Australian Plumbing - Spring 2023

SAVE SPACE IN YOUR BATHROOM

Self-Closing Space Saver Waste Valve

NO MORE OF THIS

Abey’s new Space Saver with Self Closing Waste Valve has been designed for bathroom basins to give you back your valuable vanity space. Bulky ugly waste traps are a thing of the past. Low profile in design the Space Saver Waste valve brings the pipe plumbing straight to the back of your vanity giving you more storage space below the basin cabinet.

Unlike traditional traps that uses a water trap within a bulky ‘U’ bend pipe, Abey’s Space Save has an internal membrane which opens under water pressure to allow discharge to flow freely and then closes to form a seal to prevent foul odour or sewer gas entering the building.

WV-1-A Horizontal Waterless Trap

SENTRY GS (EFV)

SENTRY GS excess flow valves (EFV) for residential installation shut off the gas flow when a predefined closing flow rate is reached. Maxitrol’s factory adjustment (100%) provides a precise and reliable closing flow rate. In nominal flow range, the EFV remains in a stable, open position.

The SENTRY EFV is installed downstream of the main gas manual shut-off valve and the regulator. SENTRY GS EFVs with bypass orifice reopen automatically after the downstream line has been repaired and re-pressurized.

SENTRY GS EFV for Residential Installations:

 C omplies with the new AS/NZS5601.1 (Clause 5.2.11) Installation Codes (mandatory March 31, 2023)

 WA. mandatory installation date: June 31. 2023

 The pressure drop through the valve is ≤ 0.5 mbar (50 Pa) @ nominal flow

 Operating pressure range for (AU/NZ) 1.25 kPa,– 10 kPa,

 SENTRY GS “Z” model is for horizontal and upward flow direction

 SENTRY GS “D” model is for downward flow direction only

 Threaded connections comply with EN 10226-1 (ISO 7-1) from AU/NZ 3/4" to 1-1/4" (DN20 – DN40)

 BS 746 connections available

 Nominal flows from 1.6 m3/h natural gas to 16 m3/h

 Closing factor of type “K” is between 1.3 and 1.45. The trip flow is 30 – 45 % above nominal flow.

 It is the type “K” per definition in the standard(DIN 30652-1.)

 Maxitrol patented damper function (DN 15 – 25) can avoid a nuisance shut-off in case of flow peaks.

Example of installation position

Emmanuel Al-Jinavo has always believed in giving back and that will never change

Australian Plumbing Industry magazine 15/306 Albert Street Brunswick VIC 3056 australianplumbingindustry.com.au

Subscription changes

To change your details or to unsubscribe, call 1800 133 871 or email info@plumber.com.au

Print post number: PP100019076

Contacts

Master Plumbers General enquiries (03) 9329 9622

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

Advertising (03) 9329 9622 advertising@plumber.com.au

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

to the Spring edition of Australian Plumbing Welcome

Victoria, for example, has set ambitious targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 28 to 33 per cent by 2025 and 45 to 50 per cent by 2030 and to do so, has made a policy decision to transition away from natural gas.

This is a big challenge as the Victorian economy is extremely gas reliant including for the generation of our electrical power. With over two million domestic gas connections state-wide and hundreds more commercial and industrial users, the scale of the planned transition is enormous, and plumbers and gasfitters will be the key to making the transition happen successfully.

In late July, the Victorian Government changed the trajectory of the gas transition roadmap by announcing a ban on all gas connections in new domestic builds from 1 January 2024. The announcement was made without any consultation with industry, is short on detail and has sent shockwaves across our industry. Master Plumbers has expressed its concerns widely and we have slammed in the media both the decision and the way it was announced.

The plumbing industry is at the forefront of the clean-energy transition to a low-carbon economy and is already developing further skills, infrastructure and technology to support it, including development of 100% carbon-neutral hydrogen and bio-gas energy sources for use in the existing distribution network. Many of our members are deeply invested in the latest gas and heat pump technology and this is not about choosing one or the other – it is about fit-for-purpose energy. And it’s also about holding government to

What does this all mean for our industry?

account for decisions made without engaging the very industry it is expecting to deliver on its promises. The potential for gas to play a role in our low-carbon economy should not be ignored. Victoria has in place some of the most extensive and well-maintained pipeline infrastructure in the world. Government must recognise the potential value of the State’s gas networks to distribute fuels like green hydrogen, while considering ways to retain the connections and distribution architecture that will help keep Victoria’s sustainable energy options open for consumers, ensure we are not reliant on only one energy source or industry for our power and maintain competition in the energy market.

In Victoria, we have over 20,000 licensed and registered gasfitters and ultimately, including hydrogen as part of Victoria’s energy mix would preserve the skills of those already in the industry, while opening the door for thousands of highly skilled, long term and low carbon jobs. The promise of only $1 million in new funding to assist the entire construction industry to deliver what the Government has promised in this announcement is completely unrealistic.

Plumbing businesses around Australia are the trusted advisors to consumers and building managers in making informed decisions in homes, workplaces and public spaces about energy choices. What we need is for governments around Australia to be open to working with us to pave a practical and sustainable path to a low carbon economy.

Norm Anderson President, Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia

What does this all mean for our industry? Stay tuned for our next edition of Australian Plumbing for interviews with experts from all sides of the debate, technical detail on the technologies that will play a key role in the transition and comparisons on the actual cost to consumers.

There is significant policy momentum in Australia to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for energy production, with most States and Territories committing to emission-reductions targets.

Industry feature

Plumbing

Australia has an ambitious goal to become a majorglobal player in the hydrogen industry in the next decade – in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 43 per cent below 2005 levels by the end of the decade. Hydrogen is now being blended with natural gas to supply homes and businesses and is helping to power cars, trucks and even barbecues around the country.

And if Geelong’s boutique engineering firm Austeng has its way, hydrogen may also completely revolutionise the crematoria sector in years to come.

“The much talked about promise of green hydrogen is harnessing the power of electricity generated from renewables to split water atoms to capture hydrogen that can power heavy industry with a zero emissions fuel. Hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent in Australia alone to develop the industry,” explains Ross George, Managing Director of Austeng. “Fuels producing high flame temperatures such as hydrogen are well suited for cremation whether retro fitted to existing equipment or purpose built. By adapting cremation systems to utilise clean renewable fuels, there is an opportunity to create a sustainable means of departure for humankind.”

Research conducted in South Australia in 2008 found that 160 kilograms of carbon dioxide is produced on the day of a cremation. Ross says that current estimates indicate that there are more than 32,000 cremations conducted in Victoria each year.

Austeng has calculated that natural gas fired cremators contribute to 1594 tonnes of Victoria’s CO2 emissions per year. If 35 per cent of the energy required per cremation were to be from green hydrogen, as hydrogen doesn’t create any CO2 when combusted, this would see an annual reduction of CO2 emissions in Victoria alone of 556 tonnes.

Austeng has a reputation as Australia’s leading supplier of engineering services to the cemetery and crematoria industries, manufacturing as well as servicing high-standard cremators and associated equipment such as cremovacs and automated charge biers. Having already explored the promotion of environmental sustainability outcomes including geopolymer as an alternative to concrete and alkaline hydrolysis process “water cremators,” investigating a hydrogen fueled cremator seemed like a logical next step.

Thanks to a grant from the Victorian Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Business Ready Fund, established to enable businesses to identify pathways to transition to renewable hydrogen, that’s exactly what Austeng has done over the past two years.

“It took us about 18 months to do background research on industry requirements and then to design, manufacture, install and commission the hydrogen burner, which necessitated working closely with Energy Safe Victoria to identify and comply with regulatory requirements,” says Ross.

“Consents were obtained for the complex pipework medication to existing gas burner, also a key step was the establishment of operational and safety requirements and preparation of thorough procedures and processes to enable success.”

Local plumbing business and Master Plumbers member TJ Coles Plumbing (profiled on page 24) has also been involved in finalising the prototype demonstration model, which was showcased at a launch event

The plumbing industry has a key role to play in making the Victorian economy “hydrogen ready” and in supporting the safe installation and maintenance of appliances, like the cremator

Hydrogen is hitting homes and business including, most recently, the crematoria sector. Kathryn Kernohan delves into the latest industry to take a step toward a cleaner future.

Photos (above left): L-R Ella George (Member for Lara), Minister Lily D’Ambrosio (Minister for Energy and Resources), Ross George (AUSTENG); (above right): L-R Tim Cleary and Ross George (AUSTENG) and Minister Lily D’Ambrosio

attended by Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio. Ross told attendees that the demonstration shows “that the crematoria sector and mainstream industry more generally that green hydrogen can be easily, safely and quickly integrated into our respective operations with no business risk.”

Critical to the success of the project has been the support of the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA), which Austeng has been involved with since the 1980s.

“ACCA as well as some other large crematoria organisations provided a letter of support, and the Geelong Cemeteries Trust was a supporting partner in the grant application and very encouraging throughout,” says Ross.

“The hydrogen blend step is just the first step towards the final aim of 100 per cent powered hydrogen cremations. We are exploring with some organisations to retrofit existing cremators with a natural gas and hydrogen blend as a step towards paving the way to the conversion of 100 per cent hydrogen in the future.”

Austeng is not aware of any other countries using hydrogen-fueled crematoria furnaces, and is already fielding enquiries from New Zealand, Europe and the UK.

As for the next steps, Austeng is looking to roll out its hydrogen-blend technology with existing crematoria customers, work with customers to establish green hydrogen supply chains and continue development

on utilising increasingly larger hydrogen blends on the way to 100 per cent.

“The potential is enormous and lessons from the project will be applicable to decarbonising other gas-fired industrial processes in the future.”

Master Plumbers CEO, Peter Daly, who attended the showcase event with board members and staff says the plumbing industry has a key role to play in making the Victorian economy “hydrogen ready” and in supporting the safe installation and maintenance of appliances, like the cremator, which has been granted Type B gas appliance approval from Energy Safe Victoria.

Peter says that Master Plumbers has been anticipating the current shift towards hydrogen for some time.

“That’s why our state-of-the-art PICAC training facilities in Brunswick and Narre Warren are being equipped with world-class hydrogen training equipment, including separate zones where training can structure towards hydrogen gas. In Queensland, PICAC has a purposebuilt, world-class Hydrogen Centre of Excellence to train or retrain practitioners to use blended or pure hydrogen safely.

We believe that Australia is well-placed to embrace and take advantage of the possibilities and opportunities provided by hydrogen, recognising that blanket electrification will not support all our energy needs in the foreseeable future.”

Photos (above left): L-R Sam Welsh (MP), Aaron Bridger (MP), Peter Daly (MP CEO), Travis Coles (TJ Coles Plumbing), Michael Tomlinson (former MP Board); (above right): L-R Michael Tomlinson, Peter Daly, Minister Lily D’Ambrosio (Minister for Energy and Resources) and Ella George (Member for Lara)

Your questions

Ever installed a downpipe spreader and wondered if it complies? Look no further, in this edition Master Plumbers’ technical advisor, Sam Welsh, talks roof spreaders and flashings.

Spreaders may be used to drain rainwater from a higher roof surface with a catchment area not exceeding 15m², provided the conditions of the standards are satisfied. See figure 1.

When installing a spreader onto a lower roof section, there are quite a few limitations on where you can and can’t have the spreader discharging.

As HB 39 states, no spreader is to discharge roof water onto or over ridge tiles, mortar-jointed tiles, flashings, timber fascia or a roof sheet side lap. Discharging water from a spreader must not enter any part of a building. Spreaders also must not discharge onto roof sheets or tiles discharging to a valley. The increased water volume from the upper roof is not to enter any seam or lap of the roof coverings of the lower roof section. Very importantly, spreaders should discharge all roof water onto roof coverings in the same direction of flow.

Figure 1

Figure 2

answered

Now we have the upper roof catchment water discharging, can the lower roof handle all this extra water?

When discharging an upper roof catchment onto a lower roof, the total roof area including the additional upper roof catchment area is to be considered for inclusion when sizing the lower roof’s gutters, down pipes, while ensuring the overflow provisions are sized for the additional load.

When looking at tiled roofs, should you sark?

When discharging onto a tiled roof, the lower section is to be sarked a minimum width of 1800mm, either side of the point of discharge extending down to the gutter. Furthermore, consideration should be given to sarking the roof below any upper gutters to allow for any overflow provision of the higher catchment areas.

What about metal roofing?

When the spreader discharges onto a corrugated roof, each lap within a minimum of 1800mm either side of the point of discharge is to be sealed the full length of the laps.

Ever installed flashings and wondered how to meet the deemed to satisfy provision of the Australian standards with fixing flashings

to the roof and joining to other flashings?

(a) Fixing of flashings

Roof flashings and cappings are to be tightly notched and fastened. When installing flashings onto a concealed fastened roof, you can fix flashings down with rivets or self-drive tapping screws at intervals no more than 300mm. When installing flashings on corrugated roof using self-drive tapping screws or rivets and fixed every fourth rib.

(b) Jointing of flashings and cappings

Joints are to be no less than 25mm cover of lap and fastened at intervals not exceeding 40mm centers and sealed. Joints are to lap in the direction of flow. Joints in flashings and capping’s other than straight joints must be accurately mitered, fastened, and sealed. All joints are to be watertight on completion of the installation. See figure 2.

Furthermore, parapet capping’s are to be fixed to parapet walls at intervals not exceeding 500mm with masonry anchor and cleats that permit longitudinal expansion and contraction. A minimum fall of 3° is to be provided across the width of the flashing, allowing water to divert back onto the roof coverings. This prevents the water from dripping down the fascia causing unsightly staining.

Victorian news

Why gas ban disappoints

Master Plumbers has expressed concern and disappointment about the Victorian Government’s recent announcement to ban new gas connections to homes.

The announcement to refuse planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions which want to connect to gas from 1 January 2024 was made without consultation and is short on details.

Master Plumbers CEO Peter Daly said that the Victorian Government had let the industry and consumers down when making far-reaching changes to policy.

“Plumbing businesses design, install and maintain the critical infrastructure, which Victorians rely on to safely and securely go about their daily lives,”

Mr Daly said.

“For the Government to drop an announcement like this without any substantive consultation is disappointing but unfortunately not surprising given previous changes to regulation of the industry, which proved to be unworkable.”

Mr Daly said that it was difficult to understand how promises could be made about energy savings without engaging with the very businesses that help consumers and building managers make informed choices in homes, workplaces and public spaces about heating, cooling, hot water and cooking.

“Our members are on the ground helping people reduce their carbon footprint and they see the limitations and costs that can come from choices which don’t deliver on

their expectations. It would be entirely understandable if consumers are becoming cynical about more government announcements on future energy savings when all they see is their bills increasing and options being restricted.”

Mr Daly said that the plumbing industry is at the forefront of the clean energy transition to a low carbon economy and is developing further skills, infrastructure and technology to support this, including development of 100% carbon neutral hydrogen and bio-gas energy sources for use in the existing distribution network.

“The only welcome part of today’s announcement is the stated recognition from the Victorian Government that plumbers (and electricians) will be the key to delivering this critical transition.”

Mr Daly said that while the commitment from the government to training was welcomed, it fell far short.

“The promise of only $1 million in new funding to assist the entire construction industry deliver what the Government has promised in this announcement is completely unrealistic.

“We want to work with government on the clean energy transition, but it needs to work on its engagement with industry.”

For the latest updates visit: plumber.com.au/gas_ban

Fast-track flood recovery

Master Plumbers Victoria has teamed up with the Victorian Government to provide people impacted by the October 2022 Victorian floods with access to qualified plumbers.

Finding qualified tradespeople to deliver repairs and building works has always been a challenge for regional communities. With more than 1700 homes destroyed and thousands more damaged across 64 Local Government Areas following the storm and floods, the Victorian Government has rolled out the Connecting Community to Builders Program. The program links people with available local plumbers, builders, and other tradespeople to speed up the rebuilding process.

With many flood-impacted people living in temporary accommodation, this partnership between Master Plumbers Victoria and the Victorian Government will ensure our trusted members have direct access to Victorians in need, helping the industry to fast-track recovery in our communities.

If you’d like to know more about the program and apply as an available plumber, get in touch with membership@plumber.com.au For more information, head to planning.vic.gov.au and search for the Connecting Community to Builders Program.

Find your local association

Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (Victoria)

T (03) 9329 9622

Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania

T (03) 6272 2199

Master Plumbers Association of Queensland

T (07) 3273 0800

Master Plumbers & Gasfitters Association of Western Australia

T (08) 9471 6661

Master Plumbers Association ACT Inc

T (02) 6112 8630

Master Plumbers Association of South Australia

T (08) 8292 4000

Master Plumbers & Mechanical Contractors Association of New South Wales

T (02) 8789 7000

How to make an enterprise agreement

As a result of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs Better Pay) Act 2022 coming into operation, the Fair Work Commission was required to develop a Statement of Principles (SOP) to ensure employees agree to a new enterprise agreement (EA).

The SOP contains five (5) parts:

1 The requirement to inform the employees covered by the proposed EA of their right to be represented by a bargaining representative. The distribution of the Notice of Employee Representational Rights should, in some instances, satisfy this requirement.

2 The requirement to give employees a reasonable opportunity to consider the proposed EA. The distribution of the proposed EA and incorporated material should satisfy this requirement.

3 The requirement to inform and explain to employees the terms of the proposed EA. The distribution of a summary of the EA that compares and / or explains the terms and conditions (T&Cs) contained in the EA as compared to any existing EA that covers the employees should satisfy this requirement. If the proposed EA is to replace an award/s, it would be necessary to explain and compare the T&Cs.

4 The requirement to give employees reasonable opportunity to vote on the proposed EA in a free and informed manner. This includes notifying the employees of the time, place and method of vote. In order to satisfy this requirement, employees would need a voting process that ensures the vote of each employee is not disclosed to or ascertainable by the employer,

and a method and period of voting that provides all employees entitled to vote with a fair and reasonable opportunity to cast a vote. In addition, employees should be informed of the time, place and method for the vote at least seven (7) calendar days before the day on which voting starts.

5 Other matters the Commission needs to consider before approving the proposed EA include ensuring that the people asked to vote on the proposed enterprise agreement have a sufficient interest in the terms of the proposed EA. In order to satisfy this requirement, it would be necessary to demonstrate that the employees who voted on the proposed enterprise agreement are covered by one of the classifications in the EA, are representative of the types of

employment (fulltime, parttime, casual), and/or are in the geographic location that it proposes to cover.

The Commission is still required to consider the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT), which has been updated to allow the Commission to vary an EA (that has been previously approved by the Commission) if the Commission is of the view that the EA doesn’t (now) pass the BOOT or to reconsider the EA if circumstances have changed.

An application for approval of an enterprise agreement that satisfies the SOP would, on the presumption that it meets the other statutory tests, be approved by the Commission.

Victorian news

Master Plumbers’ Apprentice Awards and Graduation 2023

Each year Master Plumbers celebrates the graduating class with an award ceremony combined with their graduation. This year several top-performing graduates came out on top of a strong list of nominees. Each demonstrated skill, effort and commitment as they worked through Master Plumbers’ Registered Training Organisation and Plumbing Apprenticeships Victoria (PAV) programs.

Master Plumbers’ Apprentice Awards

Master Plumbers’ RTO Awards

Nominees: Ben Cortese, Claude Pagano, Grant Agnelli, Greg Germanier, Jordan Wolrath, James Fisher, Jasmine Garner, Travis Blackney and Patrick Riley

Winners:

Most Outstanding

1st Year Apprentice Award

Sponsored by Milwaukee: Claude Pagano

Most Outstanding

2nd Year Apprentice Award

Sponsored by Testo: James Fisher

Most Outstanding

3rd Year Apprentice Award

General Plumbing

Sponsored by Reece: Jasmine Garner

Most Outstanding

3rd Year Apprentice Award

Mechanical Services

Sponsored by Rheem: Greg Germanier

Plumbing Apprenticeships Victoria Awards

Nominees: Ari Messiakaris, Austin King. Clint Maloney, Daniel Brekalo, Flynn Read, Fran Cowie, Hadi Mohammadi, Hayley Bransden, Jack Forbes, James Christakos, Jessah Iliopoulous, Joseph Caputo, Justin Coleiro, Louis Gaud, Mark Benson, Martin Brennan, Matthew Pulvirenti, Michaela Healey, Pasquale Angelino, Rexhep Demiri, Robert Boribon, Romain

Leveille-Nizerolle, Shi Tong and Zane Harrison

Winners:

Sir Rohan Delacombe 1st Year Apprentice Award

Sponsored by CBUS: Fran Cowie

Peter Pratt 2nd Year Apprentice Award

Sponsored by PBA Safety: Pasquale Angelino

Don Pritchard 3rd Year Apprentice Award

Sponsored by Incolink: Ari Messiakaris

Don Pritchard 3rd Year Apprentice Award

Sponsored by Incolink: Jessah Iliopoulos

Alfred Atherton 4th Year Apprentice Award

Sponsored by Caroma: Daniel Brekalo

Alfred Atherton 4th Year Apprentice Award

Sponsored by Caroma: Michaela Healey

Host Recognition Award: Axis Maintenance

Host Recognition Award: Geschke Pty Ltd

Host Recognition Award: Reliable Plumbing Services Australia

Host Recognition Award: Sagecon

2023 Plumbing Apprentices Victoria Graduating Apprentices: Antony Bradford, Blake Trevorrow, Eric Makridis, Gina Brook, Hadi Mohammadi, Henglong Zhu, Hexiang Gao, Jackson Pollock, Jacob Corps, Jake Costello, James Mort, Jason Prior, Julian Cowan, Matthew Pulvirenti, Matthew Glen, Michael Langdon, Mohseen Amer, Nathan Brien, Peter Cutrera, Robert Boribon, Sadiq Yusuf, Simon Micallef and Weiya Zhai

Event sponsors were Caroma, Cbus, Incolink, Milwaukee, PBA Safety, Women in Plumbing, Reece, Rheem and Testo

Tasmanian news

President’s report

Welcome members to the Spring Edition. I am pleased to provide an update on Master Plumbers Association Tasmania (MPAT) activities.

As members would know, Keystone Tasmania is a fabulous resource for the building and construction industry in Tasmania and has performed a range of very valuable training and workforce development activities (including course subsidies) over the past few years. Much of this innovative work has been undertaken by Dr Karin Mathison (CEO) and her dedicated team at Keystone Tas. Sadly, Karin decided to move on from Keystone Tasmania last month to take up new projects. Karin will be sorely missed by MPAT and our members. Keystone Tasmania will be appointing a new CEO in the future, and we look forward to continuing to work with Keystone in the coming months to achieve solid and equitable outcomes for all sectors of the building and construction industry in Tas. We wish Karin all the very best in her new endeavours and know that Karin will succeed in anything she chooses.

MPAT continues to work very closely with Keystone Tasmania, and we are

extremely grateful for their support to industry and subsidisation of our online CPD courses. We have 48 online CPD courses that are heavily or fully subsidised for Tasmanian plumbing practitioners. For more information visit https://elearn. cpdtoolbox.com.au/cpdelearn/ welcome and note that that CBOS will only allow four CPD points of WHS courses per renewal year.

A special thanks goes to all our fabulous members for their support and involvement in our association.

A very special thank you to Terence and Aiden Templar from Templar Roofing, who have closed their doors for greener pastures and a little less stress from running a very successful business! Terence and Aiden have been stalwarts of the roofing and cladding industry in Tasmania, and we have dearly appreciated their professional work and contribution to our industry. Stay safe Terence and Aiden and hopefully our paths will cross again.

Special thanks to all our fabulous members for their support and involvement in our association

Tasmanian news

Born to plumb

Damien Briggs describes himself as having been born and bred into the plumbing industry – but when he was younger, he had a different career path in mind.

“My father was a plumber, so I’ve been around the plumbing industry for my whole life,” Damien told Master Plumbers. “But when I was younger, I wanted to work with cars – I was a bit of a rev-head and a real car nut,” he says.

“I wanted to be a mechanic or a panel beater or a spray painter, and I did my pre-vocational course in mechanical and then panel beating and spray painting. But back at that stage apprenticeships were hard to come by.”

Damien’s father David founded Briggs Plumbing more than 30 years ago, so when Damien eventually decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, it felt like a natural progression.

“My father actually used to tell me not to become a plumber, because it’s really hard work. But once I decided to go for an interview, I felt it was the easiest thing to settle myself on. Because I’ve been involved in the industry my whole life, I was pretty confident that I would be a step ahead of most of the others going for the job,” he says.

Damien spent a year doing an apprenticeship with Fairbrother before moving into his father’s business. He says there was always an idea for him to take over Briggs

became ill, things happened quicker than planned.

“I’d worked for Dad for seven or eight years when I ended up purchasing the business off him. It was always the plan that I’d purchase and transition into ownership. But when he got sick it brought it forward sooner than what he was expecting.

Dad worked for me for four or five years and unfortunately passed away. If that hadn’t happened, he’d probably still be the boss and I’d be working for him still today.

“My father had a lot of pride in his honesty and his loyalty to his

customers, which keeps me striving to maintain that same integrity and same loyalty to the customers.”

Briggs Plumbing Tas is based in East Devonport and offers a mix of residential and commercial services, with a number of real estate and property management clients as well as longer-term customers.

“We have a lot of older clients, some that have been with the business for 40 years. It’s pretty rare in a day that I don’t have one of the old customers and get to hear some fond memories about my father. It’s good and it keeps me on my toes to hear about how he used to run things.”

Damien Briggs

My father had a lot of pride in his honesty and his loyalty to his customers

Balancing management of the business with time on the tools is a bit of a juggling act, but Damien says he enjoys the mix.

“I went from being a plumber, working for Dad on the tools and doing some quotations and stuff like that, having to learn pretty quickly to do the other side of things. We’re a fairly small firm at the moment, I’ve only got a couple of plumbers.

“At the moment, I’m probably 60 per cent in the office and 40 per cent on the tools. Being in the office has given me a new appreciation for getting out, not so much just on the tools, but even the days that I’m out and about quoting, being able to get out and talk with people makes you realise how much the social aspect of your day really matters.”

Five years ago, Damien received an invitation to sit on the Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania’s Board. His first response was that it wasn’t right for him – but looking back, he’s glad he reconsidered.

“When I was invited, I was a fairly shy and reserved person. Dad was a very proud member of Master Plumbers for a lot of years, so I’ve always known what they were about. So, when I thought about it, I thought the plumbing industry is wholly and solely responsible for my livelihood. I felt that I owed the plumbing industry a bit, and wanted to give back as much as I could.

“Being part of the Board has definitely been a good thing for me. It’s important to me that I get to represent the state’s northwest, a lot of local plumbers have often got things they want me to take to the Board so it’s great they’ve got some representation down this way.”

South Australian news

Fined $125,000 for fake reviews

The Federal Court has fined a plumbing company $125,000 for a “sophisticated and well-planned” scheme using fake reviews of its services to mislead consumers.

The Commissioner for Consumer Affairs began legal action against the business and its subsidiaries accusing alleging it engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct – a breach of the Australian Consumer Act.

The Court heard that between 2017 and 2019, the business posted 126 fake reviews to the Yellow Pages website, with a further 16 fake reviews and nine fake proof of purchase documents submitted to the Product Review website. It later posted six fake reviews and one fake invoice to the Product Review website.

It then used the fake Yellow Pages reviews to advertise on their website that it had a rating of 4.8 out of five stars.

Acting Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Fraser Stroud said consumers

often rely on seemingly independent websites and online reviews when choosing a trade.

“This business undertook a coordinated and sophisticated campaign designed to deceive consumers, creating fake consumers and – in the case of the Product Review website – developed dummied up invoices for their non-existent customers.

“In posting the fake reviews, a VPN would mask the source’s location, demonstrating just how far the business was prepared to go to keep up this pretence.”

Justice Shawn McElwaine fined the business a total of $125,000 and ordered the company to publish a notice on its website acknowledging its conduct, the Court’s finding and the fine.

For more information on the specifics of the case visit cbs.sa.gov.au and search fake reviews.

A “sophisticated and well-planned” scheme using fake reviews of its services to mislead consumers

Flexibility is paramount

Drainage systems in kitchens or food and production facilities can be critical to their operation. These systems need to cater to the specific needs of each facility and install scenario, this will likely include hydraulic performance, load rating, slip resistance and ongoing cleaning / maintenance. Each commercial kitchen or production facility will have a unique layout to best enhance the efficiency of its operation. This often results in machinery/equipment and workstations being in defined locations with services designed to fit and cater to that exact space and requirement.

Allproof’s commercial kitchen channel (CK Series) has been a key go to product for these projects. Customisation has been widely utilised to develop the best solution for each installation, when customising a CK Series product the installer can select from a variety of variables such as size, outlet location, quantity of outlets

and grate options. While this option provides a high degree of flexibility it also involves lead times as Allproof’s team of fabricators need to draw/ design it before cutting a flat pattern, folding, welding, and cleaning. Some projects might have tight timelines which do not allow for this process, therefore Allproof have designed an innovative modular channel, the MC Series, which can be assembled from stock components to create desired layouts.

The MC Series provides a high degree of flexibility by creating layouts to suit the requirements of each installation. For example, if located in front of a chiller door a 1m channel and sump could be selected, creating a 1200mm length drainage system spanning the width of the opening. A slip resistant ladder (SRL) grate would provide an ideal solution for fast moving foot traffic and heavy.

from around the nation

30,110 Plumbing businesses in Australia

70,051 Employees in the Plumbing Services industry

415,240 Apprentices and trainees in the Plumbing Services industry

Cbus Super delivers a healthy financial year return

Cbus has delivered a healthy return of 8.95%* for its Growth (MySuper) investment option for the last financial year. This brings the three-year average annual return to 7.76%*.

Over the long term, we have also delivered strong investment outcomes for our members, with an average annual return of 8.89%* since inception 39 years ago.

This result has been achieved despite the continued volatility in investment markets that has characterised the

last three years. The volatility has been driven by factors such as the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, various banking crises, persistently high-global inflation and resulting rising interest rates.

Cbus’ highly diversified portfolios and robust investment strategy have been built to withstand short term fluctuations and have allowed the Fund to grow their members’ retirement savings over the long-term, which is what super is designed to deliver.

*Growth (MySuper) investment performance is based on the crediting rate, which is the return 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. This information is about Cbus Super. It doesn’t account for your specific needs. Please consider your financial position, objectives and requirements before making financial decisions. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination to decide if Cbus Super is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit cbussuper.com.au United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 as trustee for the Construction and Building Unions Superannuation Fund (Cbus and/or Cbus Super) ABN 75 493 363 262.

For more information, search youtube Cbus Chief Investment Officer, Brett Chatfield. www.youtube.com/ watch?v=eeh2H3bX6R4

The complete package

“Something I was taught as an apprentice was that if you’re going to do a job, you try and do as much of it as you can yourself,” says the founder and owner of Geelong’s TJ Coles Plumbing.

“With all of my clients, I try and do all their work where I can. I do the gas, the plumbing, the roofing and the hot and cold. If it means that they don’t have to call in different trades to do different things, it’s ultimately better for the client.”

Travis’ journey in the industry has taken him in several different directions, but he still recalls the advice of his mother when he was a young man.

“She was a school teacher and she always instilled in us to do a trade.

I ended up leaving school in Year 10 in New South Wales and did a

plumbing pre-apprenticeship at Wagga Wagga TAFE when I was 16. I remember I got a worker’s license to be able to drive 70kms each way to TAFE, New South Wales was ahead of the game at the time,” he says. After moving to Jan Juc, Travis undertook an apprenticeship with Ron Diamond Plumbing where he got to work on major commercial projects in Melbourne and on the surf coast.

“We did the Cumberland [resort] at Lorne, Werribee Plaza and a lot of commercial work and houses all the way along the Bellarine Peninsula to Apollo Bay. With the residential jobs, we’d do all the work from the septic tank to the sewer, the stormwater tanks and the water pumps. It was fantastic to get such a good grasp of plumbing. After I got my

apprenticeship, I stayed and worked with him for another two years.”

Travis then had a bit of a career pivot and worked in the hospitality industry, including owning several pubs, but maintained his plumbing licence and dabbled where he could. When a workplace injury forced a rethink, he decided to return to plumbing full-time and established TJ Coles Plumbing.

“I started with just myself and now I have three guys, I still like to be really hands-on. I’ve had a couple of apprentices come through who’ve gone on to become great plumbers, and I like that side of it too, training the next generation of plumbers” he says.

TJ Coles has been working with the St Marys Parish Geelong on the historic landmark St Mary of the

From resorts and churches to schools and wineries, no two working days are ever the same for Travis Coles. Kathryn Kernohan finds out why Travis strives to have a diversity of clients and provide a diverse range of trades.

Angels Basilica in Geelong, for more than a decade, providing services including roof maintenance, drainage, and downpipes. “My favourite part of the job is being able to work with copper in this amazing building.”

The businesses’ unique drain diagnostics work also makes it in demand with schools and other domestic and commercial clients.

“I’ve got a vehicle that can find problems and unblock drains. It’s all via CCTV so you can record what you see, locate broken pipes, and dig them up, fix them or I refer my client to a local relining company to reline them. We use the equipment pretty much every day, which has been a great learning tool for my apprentices to reinforce why it is so important to lay the drain correctly.

“We also work with a full turn-key

beverage solutions provider just outside of Geelong where they crush, bottle and keg. The diagnostics work means that if they’ve got a blockage or a burst pipe, we can go out, diagnose it, fix it and they don’t have to lose any production. You get the job fixed quickly and they can move on,” he says.

Over recent years, Travis has also worked closely with Geelong’s Deakin University where part of his work was on hydrogen pipeline testing, where people from Deakin were testing “how much hydrogen they could put in gas mains without compromising the pipes.” From there, he worked with Austeng on their hydrogen crematorium project (see page 8).

“My current work supporting leading edge manufactures and developers

ensures that I have a front row seat at being able to work with a number of local businesses such as BNNT Technology Pty Ltd which manufactures Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNt’s) super flexible fibres that are stronger than any metal or carbon fibre,” says Travis.

“I feel so lucky to be able to work across so many different parts of the industry, including new resources like hydrogen which will continue to integrate into our lives.”

“I am very fortunate to still have my mum and dad clients, many that have been with me since the beginning. Servicing these domestic clients ensure that I can teach my apprentices how important it is to have a basic skill set. It’s a great mix and I love it.”

TJ Coles has been working with the St Marys Parish Geelong for more than a decade, providing services including roof maintenance, drainage, and downpipes

Get positive

In our last issue, Curtis de la Harpe detailed how to deal with negative reviews. Now, the Master Plumbers’ Marketing and Communications Manager reveals how to ignite positive reviews.

Getting positive reviews is a bit like freshwater fishing. It takes time, patience and effort. There will be times where no matter how hard you try; you just won’t get a bite. But when you do land a 5-star review it makes the work worth it.

First tactic

Ask. Simply ask for a review. It may feel awkward but nine times out of 10, if you ask someone for a review after doing a good job, they will say

yes. However, there is still one other hurdle. Even after saying yes, not all will deliver, so it is imperative you make it simple for them to leave the review.

Second step

There are multiple places for someone to leave a review. Choose one as customers are not likely to leave multiple reviews. My recommendation is to focus on Google Reviews. These tend to

weigh the most, as when a customer is looking for a plumber, they are most likely to use Google.

The good thing is that Google has spent a lot of time and money to own the review space, and to do that, they have made it easy for someone to leave a review. You can get a link from Google that goes directly to a page that allows someone to leave a review for your business. If you Google “google review link” there are several guides.

Third step

Get that link out there! If your excellent work is the bait, the review link is the cast, and you just need to reel it in. You want to cast as many

reviews

times as you can. Make sure to include it in your emails to customers that are happy, on your invoices and, if you want to be creative, you can use a free QR code generator to make a QR code to put on calling cards or business cards.

Fourth step

As I said in the last edition, answer your reviews. If you get that glowing 5-star review, thank them. Show that you appreciate their support. It will encourage others to leave reviews.

What not to do

It is really tempting to ask friends or employees to leave reviews, or worse, pay for some. Don’t!

You might score a handful of reviews, but it is not worth the risk of people seeing through them and not trusting the genuine reviews on your page, or even worse, being fined by the ACCC and Google deleting your profile for violating its Terms of Service. See page 19 for news on the South Australian plumbing company who was caught and fined.

Cyber safety

Cyber-attacks are on the rise, and it is not just high-profile companies that are at risk. Curtis de la Harpe gives plumbers six quick tips to ensure their business has the basics covered.

It’s time to face reality; no company or individual is 100% safe from cyber-attacks. There are, however, a few things that you can do to lower your risk.

1. Upgrade your passwords

Have you noticed that when you set a password for a new service these days, the requirements are increasing? It may seem ridiculous but as computing power grows; passwords are becoming easier to hack. In 2000, a seven-letter and two-number (eg. raptors11) password would take just under four years to crack using the processing power of a desktop computer. In 2023, that same password is going to take 0.76 seconds to crack.

It is critical that as technology advances so do your passwords. It is important to add more characters, use upper and lower case, include special characters like @ and & and avoid using whole words or names.

If you really want to use a word or name, replace a letter with a special character. Eg. Raptor might become R#ptor

2. Different passwords for different sites

Brute forcing a password like the above example is not going to be the only way someone can get your password. You could have a password 100 characters long, but if the site you are using it on gets hacked, it doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, sites get hacked all the time. So, it is highly recommended to use a different password on every site.

3. Two-factor authentication (2FA)

An increasingly common form of security is 2FA. This means that after you enter a site it will ask you for a second level of security such as a code sent to

Quick tips

your email or phone. Or approving the login using an authentication app like Google or Microsoft authenticator. If a site offers this sort of security, it is highly advised to take it up. By forcing someone to authenticate through another means than just a password, you are making it even harder for a hacker to get in. This is probably the best defense you can have.

4. Change your password and log out often

Long-cherished passwords are like leaving a spare key to your car on the bonnet. So, change your passwords often. When changing passwords, you quite often get the option to log out all sessions. Make sure to do this. It means that if you have accidentally left yourself logged in on another computer or device, that you’re not leaving any unsecured access.

5. Use a VPN to stay anonymous

By encrypting your traffic with a VPN, you lower the chance a hacker can intercept your information and use it to gain access. These are relatively cheap, and many companies have been using them for decades.

6. Don’t ignore those update warnings

The easiest system to break into is a PC that doesn’t have the latest security patches in place. There is an endless number of other things that you could be doing to protect your accounts with many more levels of security. These six steps are just the basics and the most often overlooked!

For more cyber safety tools visit: www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government

The easiest system to break into is a PC that doesn’t have the latest security patches in place

Affordable 4x4 for work and play

As 4x4 wagon prices continue to skyrocket, Byron Mathioudakis reviews three affordable contenders for plumbers unbothered by badge or peer pressure.

The Contenders:

GWM Tank 300 from $46,990 driveaway: Impressive in many areas

Mahindra Scorpio from $41,990 driveaway: More sophisticated than you’d think

SsangYong Rexton from $48,990 driveaway: When size and space matter most

Globally the demand for fourwheel-drive (4WD) wagons has boomed in the past few years. This unprecedented demand has resulted in inflated prices and long waiting lists, especially for Australia’s favourite body-on-frame, off-road SUV, the Toyota Prado. You won’t find a new one for under $68,000 driveaway, and that’s

for the basic GX five-seater.

GWM, Mahindra and SsangYong, however, have other ideas. Each has a capable, yet civilised alternative, at a cheaper price and with a seven-year warranty.

Sure, their sizes, seating and towing capacities all vary, but they do offer Aussies good, old-fashioned choice.

The smallest– and most striking –of the contenders is China’s GWM (Great Wall Motors) Tank 300.

While it might look like a cross between a 1990s Toyota LandCruiser and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, the spacious Tank 300 is startlingly modern inside.

Turbine-style dashboard vents and twin 12.3-inch electronic displays housing digital instruments and a multimedia touchscreen, reveal a strong Mercedes influence. With familiarisation, it mostly works fine, but can be distractingly fiddly when swiping sub-menus on the move.

All models include powered front seats, a sunroof, surround-view camera, side steps, roof rails and driver-assist safety tech like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane alert and adaptive cruise control. But if you are looking for leather, heated/cooled front seats, wireless charging and a front differential lock, you’ll need the more-expensive Ultra.

While the Tank 300’s cabin storage, vision and ventilation rate highly, the front seats could offer more support, there’s no digital radio and the cargo area is small (though well finished).

Like most 4x4s, the GWM employs separate-chassis construction, with on-road, two-wheel drive, or high/ low-range 4WD to keep up with LandCruisers when off-roading.

Tank –what’s next?

Just released, the Tank 300 should remain in its current form for a few years yet, but the larger Tank 500 with three-row seating is expected from 2024.

After on-road costs

$60,990 driveaway

Yet the Tank 300 also shows a refined side too, offering soft suspension for a comfy ride, light controls for easy manoeuvrability around town, as well as pleasing highway agility… to a point. The driver-assist safety tech needs better Australian-road tuning, as it’s way too reactive, with the adaptive cruise control braking prematurely too often or the lane-keep system being too prone to abrupt wheeltugging. Both can be alarming. Additionally, the turbo petrol engine, while smooth and speedy off the line,

needs to work hard at high revs out on the open road, or when fully laden, and that makes its initial throttle response sluggish when overtaking, as well as disappointingly thirsty. Which is why the $10K-extra, 258kW/615Nm hybrid makes sense, with substantially stronger performance and better fuel economy at 8.4L/100km.

Either way, though, if you need a stylish off-roader that’s refined, easy and enjoyable to drive, the surprisingly likeable Tank 300 might have you covered.

GWM Tank 300 from $46,990 to

Mahindra of India has decades of expertise making cheap, rugged and reliable workhorse 4x4s. Now, with the intriguing Scorpio, it’s chasing the Land Rover’s Discovery.

Mahindra is the newest of the contenders, its neat – if narrow –styling evokes Prado as well as Volvo’s XC90. Unexpectedly, the latter also informs the interior, with a vertical tablet-style touchscreen, Audi-esque analogue/digital instrumentation dials and upmarket ambience. You’ll also find contrasting stitched leather trim, climate control, a sunroof and powered driver’s seat. Classy!

For now, the Scorpio is a spacious six-seater wagon – sadly not two rows with three-abreast seating, but four sumptuous and supportive individual bucket seats and a kids-only fold-and-tumble (but not stow-away), two-person bench in the large luggage area. When used this way, the 460L cargo capacity drops to being practically useless.

Staying on the downsides: there is no reach adjustability for the steering column, adaptive cruise control or DAB+ digital radio, and the glovebox and console storage are limited.

The biggest drawback however is the lack of driver-assist safety; AEB and related lane-alert/keep

Scorpio –what’s next?

The belated arrival of AEB and other driver-assist safety systems is pencilled in for 2025, and they cannot come soon enough.

and blind-spot systems are not yet available. We’re no fans of the (thankfully switchable) stop-start system, which can sometimes cut engine power dramatically at restart for several seconds, leading to dangerously slow acceleration during that time. Turn it off!

Despite these setbacks, there’s much to recommend. The Scorpio’s diesel engine is powerful yet muted, with spirited acceleration and terrifically strong mid-range muscle, making it one of the best of its type.

And while the steering seems a little remote around town, the Mahindra handles and rides well enough, with a planted-to-the-bitumen feeling, even at speed. There’s been some Australian road tuning and it shows. Plus, the brand’s heritage and experience really shine off-road too.

Tough, powerful, comfortable, generously equipped and keenly priced, the Scorpio’s virtues are clear. It’s such a shame, then, that AEB isn’t yet available.

Mahindra Scorpio from $41,990 to $45,990 driveaway

SsangYong Rexton from $48,990 to $59,990 driveaway

Like Mahindra, Korean brand SsangYong has been quietly providing inexpensive yet dependable 4WDs since the 1990s, with the Rexton – related to the Musso ute – now in its 20th year.

The second-generation Rexton launched in Australia in late 2018. What you see here is the facelift, out since 2022, that brought minor styling and engineering improvements.

While not as flash as the Tank 300, nor as cheap as the Scorpio, the Rexton has sheer size on its side, being longer and wider than both. This allows for a seven-seater configuration, with easy third-row access via wide doors. Handy. Folding all seats also reveals a massive load area.

As you’d imagine, there’s plenty of cabin space, most controls are logical and easy to access, and there’s an abundance of storage. Even the base ELX is well-equipped, with heated/cooled and powered front seats, a heated second-row bench, dual-zone climate control, AEB, nine airbags, blind-spot monitors and lane support driver-assist safety.

For extras like leather trim, a sunroof, rear air vents, wireless phone

charger, a powered tailgate and 360-degree camera, you’ll need the Ultimate, while a Sport Pack with 20-inch alloys and racier trim is, well, the actual Rexton ultimate. There’s also heaps of torque from a recently revised diesel engine. It isn’t especially responsive off the line, but once the turbo starts spinning, it feels fast enough, with strong performance and lots of

get-up and go. Great for that leading 3500kg towing capability. But the Rexton isn’t particularly smooth or quiet, can feel a bit ponderous around town, and doesn’t soak up bumps quite as comfortably as the other 4WDs here. Still, the slightly rough-and-ready character suits the SsangYong’s tough, can-do capabilities, while providing dependable family transport. And all at a great price.

SsangYong models tend to stay current for decades, but an all-electric family-sized SUV sibling alternative is expected within the next couple of years.

After

Rexton –what’s next?

Giving back

Without the community, there is no us, so we have to give back to who has made us who we are.

Melbourne’s Jinavo Plumbing and Drainage has provided more than $70,000 of ‘helping hand offers’ with no material or labour costs to local sports clubs, churches and drug and rehabilitation programs.

“Without the community, there is no us, so we have to give back to who has made us who we are,” he explains.

“I had a bit of a rough upbringing, have experienced hardships, but instead of sitting there dwelling on it I’d rather help others in any way, shape or form we can. We’ll never say no to providing help.”

So, it was no surprise when, after Emmanuel had an emergency hospital stay late last year, one of his first thoughts was about how to thank those who had supported him.

“I was in a fire in Port Albert and was picked up by the ambos and taken to Yarram, from there I was airlifted to the Alfred. I really got to see how

efficient the ambos and the healthcare workers are. If anything, they’re not as recognised as they should be,” he says.

Initially, Emmanuel was told a full recovery from burns to his face and arms would take between eight and 15 weeks. With a laugh, he says the fact he ‘can’t sit still’ allowed him to be back at work just 15 days later.

“It’s good for my physical and mental health to be always doing something. I can’t be confined to a room, if that makes sense.”

He’ll also be forever grateful to the team at Jinavo Plumbing and Drainage, who kept things rolling.

“The business carried on the exact same way it would have if I was there. Originally, I thought it might suffer a bit with me away, but it was the complete opposite,” he says.

True to his commitment to always help others, as soon as Emmanuel returned home, he looked for a

tangible way to thank the ambulance and hospital staff. Drawing on his existing relationship with Westmeadows café The Ninth Ave, he came up with a plan to offer free coffees to Ambulance Victoria staff.

“I’d noticed a lot of ambos go to the café as they have a training facility down the road, so I thought it was perfect. It was meant to be just coffee, but then we were doing breakfast, food, anything that they wanted to order. Everything went on our tab, and we paid for it every week – we planned it for a week, but we kept it going for around three months.

“People they really appreciated what we were doing. There was one time I went in there and the café staff pointed me out, as the one doing this, and I bolted out because I don’t want the limelight.

“We’ve pumped a lot of money into the community instead of me going and buying a second house, and I will always keep doing it.”

Emmanuel Al-Jinavo has always believed in giving back and that will never change. Find out what drives this plumber to do good.

Big bang

Popping out nails didn’t have to be hard work, as Maltby, Henley and Co discovered when they developed a tool for the job. Master Plumbers Heritage Collection curator Peter Jensen delves into the history of the nail remover.

Maltby, Henley and Co principal business was producing handguns and pocket pistols. However, back in the late 1800s, this USA-company developed a nail-removing tool. Patenting it in about 1878.

The heritage collection now boasts one of these tools among its collection. Donated in 2018 by Don, the son of a plumber who immigrated from South Africa to Australia in the 1980s to make a new life. Don says it was the best thing for the family with so many new opportunities.

While you might think the nail remover an unusual tool for a plumber’s kit, Don’s dad must have had a use for it, maybe pulling out noggins and lifting decking and floorboards. But like most of us we like a good tool kit and really like to have the right tool for the particular job. I gave this vintage tool a try and it did the job very well.

The vintage tool, when extended is 600mm long and 450mm when retracted. The operation was simple:

• Position the claw/pincher to the nail head.

• Thrust the slide forward to get the claw/pincher past the nail head.

• Push the handle sideways (to lever) to grip head.

• With a good grip, lever the nail out, pulling back the slide to assist. Similar tools on the market today are made by Crescent, (RRP $45) are still made and used today. Another odd tool in Don’s dad’s kit was a set of wire-fence strainers, which is certainly very curious.

Don’t ignore management liability insurance

Directors and officers (D&Os) shoulder considerable responsibility to make decisions in the best interests of a company’s clients, employees and investors. But even when arming themselves with the reliable information and exercising good faith, due diligence and caution, there is always a risk of mistakes and oversights.

Unfortunately, whether or not an allegation of wrongdoing is proven, or a crime intentionally committed, as a director or officer you are held personally liable, putting you at risk of significant personal financial costs for defending or settling claims.

Management liability (ML) insurance is worthwhile to consider if you are seeking protection for your responsibilities as a directors and officers (D&Os).

Here are three things to consider in relation to ML coverage:

1. Your personal assets could be on the line

As a company director, you can be held culpable for any wrongful act executed by a decision you made in your capacity as a D&O, which could lead to criminal charges, personal financial loss, paying legal fees, settlements or damages.

Examples of unintentional wrongful acts could include:

• Contract breaches: how familiar are you with the agreements and contracts you sign your name to?

• Financial records maintenance: are you 100% confident that your company is compliant with regulatory requirements on keeping accurate financial records?

• Health and safety incidents: can you vouch for the due diligence deployed by your teams to protect the wellbeing of employees and clients?

• Technology breaches: are you confident that your practices are up to date to protect the privacy of employees and clients?

Management liability insurance can help protect you from oversights or errors made within all of these critical business areas.

2. Common crimes can be covered

Management liability insurance offers important protection against some of the most common corporate crime and claims cases, including:

• Employment practices liability to cover such things as

discrimination, unfair dismissal or workplace harassment.

• Criminal acts

e.g. embezzlement and fraud

• Statutory liability

e.g. workplace health and safety breaches.

With instances of workplace health and safety claims on the rise and more employee related claims reaching Fair Work Australia across the trades sector, management liability provides comfort that the business is protected from these common risks.

3. Consult with the experts

With so much on the line for D&O’s, detailed advice is critical to successfully navigating the market to make the right decision about the insurance you need for your unique situation. This is where a specialist broker can prove essential, as they collaborate with you and your company to accurately assess your specific risk scenarios and exposures whilst negotiating the best available coverage at the best possible price.

Get in touch

For more information, scan the QR code or email Mpib.Australia@marsh.com

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 content 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. Marsh makes no representation or warranty concerning the application of policy wordings or the financial condition or solvency of insurers or re-insurers. Marsh makes no assurances regarding the availability, cost, or terms of insurance coverage. LCPA 23/318

Payment automation with Simpro

Plumbing businesses need good cash flow, and cash flow is all about invoicing and payments. But with so many moving parts in your business, tracking when and where your money moves can quickly turn into chaos. Luckily, with the help of field service management software, payment automation can be used to better manage cash flow.

So, how does payment process automation help you manage cash flow?

Gives customers payment flexibility: It provides options to pay with credit or with debit card, cash, cheque and bank transfer. Providing flexible payment options means your customers are more likely to pay on time.

Increases staff productivity: Automated payment systems give your team time back, with less need to chase customers for payment. Many solutions are also cloud-based, which lets all staff accept payments on-site, online, or over the phone, and track them from one central location.

Eliminates manual errors: Automated payment systems minimise miscommunication about payments that can happen with back-and-forth phone calls/emails. They also limit the number of manual errors that happen when hand-tracking payment amounts/information. Connect with peers, learn new features, and maximise the value of your software investment like never before.

For more information, visit simprogroup.com/au/master-plumbers

Redback exclusive to Abey

Kneepads are essential and you may think foam or gel kneepads will do the job? But picture this: Your knees are going into that foam or gel day after day. The point of your knee presses on the same part of the foam or gel time after time forcing it to disintegrate and loses shape, supporting the knee less and less. This creates a concentrated point of pain on your knee.

To ease and stop the pain, you will need kneepads that are robust, hold shape and are fully breathable. That’s where Abey’s McAlpine Redback® Kneepads come in. They support your whole knee, not just one point. They are also comfortable, machine washable and don’t degrade.

Redbacks’ patented system uses 28 flexible leaf springs embedded within a honeycomb matrix to absorb and spread weight. Unlike other kneepads, the technology disperses pressure away from the knee to provide unrivalled comfort and protection. Professors at Staffordshire University in England have even scientifically proven that the Redback® Kneepads outperform foam pads.

For more information,

Comfortable, machine washable and don’t degrade

Flexible payment options means your customers are more likely to pay on time

Kneepad technology provides unrivalled comfort and protection

fast facts

from around the nation

$17 billion

The market size of the Plumbing Services industry in Australia in 2022

1.1%

The growth of the Plumbing Services industry in the past 5 years

Allproof’s specialist drainage solutions

Allproof industries specialises in providing solutions for complex projects through premium drainage and passive fire systems.

Commercial kitchens and food and beverage production facilities often require specialised drainage systems, which must be optimised for the specific needs of each installation. Allproof has developed a wide range of solutions through extensive research and development to create off-the-shelf stock and systems that can be customised to each project.

The latest product offering is the MC Series, a modular channel system. The MC Series provides an off-theshelf solution for creating system layouts that can cater to the needs of each project. The MC Series is made from 304 stainless steel comprising of channels and sumps available in two widths and depths, with sloped joining channels and grate options. Outlets suit 100mm DWV or HDPE pipe and include a double strainer basket. Installers can select the required components that easily bolt together on site to create unique systems for each project. By utilising standardised components, installers benefit from reduced turnaround times along with improved shipping and handling.

For more information, visit allproof.com.au

Aussie Pumps Stainless Steel Double Stacker

Aussie Pumps introduces the new Stainless Steel Double Stacker hose reel for use with all Aussie Jetters. Designed hand in hand with plumbers, the Double Stacker makes it convenient to reach your hoses and saves space on your truck.

Aussie’s first consideration was convenience, but the other benefits are impressive too. Compared to standard powder coated stackers, the stainless steel is more corrosion resistant and looks great for longer, all while taking up less room.

The 30-metre supply hose is partnered with a whopping 60-metre sewer hose as standard. You can choose a ¼” hose to fit most Aussie Jetters or get a 3/8” hose if you have an Aussie Python.

An easy to reach ball valve controls water pressure from the Jetter to the sewer hose. There is also a hose restraint included and a pressure gauge for safe operation.

The Stainless Steel Double Stacker is ready for use with Aussie Jetters as well as other brands.

For more information, visit aussiepumps.com.au or call (+61) 02 8865 3500

businesses.

• Includes electronic copies of forms and SWMS so you can customise to your business requirements.

• Compliant with all state WH&S Acts, Codes of Practice and WH&S Regulations.

Choosing the Master Plumbers’ WHS Management System will make it easy for you to comply with legislative requirements and maintain a safe workplace.

*Applicable to

only