9% from its over $900 million investments, significantly higher than achieved by ACIRT and outperforming like funds. These investments funded a range of high-quality services and industry support from training to economic analysis and health and wellbeing.

Both workers and employers can have confidence that they will benefit from the PPTEF. An income safety net through an entitlement fund, is of critical importance to employers and workers in the building industry.

Employers can also access the new Incolink Assist – providing an employee assistance program designed for your building and office workers on a competitive fee for service basis.

All of this is delivered with an industry leading online platform.

To find out more information and access the benefits of this fund go to www.plumbersfund.org.au

I began my plumbing apprenticeship in Melbourne back in 2000 at the age of 17, working for my friend’s father in mechanical plumbing.

I decided that it would be a good fit for me personally as plumbing is a licensed trade. I enjoyed the range of work and enjoyed every aspect of working on large commercial sites.

Although I was exposed to varied and challenging work, I didn’t feel like I knew enough about general or sanitary plumbing, so I began working for a domestic plumbing company to broaden my plumbing skills and experience. I ended up leading a crew of six plumbers and was able to deliver a retirement village in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

After taking a break in 2007 to travel around Australia with my now wife, we decided to settle in the Gold Coast as I grew up there and knew there was plenty of work around.

Here, I took up work with a maintenance plumbing company.

In 2014, I got back on the tools for a mate who was running a large commercial job on a gas mine in Roma, regional Queensland. On this job I was exposed to heavy industry and learned all the inground and civil side of plumbing and discovered polyethylene pipe welding.

Two years later, I accepted a role with my current employer, Gavin Folan of Christopher Contracting Plumbing & Drainage. I was keen to join the team as they had a great reputation in the industry. I was also happy to be back working close to home – in this case, as part of the Maintenance Team in the Commonwealth Games village site in Parklands, Gold Coast.

I’m confident that the future of plumbing is in good hands and we are creating an industry that is becoming more professional by embracing continual training and professional development. This is my 20th year in the plumbing industry and I cannot think of doing anything else. I love working with a great team to achieve a common goal and project targets, and am looking forward to the future and technology of plumbing, drainage and gasfitting in all areas.

During this time, I was lucky enough to buy into a pipe relining business with my employers at the time where I became a shareholder and managing director. Mentored by my partners, I grew this business to staff seven people over a period of four years before moving on to a new challenge. www.plumber.com.au | 21

Snapshot

from around the nation Western Australian news Household water leaks targeted under new rebate initiative Households in Perth and Peel, Western Australia will benefit from a $100 rebate on the cost of fixing water leaks under a new program targeting more than 135,000 metropolitan properties across Perth and Peel.

Water Minister Dave Kelly announced Water Corporation’s Leak Assist pilot program to encourage people to repair household leaks. It also teaches people how to find water leaks and puts them in touch with their local waterwise plumber.

“Reducing household water use is a critical step in securing our fresh water future, particularly with declining rainfall and the pressure this puts on precious water supplies.”

Said Minister Kelly “In some cases, people may be

Fast Facts

unaware of leaks around their homes, while others are deterred from fixing them due to the perceived cost or general apathy about the issue.

“The Leak Assist program addresses this by not only incentivising people to take action but also helping them learn to identify whether they have a leak and building better relationships with their local plumber.”

The initiative follows a recent water use study of more than 1,500 households across Perth and Peel which found leaks in more than 17 per cent of properties.

Delivered in collaboration with the Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA, the program is another water-saving initiative from the McGowan Government’s Waterwise Perth Action Plan.

For more information visit: watercorporation.com.au/Waterwise; and watercorporation.com.au/Help-andadvice/Water-issues/Leaks/Detect-a-leak

Did you know?

9,000 litres

A constant trickle into the toilet bowl wastes up to 9,000 litres of water a year.

10,000 litres

A leaking tap can waste up to 10,000 litres of water a year.

22%

Showers make up 22% of total household water use. By swapping to water efficient showerheads, households can save up to 20,000 litres of water per year.

Source: www.watercorporation.com.au/Waterwise/Waterwise-offers/Leak-assist

22 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

Feel drained from inefďŹ cient workows?

Adopt a complete job management software solution for your business

Advanced workflow automation

Easy inventory management

Comprehensive scheduling and invoicing

Supplier catalogue and pricing from a single system

Real-time office to field connectivity 60+ Reports for accurate business insights

Integrations with industry-leading accounting packages

Master Plumbers members can get 20% off the initial implementation costs* when signing up as a new simPRO customer *Terms and conditions do apply.

Learn more at simprogroup.com/au/master-plumbers

www.plumber.com.au | 23

Watch out for

your health

Health and safety go beyond the physical and those in the plumbing industry are not immune. Kate Jones reports.

24 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

COVID-19, has put further pressure on the construction industry, slowing the release of some jobs.

In metro Melbourne, Stage 4 Restrictions have closed many sites and forced hundreds of tradies out of work or onto reduced hours.

through their finances first.

With thousands of construction workers and their families impacted, mental health awareness has never been more important.

“But then a week or two after that is when it starts impacting mental health when they think, ‘this is real’.”

Research shows that there was already a disproportionate rate of mental illness in the construction industry. It shows construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work.

Further data from mental health organisation MATES in Construction reveals the suicide rate among labourers is higher than the general male population.

Experts point to various reasons for these tragic figures, including: Poor job security, Dangerous work conditions, Physically demanding work, Long hours and Projectdeadline pressures.

In 2018, worker entitlement fund Incolink set up the Bluehats Suicide Prevention Initiative to give construction workers someone on site to talk to about their wellbeing.

Dom Vigalanti, Incolink’s manager of intervention and support programs, said there were 250 people with mental health training wearing blue construction hats on sites around Victoria.

“They are there to invite people to talk about their mental health, which has been the problem for a long time,” he said. “Because of our own fears we don’t invite people to talk about mental health, so that’s what we’re trying to promote.

“Our first goal is to increase people’s health-seeking behaviour and the only way we’re going to do that is by asking the questions and by putting people out there who are going to look out for each other.”

Vigalanti said he expected there would be a delay of about a week or two in people reaching out for help, owing to people trying to sort

“What we found with the first lockdown back in March when all this started was everybody was trying to work out where their next buck was going to come from, so finance is their first issue,” he said.

Wayne Schwass, AFL great and founder of mental health advocacy group Puka Up, said coronavirus threw many more challenges at tradies. “Right now there’s an added layer of stress, which is really pushing people towards their limits,” he said.

“COVID has had a significant impact - jobs have been lost, hours have been reduced, income has been significantly impacted or they don’t have any. There’s issues of identity with regards to ‘I’ve lost my job, what do I do?’ and people having to homeschool and spend more time at home, and the amount of alcohol and drugs people might be using as a way of coping.

“There’s enormous stress.”

Schwass, who recently appeared in a Master Plumbers webinar on prioritising mental health, said poor mental health conditions in the male-dominated construction industry reflect generations of toxic masculinity.

“I believe so many males of all ages find it difficult, uncomfortable or just beyond their grasp to talk about well-being, mental health challenges and stresses, because of gender conditioning,” he said.

“What I mean by that is men are taught, conditioned and told to be tough, strong and resilient, but unemotional.

“So when we’re under emotional stress we don’t know what to do because we don’t have that emotional connection to be able to think, feel and communicate, or more damagingly we don’t do anything because of the fear of being judged, being seen as soft or ...less of a man.”

Wayne Schwass, AFL great and founder of mental health advocacy group Puka Up, has six tips for staying on top of health and well-being: 1 Acknowledge and accept whatever thoughts, feelings and emotions you’re experiencing.

Don’t deny them, don’t ignore them, don’t bury them and don’t try to drink or self-medicate your way through them because it’s a natural reaction to stress.

2 Prioritise sleep. Give yourself time to rest physically and emotionally. It sounds obvious, but if you’re tired, go to bed early.

3 Be very selective about what you listen to, read or watch because it’s skewed to the negative. If it’s having a negative impact, don’t watch it.

4 Exercise – doesn’t matter what you do, it’s really important physically and emotionally.

5 Communicate. Whatever it is, find the words to communicate with someone you trust about what you’re feeling or thinking.

Don’t ignore it because it becomes a bigger problem down the track.

6 Connection. What’s fundamentally important to human beings is our sense of connection. Whilst we’re limited by lockdown there’s still plenty of ways to connect – Zoom, Microsoft teams, the phone, WhatsApp, Instagram, text messages – they’re all platforms to communicate.

Incolink has a free 24/7 counselling support service for its members available on 1300 000 129. www.plumber.com.au | 25

Get your

business

seen Master Plumbers’ Daniel Carroll provides some insights into upping your digital game.

Traditional marketing and advertising can cost a lot of money. If you’re a smaller, locally-owned business, you want to see a quick return on investment (ROI), which means you need to be where the majority of your potential or return customers will find you.

As of January 2020, there were 22.31 million internet users in Australia; 88% of the population.

Of those 93% started their sessions with an internet search and 95% of those chose Google, which is why it is imperative that you optimise your online presence for local search.

Businesses that fail to do so will have 26 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

customers finding other providers before they find your business.

Why? Because 75% of Google users won’t scroll past the first screen.

For many local business owners, things like local SEO and website design are probably not where their expertise lies. Luckily, there are a number of low-cost, easy-to-use local marketing tools that will simplify the process of taking your business online.

In this guide, we’ll outline five steps to crafting an online presence that will make your business stand out to customers and search engines alike.

You no longer need to have coding or design skills to build a slick, attractive website

1

2

Build a website

purpose of your site. For plumbers,

This first one might be too obvious: if your business doesn’t have a website, it’s almost like it doesn’t exist. Lucky for you, building a website for your business is super easy.

this is pretty straightforward and

You no longer need to have coding or design skills to build a slick, attractive website. There are a number of low-cost solutions like Wix, Squarespace and Wordpress that will provide you with templates and editors to do it all yourself.

Before you get started, however, it’s important that you determine the

simple. It needs to accomplish two things: 1 It should be very informational in nature, with all your contact information and details on the products and services you offer, and 2 It needs to have an EASY and straightforward way for your potential customers to communicate with you, such as a quote request form and your phone number.

Choose a domain name (or ‘www’ address) A business’s website is often referred to as its shopfront. And just like in the real world, if your business is hard to find, potential customers will probably move on to the next “shop”. That’s why it’s essential when securing your domain name that you make it simple and easy to remember.

Domain names are easy to register and cost around $20 per year to maintain. But before you pull the trigger, always do a search to see if it’s also available across social www.plumber.com.au | 27

Get your

business

seen

platforms. Using a consistent brand name across the internet will help your customers find you and only takes a few seconds.

3 Local Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) When developing content to populate your website you should identify keywords that are important to your industry or business. In its simplest terms, ‘What are people going to type in a search engine when they are looking for a plumber?’. These searches would most likely be something like “Plumbers near me” or “gasfitting service in xyz city”. Whatever services you offer, make sure the associated keywords are on your website and Google listing.

Optimising your website goes beyond just keywords. There are a number of factors that make up Google’s local SEO algorithm.

Businesses that want to be found should make sure their name, address, and phone number (commonly referred to as NAP) are consistent across all business listings (especially on Google and Facebook). For local businesses, updating and accurately listing your business is one of the easiest ways to improve local search rankings.

4 Claim your business listings Before the Internet, getting your business listed in all the right directories was much easier.

Most businesses didn’t need to do anything except buy an ad in the local Yellow Pages, and maybe get listed in an industry-specific directory depending on the type of business they were in.

Now there are a seemingly endless number of online directories to choose from. Finding the right 28 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

one can be difficult. We recommend you start by claiming your Google My Business listing, setting up a Facebook page, and making sure your info is all correct on your Master Plumbers account for the ‘Find-a-plumber tool’. There are a lot of sites out there so it’s also important to do some of your own research to make sure you’ve covered everything, but those three are absolutely necessary.

Once you’ve claimed or created your local business listings, it’s important to take the time to optimise them so that it’s attractive for both searchers and search engines alike. The first thing you should do is upload high-quality photos of your business. Photos are important because they help tell a visual story about your business.

They let consumers see what it’s like to do business with you, so they know what to expect when they arrive.

Uploading pictures will also draw searchers in and encourage them to click through to your listing.

According to Google, profiles with pictures see 42% more requests for driving directions from Maps and 35% more click-throughs to your website than businesses that don’t.

Photos also help increase engagement. When uploading images you should include pictures of your offices, branded fleet, team members and of course, your logo.

You should also take the time to update the hours of operation for your business. Not having accurate hours of operation can be frustrating to the consumer.

This is especially true if they have a leak and need a plumber asap, only to find that you’re closed.

Impressive photography can only get you so far. If your customer experience is underwhelming your reputation and Google Reviews will eventually reflect that. Today, it’s more important than ever to have a review management strategy in place to keep up with the competition.

5 Collect and manage online reviews In today’s digital age, social proof is more important than ever as many people will turn to social networks like Facebook and Google to learn from the experience of others and see where their money will be best spent. So, next time you complete a job well done, ask the customer to leave a review and help your business.

Online reviews provide businesses with the dual benefit of boosting your local SEO ranking while also helping build trust and credibility with consumers. This makes it easier for consumers to find your business and impacts their buying decisions.

Master Plumbers were joined by the team from Podium to discuss how to manage your online reputation in a recent webinar, check out the replay at https://wi.st/2QpeiuO

Why does an optimised online presence matter?

Traditional marketing and advertising are still an effective means of getting the word out about your business, but it isn’t enough. To take your business to the next level, you also need to emphasize your online presence and reputation. Doing so will pay huge dividends down the road. If you want to turn browsers into buyers, customers must be able to find, connect, and support your business.

Become the top-rated plumber in your area With Podium, collecting hundreds of authentic customer reviews is as easy as sending a text—helping you stand out against both online retailers and local competitors.

Podium streamlined the process and “ made it simple for customers to leave a review, which made the choice a no-brainer�

Tyler Kroeker, Marketing Director at Budget Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

Call or text 0488 851 748 to learn more and get a free demo. podium.com

Illegal & unqualified Kate Jones finds out why qualified gasfitters are the only people who should be servicing gas appliances.

COVID-19 Stage 3 and 4 restrictions have seen many people forced to work, study and play at home.

In the southern states this has seen gas heating appliances work hard; even though it is Spring!

These appliances need to be regularly serviced and maintained by qualified and licensed gas fitters, but the industry is battling illegal unqualified workers who are decommissioning a high number of appliances that in many cases, just require correct servicing.

Servicing gas appliances saves consumers from either long days and nights with no heating, gas cooktops or hot water systems, or from the expense of buying a new appliance when an appliance fails completely.

30 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

Veteran plumber and long-time Master Plumbers member Rick Taylor said unqualified gas service workers are doing consumers no favours.

“There are third-party entrepreneurial companies going around checking, for want of a better word because they’re definitely not testing appliances,” he said.

An increased public awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning has alerted consumers to the importance of regular gas appliance servicing. However, it has also seen a rise in the number of disconnected appliances that simply need servicing rather than replacing.

“These people will come on the premises to do a carbon monoxide check or gas safety check, and they will always find something, but they don’t do the repairing,” explained Taylor.

“They’ll say, ‘You’ve got a problem with your heater, so I’ve got to turn

the gas off and you’ve got to get someone to repair or replace it”.

“You can’t just disconnect a heater unless it’s actually unsafe and you can’t do that without express permission of the owner.

“A lot of these people are just cutting the gas off and doing stupid things like cutting the power cord to them so they can’t be used.”

Master Plumbers Chief Technical Officer, Gary Bath, said there was another reason why properly licensed gasfitters should be carrying out servicing on appliances.

He said gasfitters need to properly record and communicate issues with manufacturers and the technical regulator (Energy Safe Victoria (ESV)) to ensure the appliances continue to operate safely and efficiently.

“Appliances operating with normal ‘wear and tear’ issues, can display faults that may not be readily identifiable in the appliance’s certification process, which is conducted in a laboratory,” he said.

stration is here regi ed classes were licence is tick in rk o w h ly er can onsue compliance w istration ld eg o R h rd ca ce is The Licen d can only  ticked an  s e ss la Main C   Drainage on  cti te ro  Fire p  g l) n ra  tti u fi lt Gas  on-agricu (n n o ti  ga Irri  al Services ) ic an  h ec er M  tormwat  Roofing (s Sanitary ply p  Water Su   Classes te Restric &dhose reels Hydrants fire sprinklers s m Res & do dust fire sprinkler  in  Comm & pump sets  t em ec st n  n sy co re Fi  nnect / re pliances  Gas - disco cted to type A ap  ri  Gas - rest ile homes  b  Gas - mo heaters  el fu  Solid  g n xi s fi  ct stem Du  d split sy ea h  e gl n Si  roofing  Class 10A hot water services Domestic nd (basic)  ) co  Refrig air- nd (intermediate co s rai em g syst Refri cond split  Refrig air ss la d C es Specialiseing - type A Gas servic rsion - type A Gas convesfitting Type B ga sfitting advanced g   Type B ga d air-conditionin te Refrigera prevention Backflow

The perils of not getting a licensed gasfitter can be fatal Split flue connector

“Recording and communicating these issues can lead to a formal investigation and possible testing by the technical regulator Energy Safe Victoria.”

Gary said the operating information gasfitters collect from their maintenance and service work is valuable for manufacturers.

“Our gasfitters get to see these appliances operating in a degraded state. They test the operational effectiveness of the appliance in reality rather than in pristine showroom condition. Often, after it has been installed but never commissioned, it can have issues.” he said.

a.v www.vb

ic.gov.au

undertake this specialised work.

off their license and that’s illegal.

Qualified gasfitters must carry a photo identification card provided by the Victorian Building Authority.

They will also have a unique identification number and expiry date listed on the card.

“We see a lot of people out there doing unregistered and unlicensed work in the industry.

A Master Plumbers member will supply a service report as per the recommendations of AS4575 Type A Gas Appliance Servicing standard, which will detail what was carried out at the time of the service.

The perils of not getting a licensed gasfitter can be fatal, said Master Plumbers member and gasfitter Michael Tomlinson.

“In these circumstances the person carrying out the service will also look for installation issues that, depending on the age of the appliance, the original installer should have rectified.”

“It could result in potential death to the consumer as well as to the tradesperson if they’re not 100 per cent competent and haven’t been licensed by the regulatory body after doing their exams and their training,” he said.

Master Plumbers continues to advocate for qualified and experienced operators to

“A lot of bosses let their apprentices and tradesman, who aren’t registered in that category, work

“We want to get rid of that type of work. We want everybody to be qualified and we want people to know what’s going on, and be aware of servicing and testing for carbon monoxide.”

He said many consumers weren’t aware of the differences between a plumber and gasfitter, but the easiest way to tell is by asking to see an ID card. The back of the card will indicate what plumbing work that person can legally carry out.

“There’s a lot of mums and dads who think a plumber is a plumber and a plumber can do everything,” he said.

“They really need to see the license and see the tick on the back. So when you phone a plumber, ask the initial question about gasfitting on the first phone call and then sight the card on arrival.”

www.plumber.com.au | 31

Plumbmaster COVID-19 has changed the way we live and work, and the folk at Plumbmaster has found safety the best asset. Kathryn Kernohan finds out the full story.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all elements of our lives – including our work, our health and our community connection – and sadly the plumbing industry has not been immune.

When the team from Melbourne’s Plumbmaster received a query about COVID-19 from a real estate agent earlier in the year, they realised there was an opportunity to pivot their services to help during the crisis.

“As the crisis started to unfold in February and March, we recognised that we would have to change our business practices. That’s because, as a maintenance-focused business, we were constantly in and out of 32 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

people’s homes and we had to protect the health of our clients and our staff,” says Plumbmaster CEO Lisa Leening.

“One day we had a call from a real estate agent who told us they had a tenant who was self-isolating and they needed urgent plumbing work.

We weren’t set up to safely do that, which meant the poor tenant was dealing with a leaking roof and the landlord was unable to assist. We just thought, we need to find a way to help these people.”

Lisa and her husband Adam Leening, Plumbmaster’s Director, spoke to Master Plumbers’ OH&S and Return to Work Manager Frank Geremia

about the gap they noticed. They quickly found that there weren’t any other businesses set up at the time to provide plumbing services to COVID-positive sites or suspected COVID-positive sites.

“We then went out and partnered with a company to find the best PPE [personal protective equipment] we could, superior to what they have in hospitals. Our team are safer in these suits, doing a job, than you would be going into the local supermarket,” says Adam.

“Lisa is the one who is great with forward planning, more so than us plumbers. She was the one who first saw the opportunity where we could

pivots solve problems for clients and continue to provide plumbing services while ensuring the safety of everyone involved.”

The Plumbmaster team has reached out to its domestic, commercial and industrial clients, including agedcare facilities, to inform them about the new service. Its first booked job utilising PPE was replacing a hot water system at a private residence.

“This has not been about making money, it is more about serving our current clients safely and giving our clients the best opportunities to have their issues solved. We see it as a good solution for people who need to isolate for whatever reason,” says Lisa.

Because Plumbmaster focuses on maintenance services for real estate agents, body corporates and private

We found that there weren’t any other businesses set up at the time to provide plumbing services to COVIDpositive sites or suspected COVID-positive sites

residences, Adam and Lisa have not seen a decrease in business requests during the pandemic, however like many other businesses have had several non-urgent jobs and projects put on the backburner.

COVID-19 guidelines have meant the company has split its plumbers into three teams of three people, with teams kept separate from each other.

“It means if one person from a team gets sick, we can quarantine the whole team and the other two teams can continue to work,” says Adam.

“It can be difficult in the sense that if we have one team in Brunswick and they need a lift or something, and we have another team nearby, they can’t help each other out like they would have before.

“That said, our clients and other people we deal with are really understanding and appreciative because we are being so vigilant around the rules and guidelines, it makes them feel more comfortable.”

Like everyone, Adam and Lisa hope that life returns to normal as soon as possible, and have already thought about alternative uses for a potential surplus of PPE if that is the case.

“This period has highlighted opportunities of ways we might work differently in the future, for example we could use the suits working in a drug lab or similar sites.

This has opened new opportunities for us, but of course we hope COVID ends soon and things can start to get back to normal.” www.plumber.com.au | 33

Marsh Advantage Insurance Promotion

Most plumbers will agree that without the proper attention to the prep stage of your work, you could face issues down the track.

The same goes for your liability insurance.

Before comparing new insurance solutions, gain a strong understanding of your risks.

Jot down all the day-to-day risks.

Make sure to include those that may occur on less frequent services.

Remember, while many plumbing risks may involve damage or injury, they can also be in relation to client product advice offered as part of your service.

TIP Not all public liability

Get the right public liability cover Whether you’re a new employee looking for plumbers’ insurance or reviewing your policy, this article can help you find cover that’s right for your plumbing business.

insurance policies will cover plumbers for work completed on buildings over two-storeys high.

Be sure to include this in your risk assessment if you or a licensed plumber and your business performs this type of work.

As well as reviewing your risks, it’s important to know the insurance requirements in your state or territory.

Comparing insurance policies With your risk assessment in hand, it’s time to find an insurance cover best suited to you.

Things to review when obtaining quotes: • Limit of liability – This is the maximum amount that can be received under the insurance policy for a successful claim.

• Excess – The sum paid by you in the event a claim is made on the insurance policy.

• Inclusions – Does the policy include cover for all your business risks? For instance, claims cover for providing the incorrect product advice or liability cover for construction sites over two storeys.

• Exclusions – These are situations or events not covered under the policy. Insurance providers can offer different cover terms in their policies, so through research, you may find a policy that’s more inclusive to your business risks than others.

All this information and more can be found in a policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

TIP Be aware that insurers can

often assess domestic and commercial plumbing differently so ensure you correctly declare your activities.

Don’t decide on premium alone The price of your insurance plays a big role when comparing different policies, however, plumbers should consider a side-by-side comparison before making a decision.

Insurance providers can base a policy’s premium on the risks they take on and having a high number of exclusions can reduce these risks, which should result in a lower premium.

If you want to know more, ask Choosing a liability insurance policy for your business is an important decision and can sometimes mean the difference between being covered for a specific risk or not.

If you have questions that can’t be found online, give your insurance advisor a call to ensure you thoroughly understand the insurance solution on offer.

At Marsh, we have a dedicated team of expert insurance advisors that are available to help answer your questions in respect of your insurance requirements including plumbers insurance.

To speak to one of our team members call 1300 300 511.

Notice: Master Plumbers Insurance Brokers (Aust) (MPIB) is a trading name of Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 31 081 358 303, AFSL 238 369).

MPIB arranges the insurance and is not the insurer. This article contains general information, does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs and may not suit your personal circumstances. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal matters are based solely on our experience as insurance brokers and risk consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, accounting, tax, or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors. When arranging Public Liability Insurance, Marsh act under binding authority on behalf of Pacific Underwriting Corporation Pty Ltd (ABN 77 091 225 535, AFSL 237 270), who act as agent of the insurer, Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL 239 687). For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the covers and before making any decision about whether to acquire the product, refer to the specific policy wordings and/or Product Disclosure Statements available from Marsh Advantage on request. The Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) receives a financial benefit when a policy is arranged by Marsh Advantage, enabling it to continue to provide further services to the plumbing industry. LCPA 20/130

34 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

Cbus Promotion

Cbus delivers a positive result despite a challenging year It’s safe to say 2020 is proving to be a challenging year. In this year alone, we’ve experienced devastating bushfires in Australia and a global pandemic that caused unprecedented share market movements.

Despite the conditions, Cbus’ Growth (Cbus My Super) was able to deliver a positive result for the 2019/20 Financial Year of 0.75%*.

The longer term 5 and 10-year returns were 7.13% and 8.54% respectively, an important reminder that super is a long-term investment.

Looking ahead, the construction and building industry will play a major

role in what will be a long, nation-building recovery. Cbus is determined to play our part by investing our members’ savings back into the industry, creating jobs and contributing to a stronger economy.

Read the full investment update from Cbus’ Chief Investment Officer, Kristian Fok, at www.cbussuper.com. au/investment-jul20

Contact your local Cbus representative for business super needs Daniel Tentser Business Development Manager, VIC/TAS 0439 372 365 daniel.tentser@ cbussuper.com.au

This update was brought to you by Cbus, the industry super fund for building, construction and allied industries. This information is about Cbus and doesn’t take into account your specific needs. You should look at your own financial position, objectives and requirements before making any financial decisions. Read the relevant Cbus Product Disclosure Statement to decide if Cbus is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit cbussuper.com.au for a copy. *Cbus’ crediting rate is based on returns minus investment fees, taxes, and until 31 January 2020, the percentage- based administration fee. Excludes fees and costs that are deducted directly from members’ accounts. Past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future performance. Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 ASFL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262

Local service and support

Our dedicated and experienced statebased teams can help get your super sorted so you can get on with running your business.

Contact Daniel for your business super needs

Daniel Tentser – Business Development Manager, VIC 0439 372 365

cbussuper.com.au

daniel.tentser@cbussuper.com.au

You should read the Employer Handbook, Cbus Industry Superannuation Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and other relevant documentation to decide whether Cbus is right for you.

Call 1300 361 784 or visit www.cbussuper.com.au

Cbus’ Trustee: United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 Cbus ABN 75 493 363 262. www.plumber.com.au | 35

Member news Built to last Underneath some of the oldest parts of Victoria’s capital city, lies the pipework of yesteryear.

Peter Jensen speaks to Daniel Griffin about what he discovered.

The team from Chadoak Plumbing got a glimpse into Melbourne’s past when they replaced a section of water main on the corner of Queensbury and Peel streets in North Melbourne recently.

Chadoak’s Daniel Griffin said the company was completing Abandonment Works for City West Water for the new Metro Rail Tunnel.

“The water main would have been laid in the 1870s and has been

deemed a security risk to the tunnel and station due to its age. Part of our job was to dig up the section of water main and replace it with a new plastic main, laid in parallel.”

Master Plumbers’ member for more than 45 years, Chadoak Plumbing works in maintenance, construction and drainage as well as large infrastructure projects like the Metro Rail Tunnel.

The photos show a removed section of the main consisting of two materials.

1 The wrought iron section was made from flat plate and rolled to the 450mm diameter. The riveted joints required a man to be inside the pipe to assist with the riveting. The bituminous protection coating on the pipework can still be seen. Little rusting or barnacle growth was visible to the pipework. The holes punched in the pipe was to drain the water from the line.

2 The cast iron branch section has a 230mm flange joint which is sealed and bolted to the larger main section. The fossette (socket) joint is also very old school, being a leaded joint. Where molten lead was poured into the fossette joint and caulked/plugged in with various shaped hand chisels.

3 The cast iron TEE sections in the skip bin show leaded sockets, some broken.

Master Plumbers has a vast and growing collection of tools, fixtures and other plumbing relics. If you have anything to share, please contact Peter Jensen on 0451 744 336 or jensenpeterk@gmail.com

2 1

3 36 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

Loaders were transported across two state borders in the middle of COVID-19 border restrictions

Remote project specialists The team at Cooke & Dowsett demonstrated excellent teamwork, planning and execution recently on a major remote project on the Curtin RAAF base in Derby, WA in partnership with Kullarri Builders and Nudj Plumbing Services.

In addition to other critical works, the group was tasked with cleaning four 1800mm and 1350mm diameter concrete pipes that stretch about 310m long and lay beneath the runway of the Curtin RAAF base.

Due to the special conditions of the work, small remote-controlled loaders were used to remove the silt that had built up in the pipes over the years. The only problem was that these loaders were in North Queensland, almost 4000km away!

Undeterred by a bit of a challenge, the team – led by the outstanding planning, research and coordination from Jarrad Sara and Dave Stimpson – were able to transport the loaders from Bundaberg and Rockhampton in QLD to Derby in WA, across two state borders that each included quarantine requirements in the middle of COVID-19 border restrictions.

Vale Clifford ‘Arthur’ Robinson Master Plumbers is saddened by the passing of 50-year member and industry stalwart Arthur Robinson.

Arthur began his plumbing journey in 1960, becoming an apprentice at the age of 16. It was humble beginnings for Arthur, who found himself a pillion passenger on a motorbike – the primary work vehicle of the company with which he worked. Yes, you read that right, not a ute but a motorbike!

During his apprenticeship he was mentored by Neil Slatter & Peter Crane who provided valuable trade oversight.

Upon completing his apprenticeship, Arthur went out on his own as Arthur Robinson Plumbing, running his business from the rear shed of his childhood home in Magnolia Avenue, Mildura.

Arthur was very progressive and enjoyed a lot of client interaction (not to mention the occasional

Fast Facts

heated exchange) and over many years developed a substantial plumbing enterprise that endured various industry changes and developments.

Arthur faced his biggest challenge in 1986 when he suffered a fall that severely damaged his spine, requiring rehabilitation and significant hospital treatment for an extended period. Not one to sit idly and let the world go by, he arranged for a CB Radio to be placed by his bedside in the hospital to maintain a 24/7 on-call service and keep the business going.

An apprenticeship with Arthur Robinson was surely a lesson learned for those who had the privilege. Many have furthered their careers with Arthur Robinson Plumbing and some have pursued successful ventures of their own.

Never hesitant in venturing outside of his comfort zone, Robinson Plumbing travelled as far as Ceduna in South Australia – exactly 1000km west of Mildura. It was this willingness to travel that provided the opportunity to grow the business into Broken Hill (three hours north of the main office) in 1997, a branch that has been going strong since.

Arthur loved to give back to the community and industry that supported him. He was an active member of Master Plumbers Association for more than 50 years and in his later years, Arthur also had a significant presence in Rotary, where he held various senior positions including President and a term of District Governorship.

Arthur’s founding principle of good service and professionalism will be his legacy.

Drinking water

1%

In the cities of many developed countries, only 1% of water is used for actual drinking.

Drinking-quality water is used to flush toilets, wash clothes and to water gardens.

From a Global study by Hoekstra and Chapagain www.plumber.com.au | 37

Product news Aussie Pumps Aussie Pumps’ new Cobra A Cube 4,000 psi, drain-cleaning jetter is Class A under Safety Standards AS/NZS 4233.01 (no need for RTO certification). Designed and built in Australia, the ‘Cube’ jetter is 20% more space efficient than the trolley-mounted version.

The ‘Big Berty’ Bertolini, heavy duty triplex pump delivers a flow at 20-litres per minute.

Fast Facts

This combined with the 4,000-psi pressure, makes the jetter ideal for clearing drains of up to 6” in diameter. Power is provided by a 23hp, Honda GX630 petrol twin cylinder petrol engine with ‘low oil alert’ engine protection. This entry level jetter means plumbers can get into drain jetting with a capable, purpose-built unit for under $8,000.

For more information, visit aussiepumps.com.au

Our water usage 341,000 litres

On average, each Australian uses 341,000 litres of water each year. We are the most carefree water users on the planet, and we live on the driest continent on the planet!

279,000 litres

The closest to us is Canada in distant second with 279,000 litres per year.

From a Global study by Hoekstra and Chapagain

38 | Australian Plumbing Industry Magazine | Spring 2020

Melbourne Jetter With more than 21-years’ experience, the Melbourne Jetter Centre specialises in all aspects of jetting equipment, sales, servicing, repairs, spares and accessories.

As a small company they take pride in what they do. Their core values are supplying the highest quality

Polymaster The 2020 litre tank and built-in pump packages (BSLT2020) are the ideal solution for plumbers looking for a product that reduces installation and connection time to less than 10 minutes.

If you’re tight on space these slimline tanks have a small footprint and can fit through tight doorways or be placed right against a wall.

of equipment at competitive prices while delivering prompt and friendly service.

Their workshop is always well-

They understand what trades need to run their business hassle free. They stock a broad range of jetting units including Aussie Pumps, Bar Group, Jetters Edge and are the preferred repair agent for these companies.

installations of new or previously

equipped for servicing and repairs and they are well known for superior owned jetters to utes, trucks or vans.

For more information, visit www.crockfordco.com.au or phone (03) 9792 2350.

• Certified to AS/NZS 4766 for rainwater tank • 90mm Overflows and 25mm outlets are fitted on both ends to suit any setup • Single and double story pump options available • Achieve 6-Star Energy rating on new builds • 12 Colourbond colours available • Easy grip handles built-in making it easy to move on-site • Heavy-duty screen mesh is fitted into the lid For more information, visit polymaster.com.au or call Darrel Clinch directly on 0419 560 073.

www.plumber.com.au | 39

PAID

AUSTRALIA

PP100019076

POSTAGE

PRINT POST

Prefer digital?

If you’d prefer a feature-packed digital version of Australian Plumbing Magazine delivered straight to your inbox, just let us know...

For subscription changes, call 1800 133 871 or email info@plumber.com.au

PO Box 214 Brunswick VIC 3056

If undeliverable, return to

go to plumber.com.au/godigital or email communications@plumber.com.au

Or scan this QR code with your phone camera and we’ll take you straight there!